Mumbai, Maharashtra: A video surfaced online where an old man can be seen distributing free food to patients and relatives outside Mumbai’s Tata Hospital. The seemingly charitable act soon turned violent after the man denied the free food to a Muslim woman because she refused to chant the slogan “Jai Shri Ram.”

“Jai Shri Ram bologe toh khaana milega (You’ll get food if you chant Jai Shri Ram),” the man said.

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A video of the incident soon went viral on social media, sparking outrage over the discriminatory behaviour by the man towards the hijab-clad woman.

The old man, in a yellow kurta, can be heard telling the people to walk away if they were unwilling to chant “Jai Shri Ram.” When he saw the hijab-clad woman, he snapped at her, “Bhaag yaha se.” When she refused and responded that she wasn’t standing on his father’s property, the man threatened her, “Laat marunga (I’ll kick you).”

The food was reportedly being distributed by an NGO near Tata Hospital on Jerbai Wadia Road.

An argument ensued between the woman and the man. The old man later questioned another person for recording a video and told him to stop it.

A recent video circulating on social media has sparked public outcry, showing an alleged incident outside #TataHospital in #Mumbai where a man distributing food seemingly insisted that people chant “#JaiShriRam” to receive meals. The video, which quickly went viral, has drawn… pic.twitter.com/Xyfk1pSIme

— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) October 30, 2024

“If you don’t want to give food, you can say that. But to refuse food for not saying “Jai Shri Ram” is wrong,” the woman told the cameraman.

While the majority of the people standing in line remained passive and unaffected by the proceedings, some individuals did raise objections and condemn the man’s actions. One man can be heard telling the person recording the video, a journalist himself, that it was wrong to discriminate based on religion while offering free food outside a hospital.

When the journalist confronted the man about refusing food based on the religion of people, the man replied, “Woh badmash log hai (they’re bad people).”

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One X user observed, “Indians like this douchebag have thrown humanity under Jai Shri Ram. Hinduism has always taught to feed the hungry & poor. A Sikh won’t ask anyone from any religion to chant Vaheguru before he/she can accept the food. Shame that others standing there were accepting food from him.”

Another netizen highlighted, “Look at the rest of them. Shamelessly carrying on. No boycott. No raising of voice against discrimination.”

According to reports, the local police have been informed about the incident; however, since there is no formal complaint, no action has been taken against the man.