Within days of Zomato trending on social platforms for standing by food as a religion, a fresh controversy has hit the food delivery app and this time within the company itself.

Zomato delivery boys will go on a strike from Monday protesting that the food being delivered by them is hurting their religious sentiments.

Delivery boys have refused to deliver beef or pork during the festive celebrations of Bakrid or Eid al-Adha to be celebrated this week on Monday.

Two of their demands are that the Zomato should revise the pay order and the company also must stop playing with the religious sentiment of their employees.

Hence, both Hindu and Muslim food delivery boys have decided to go on strike from Monday and refused to deliver the food that is beyond their religious acceptable guidelines.

The employees have, allegedly, informed their higher authorities but there is no response from them as of now.

Mousin Akhtar, a Zomato food delivery staff said, "Recently some Muslim restaurants have been added to the online food delivery app. But we have some Hindu delivery boy who are denying to delivery beef. And it's been heard that in few days we have to deliver Pork, which we refuse to deliver. We are also facing pay out issues and have least medical facilities. All these are hampering the fraternal bond between us as we have to deliver food which is not permitted by our religion. Our religious sentiment is being hurt. The company knows everything, but in spite of helping us they are using false allegations against us."

Another Zomato staff explained that the food being carried by them for earning a living could not compromise with their basic right to religion.

Bajraj Nath Brahma, Zomato food delivery staff in Howrah mentioned, "I am Hindu. There are also other fellow delivery boys who are Muslim. We have no issues in working together. Zomato has presently tied up with some new restaurants that are repelling us to work under any circumstances and we cannot cancel any order at any cost. If any of us deny delivering any particular food then this would fall under denial dispute which would be followed up by manager. The Muslims are equally feeling hurt with this decision as we Hindus are. The company is hurting our religious sentiment. We want this to be stopped immediately. Hence from Monday we have stopped our service."

West Bengal Minister and TMC MLA from Howrah Rajib Banerjee responded to the issue. He is supporting the delivery staff on the issue and assured of initiating probe in the same.

Rajib said, "I too feel that the organization performing such act should think about their action once again. They should not force any sect to go against the rules of their religion. This is very wrong. We had no idea about such actions. Since we have been approached, we shall surely take action against such deeds."

Inputs from Baidyanath Jha in Howrah



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