Headlines
Muslim MBA denied job on religious grounds
Mumbai, May 21
Zeshan Ali Khan, an MBA based
in Mumbai, on Thursday lodged a police complaint accusing a prominent
diamond company of "religious discrimination" by refusing him a job on
grounds that he was a Muslim.
"Yes, I have lodged a complaint
with the Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station, Kurla West suburb, on the
issue. They are pressing charges soon in my case," Zeshan Khan told
IANS.
He had applied for a job at a leading diamond export firm, Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd., Bandra-Kurla Complex.
He
was among several other friends who had applied there for jobs and were
given placements in the company, which has branches in several
countries.
However, Zeshan Khan said he was shocked by the
company's reply which read: "Thanks for your application. We regret to
inform you that we hire only non-Muslim candidates."
When he poured his resentment in a Facebook post, it evoked sharp reactions from many, and a regret note from the company.
Mahendra
S. Deshmukh, associate vice president and the head of human resource
department of the firm, wrote: "We would like to clarify that the
company does not discriminate against candidates based on gender, caste,
religion, etc. Any hurt caused in the matter is deeply regretted."
Deshmukh also sought to pass on the blame to a trainee colleague, Dipika Tike, who he claimed had sent the erroneous email.
Since the controversy erupted, the company has terminated the services of the trainee woman employee, sources said.
When
sought out for response, neither Deshmukh nor any other senior official
of Hari Krishan Exports Pvt. Ltd. was available as they "were in a
meeting".
The National Commission for Minorities is believed to have sought a report in the matter.