Online food delivery company Zomato has landed up in yet another controversy after an incident of attaching lord Shiva (Mahakal) in one of their advertisements.
The controversial ad features actor Hrithik Roshan who can be heard saying, “thali (plates) ka man kiya, Ujjain mein hai isliye Mahakal se manga liya,” I had cravings for the thali and since we are in Ujjain so I ordered from Mahakal.”
Soon after the ad clippings went viral it caught the attention of the priest’s furor of Mahakal temple. The priests are of the view that Mahakal or the temple board doesn’t deliver thalis and hence demanded an unconditional apology from Zomato and Hrithik Roshan.
Mahesh one of the priests of the temple said, “The Company has presented a deceptive view about the temple, the company must think before releasing such ads.
The Hindu community is too tolerant and never turns violent, had there been any other community they would have set the company properties on fire. Zomato must not play such things about our god.”
The priest went on to say that we serve food to the people in the temple premises in dedicated thalis but we don’t deliver them on people’s demand. The Company that delivers Non-Veg food must pull down the advertisement about Mahakal as soon as possible.
The sentiments of Hindus are hurt. The priest even issued a warning to take the matter to the court if the makers doesn’t apologize.
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The Collector and president of Mahakal Temple Committee Ashish Singh termed the ad as baseless and deceptive after the priest raised their concern. Ashish Singh said, inside the temple premises people can only have the blessing food. Thalis are never sent from here. “We will take necessary steps to put shut this ad,”
Zomato has old relations with the controversies. One such instance dates back five months ago when the company rolled out a framework for delivering customer orders in 10 minutes it drew sharp criticism from around the country.
The matter was even taken to the Lok Sabha when Karti Chidambaram highlighted his concern about the security of delivery men.
Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal while defending his 10 minutes delivery service said it will be as safe as a 30-minute delivery pattern which will be taken care of well by providing safety and correct assistance to the delivery personnel.