Hindu group forces Zomato delivery man to remove Santa Claus attire in Indore

A Zomato delivery worker was compelled to remove his Santa Claus attire by members of the right-wing Hindu Jagran Manch while delivering orders in celebration of Christmas. The incident, which took place in Indore, highlights the ongoing tension surrounding religious expression and festivities in India.

A video of the encounter has surfaced online, showing the delivery man being questioned and criticised for wearing the festive costume. Members of the group expressed disapproval, questioning why he was promoting Christmas and not donning attire representing Hindu deities during Hindu festivals. Despite the delivery worker explaining that the costume was part of a marketing campaign and mandatory for his job, he was forced to remove it under pressure.

The worker mentioned that failure to comply with the company’s marketing requirements could result in financial penalties or suspension of his account. Nevertheless, he was coerced into removing the outfit, with demands that he refrains from wearing it during future deliveries.

This incident comes against a backdrop of increasing hostility towards minority communities in India. According to a recent report by the Delhi-based civil society organisation UCF, violence and discrimination against Christians have escalated across 23 of India’s 28 states.

Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of hate crimes, with 182 incidents, followed by Chhattisgarh with 139 cases. Other states, including Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Delhi, and Haryana, have also witnessed a growing number of such incidents.