In an incident that took place on the 12th of February in Gurgaon, a wheelchair-bound woman named Srishti Pandey was allegedly denied entry at a restaurant named ‘Raasta’. She took to Twitter to narrate the incident and since then, her thread has gone viral and started a conversation around the lack of sensitivity society as a whole shows towards people with disabilities.
Srishti alleges that a member of the restaurant staff claimed that “wheelchair andar nahi jaygi” (the wheelchair won’t go inside) and that her presence would “disturb” the customers inside.
I went to my @raastagurgaon with my best friend and her fam last night. This was one of my first outings in so long and I wanted to have fun. Bhaiya (my friend's elder brother) asked for a table for four. The staff at the desk ignored him twice. 1/n
— Srishti (she/her🏳🌈) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
The third time he asked, the staff replied with “wheelchair andar nahi jaygi” (The wheelchair can’t go inside).
We thought it was an accessibility issue, but it wasn’t. We told him that we’d manage, just book us a table. What he said next left all of shocked for a while. 2/n— Srishti (she/her🏳🌈) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
He told us pointing towards me that “andar customers disturb hojaynge” (The customers will get disturbed) and denied us entry, with so much of ease. This came from the staff of a freaking fancy place. 3/n
— Srishti (she/her🏳🌈) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
They were suggested to get a table outside but it was cold and unsafe for Srishti.
After a lot of arguing, he told us to get a table outside.
Now:
1) The outside seating was ridiculous. It was getting cold. And I can’t sit out in cold for long because my body gets spastic. It’s literally unsafe for me? 4/n— Srishti (she/her🏳🌈) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
We should be asking ourselves many important questions at this point – why should a person with a disability be segregated from the rest? How is their presence a disturbance? Why is there such a severe lack of empathy and basic decency among people? And why aren’t restaurants and other public places taking the responsibility of educating and sensitizing their staff members regarding such issues?
2) Why should I be made to sit outside anyway? segregated from everyone else? If we wanted an outside seating we would have asked for it?
Eventually we were asked to leave. Obviously. 5/n
— Srishti (she/her🏳🌈) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
But is me just existing that much of a disturbance for you? Why do I always have to fight for the smallest of things? Why was I DENIED entry in a public place? Who are they to deny my entry just like that? 6/n
— Srishti (she/her🏳🌈) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
Should I stop going out at all only then? Because apparently I don’t belong with others. Because I’m a “disturbance” for others. Because their moods apparently get “ruined” after looking at me.
I am heartbroken. Awfully sad. And I feel disgusted. 7/n— Srishti (she/her🏳🌈) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
Srishti also shared a video of the incident:
— Srishti (she/her🏳🌈) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
Several people online, including actors Pooja Bhatt and Zeeshan Ayyub, responded to her tweets and extended their solidarity.
Am terribly saddened that this happened to you. We suffer from an absolute lack of grace as a society. Wheelchair accessibility is one thing but refusing to see a human being who is confined to one as an equal and deserving of dignity is quite another. 🙏
— Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) February 12, 2022
Extremely sad to learn this! Two questions: 1. Which kind of hungry people have time to look at other tables and feel anything looking at a wheelchair ! U visit a rest. To have food and fun and spend good time. How is any1 “disturbed” by any one sitting on another table (1/2)
— Saurabh Khosla (@saurabhkhosla) February 13, 2022
Really sorry to hear that you had to go through all this rubbish.🙏
— Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub (@Mdzeeshanayyub) February 13, 2022
Don’t give up hope dear Srishti. Nothing is wrong with you. It is people like the restaurant’s staff who are challenged, not you. You continue going out. One challenge should not be the end of the world. I’m happy you wrote about it. And I’m sad it happened. Hugs to you.
— Vidyottama (@VidyottamaPS) February 12, 2022
im so sorry this happened to you. you deserve better and you deserve an unconditional apology from all of us who contribute to this unseeing society. here for you and will never be a patron of @raastagurgaon or any org that does this.
— Gayatri (@G_y_tri) February 13, 2022
Pathetic. I’m myself, a wheelchair user. Have found the attitude of people towards wheelchair users, highly hostile and indifferent. Have had several visits to Tirumala Balaji temple many times. Wheelchairs are strictly forbidden inside the temple. The staff are hostile in temple
— Balakrishnan K (@mylaibalki) February 13, 2022
Unbelievable. Someone should file a complaint against this restaurant
— Jyoti Malhotra (@jomalhotra) February 12, 2022
There were also many who called out the restaurant and urged others to ban it. Gurgaon Police too tweeted to further inquire about the incident. In the midst of such backlash, the Founder Partner at Raasta, Goumtesh Singh, posted an apology on social media.
“We are deeply regretful of the episode that took place at Raasta, Gurgaon, on Friday evening. We stand for inclusivity and would never want anyone to feel singled out for any reason. As a part of our efforts, we have already reached out to the aggrieved patron to personally apologise to them. We are also taking steps internally to heighten sensitivity and empathy for our staff to ensure this never happens again,” the post read.
Have a look:
@Srishhhh_tea pic.twitter.com/eQZxqigPNF
— goumtesh Singh (@goumtesh) February 13, 2022
However, when Srishti was in a live interview with NDTV and Goumtesh Singh was brought face to face with her, he bailed.
When inquired by NDTV, Goumtesh alleged that the manager on duty had been let go. But he disconnected the call when he realised that he was in a live interview. Later, he expressed that he was unaware of it and that he would like to speak one-on-one with Srishti and apologize.
Srishti was offended by Goumtesh’s inability to apologize in public and take responsibility for the incident, calling it the “most disrespectful thing”.
“Where’s the apology? This was not an apology. This is what has been happening…we have been demanding a public apology and this is the response we have been getting. This happened again right now, live, in front of everyone,” she said.
For something like this to happen at a time when the awareness around social equity and empathy is probably at its peak, when there’s a new generation filled with thoughts and ideas on how to make our society more inclusive, is truly condemnable. It shows how a lot of work, unlearning, and re-learning is yet to be done.