The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken cognisance of the viral Delhi restaurant saree entry video and directed authorities to take action for the same. A tweet from the commission on Thursday relayed that chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote to the Delhi Police commissioner to probe allegations against the restaurant, which a woman accused of denying entry to her on the grounds she was wearing a saree.
"NCW has also asked the restaurant's Marketing & PR Director to appear before the Commission for a hearing" on September 28, the tweet mentioned. A clip of staff at a restaurant in Delhi's upscale Ansal Plaza mall saying sarees were not "smart casuals" went viral earlier this week, sparking wide outrage. More on the incident here.
@NCWIndia has taken cognisance. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to @CPDelhi to take action against the restaurant if allegations are found to be true. NCW has also asked the restaurant's Marketing & PR Director to appear before the Commission for a hearing on Sep 28. https://t.co/JgwwOQVFSK
— NCW (@NCWIndia) September 23, 2021
Delhi Restaurant Saree Entry Incident: Conflicting Narratives Emerge
After the video clip, originally shared by journalist Anita Choudhary on Twitter, circulated widely online, the restaurant in question issued a statement on their social media handles, claiming it was "showing only a small snippet of what happened during a period of 1 hour."
They alleged the woman, whom they had requested to wait since there was no reservation under their name, physically assaulted their manager. The restaurant has attached a CCTV footage clip purportedly of the woman slapping a staff member on their Instagram post.
They added their staff member caught on camera saying sarees were not in line with their "smart casuals" dress code made the remark to "tackle the situation and request the guest to leave," and apologised for the same.
Saree is not allowed in Aquila restaurant as Indian Saree is now not an smart outfit.What is the concrete definition of Smart outfit plz tell me @AmitShah @HardeepSPuri @CPDelhi @NCWIndia
— anita choudhary (@anitachoudhary) September 20, 2021
Please define smart outfit so I will stop wearing saree @PMishra_Journo #lovesaree pic.twitter.com/c9nsXNJOAO
A Twitter account, apparently belonging to Choudhary's daughter, details incidents from September 19, claiming she made a reservation for a table, as opposed to what the restaurant is claiming. She adds screenshots, allegedly of her conversation with the hotel staff over the same.
The statement posted claims she visited the restaurant with her parents on her birthday, reaching half an hour after their pre-booked slot. A staff member allegedly took her "in a corner" and told her she wouldn't allow them in because her mother was "wearing a saree." The woman further on in her statement says her mother "pushed" the manager.
#aquilarestaurant #aquila #saree pic.twitter.com/rCvoHF2Ua2
— Aryamini (@aryaminii) September 22, 2021
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