Reports of Kashmiris being denied accommodation in hotels and lodgings in Delhi around 15 August, on Indian Independence Day, have surfaced.
These reports came after the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, on 5 August.
Malik Aabid, a student at Jamia Millia Islamia, took to Twitter to narrate an incident where his Kashmiri friend was denied accommodation by OYO after he showed his identification to the receptionist, who allegedly cited an ‘order from the Centre’.
“He was supposed to stay with me at my rented accommodation in Jamia Nagar but decided to book a hotel because my flat was shared by a couple of other persons,” Malik Aabid told The Hindu.
Following the complaint, OYO Rooms told the publication that they have “initiated an inquiry” into the manager’s actions, which, they added, were based on an “unverified message” circulated to a few hotels.
An employee of another OYO affiliate ‘Avatar Hotel’ was also reluctant to take in Kashmiri customers, The Hindu reported. “Beat officers have asked us not to entertain people from Kashmir, Nepal and Bangladesh around 15 August,” he said.
Other Twitter users have reported similar instances.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)