NEW DELHI: A short audio clip of a Delhi commuter alleging he was denied a cab ride because of his religion has set off a storm online, reigniting concerns over discrimination in everyday services.The clip, shared on March 21 on X by a user named A Zain on Eid, captures a tense exchange between the passenger and a Rapido driver. What begins as a confused back-and-forth quickly turns confrontational. The passenger is heard asking if the refusal is because he is Muslim. The driver’s response is blunt and unmistakable: “Muslims are not allowed in my vehicle.”In a statement on Monday, a Rapido spokesperson said the driver has been suspended from the platform.Zain’s 16-second audio recording was posted with the caption: “Eid Mubarak! Such a nice way to receive this Eid wish…”. In the now-viral clip, the passenger is heard questioning the driver after being denied the ride: “Why are you saying I am not allowed? Because I am a Muslim?” The driver responds bluntly, “Yes, Muslims are not allowed in my vehicle. This is not your dad’s vehicle.”The audio also captures parts of the initial exchange, with one voice saying, “Hello, I am trying to explain, but you are not able to understand,” followed by, “What did you say? You tell me.” The driver then adds, “Musalman allowed nahi hai meri car mein.”The clip, which includes vehicle details from the app, quickly gained traction online, with many demanding strict action against the driver.Replying to the post, the company said, “Hi, we are deeply sorry to hear about the disturbing behaviour you encountered. Such actions are completely unacceptable, and we take incidents like this very seriously. Your safety is our top priority, and we are committed to ensuring a respectful and secure experience for all our passengers…”On Monday, a spokesperson from Rapido said: “At Rapido, we have a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of misconduct or refusal of service without a valid reason. We remain committed to providing an inclusive platform and do not support or tolerate discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of religion. We regret the experience faced by the customer in Delhi. We have spoken to them and extended our full support.”
