Living together in harmony
The constitution of India very clearly stipulates that there should not be any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion (“Man denied job for being ‘Khan’”, Gulf News, May 22). Nevertheless, there are incidents where this is not followed scrupulously and one cannot deny this fact at least in some spheres. A news report that a man was denied a job for being Muslim is indeed outrageous, unfortunate and objectionable, as it questions the very secular fabric and identity of the state. It can also ignite religious animosity in the country. The government must take strict measures to check the recurrence of such incidents in the future. Those responsible for this must certainly be brought to task. I come from a village in Kerala, India, where Hindus, Muslims and Christians live in extreme harmony and feel pride to have been brought up in such a society. We live together peacefully without paying any attention to the fact that your neighbour is a person of another caste or religion, because we interact with each other so closely, similar to family members. We take part in each others’ religious festivities wholeheartedly, to the extent where many Hindu festivals are celebrated with Muslim and Christian fraternities heading those celebrations in the forefront and vice versa. I am proud of being born and brought up in such a close fabric of secularism. Can anybody dream of such unity today, which is ruined by certain power-hunger politicians?
From Mr Radkrishnan Nair K.
Dubai
Are we being left behind?
Denying someone a job based on their religion is unacceptable. When one applies for a job, he or she submits their resume, which highlights their qualifications and past experiences. That is what matters when it comes to being considered as a candidate for a job. Whether I pray five times a day or visit church every week is nobody’s concern. I shouldn’t have to explain my religious beliefs to anyone, be it my future employer or a dear friend. What I believe in is between me and my creator. And I’d like to keep it that way. If the company in question needed an employee of a certain religion or caste, they should have advertised accordingly, instead of putting the young business management graduate through such an ordeal. Going forward, he will now think twice before applying for any position. It isn’t fair to him as it affects his self confidence. It will make him wonder if people of his faith are being left behind in the process of development. Because, it makes me wonder, too.
From Ms Fatima Ali
Sharjah
Take action against unethical practices
Its appalling, awful and shocking to witness such an event surfacing from a country that claims to be celebrating unity in diversity. Its imperative to run a detailed inquiry into the issue and take appropriate action, if any discriminating intent is proven to be true. Such unethical practices should be treated with all seriousness and the people responsible should take ownership of their actions. In all fairness, this should turn out to be taxing for the company or people involved.
From Mr Rizwan Khan
Dubai
Experienced something similar
This incident is very sad and unacceptable in this era of a modernised world. One incident that shocked me was in 2006 when I went for an interview at a pharmaceutical company in Mumbai, India. One of the top managers said that I shouldn’t waste my time since there were no other Muslim managers at the head office and the company has an unwritten policy of not hiring them. It has almost been a decade, and I do not know the current policies, but such incidents still occur.
From Mr Jamshed Ahmad
Dubai
Let the issue go
It is not a big deal. The media is blowing it out of proportion. This is only going to help a certain political party with vested interests, and they will use this issue for their political campaigns. The firm in question has issued an apology for their mistake, so this controversy should have ended there. Discrimination happens in all walks of life on a daily basis globally and everyone tries to deny it. Let the law take its own course and not let this issue get manipulated by vested interests. Why did the so-called victim of discrimination post the regret letter on Facebook? Doesn’t this amount to defamation of the company, too? From Mr Hyder Jaffer
Sharjah
Website comment
Selection should be on merit
It is shocking that the world has moved ahead at rapid speed, with technology and education, and we still hear such incidents in a country like India. Religion and caste should not be the criteria while selecting a candidate for a job. It should be based purely on merit and qualities that will add value to the organisation. Quality is better than quantity. I hope the authorities take serious action against the company and punish them so no other organisation will dare to repeat the same in the future. From Mr Arvind
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Don’t stir trouble
I was shocked to read this report of a company in India denying a job to a graduate on religious grounds. India is a secular country and has had Muslims in leading jobs, for example A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is our former president. I would like to mention that discrimination against one’s race, colour, religion and nationality is predominant around the world. Why don’t you bring such discrimination to light? Even in the US, there is discrimination. I do not support any form of discrimination, but would definitely not want the media to incite negative emotions amongst the residents of the UAE, thousands of whom are Indians.
From Mr Ashish Nanda
Dubai
Ignored by my company
A similar thing happened to me, but it was related to a promotion at work. The non-Muslims got all the perks and promoted each year, and I was ignored. The situation went on for six years, until one day when I got a promotion. But, by then my colleagues had moved on to much higher positions in the company. Zeeshan Ali Khan is lucky that his story got published. I hope that he will get justice soon. From Mr Imran
Dubai
Website comment
Let this incident be a lesson
The news of a meritorious candidate being denied a job on religious grounds is truly shocking. More shocking is the response of the company’s management attributing the error to the human resources trainee who is new to the job. It is a serious matter that contravenes constitutional guarantee and fundamental right. To brush it off as an error is not good enough. Action must be taken against the company by the appropriate authorities in the form of a fine, which will set a precedent and act as a deterrent. In a country as diverse as India, merit alone should be the criteria and nothing else should be the basis. Companies should realise the socio and economic impact that their actions will cause and conduct themselves within the framework of constitution. Let this incident be a lesson and an eye opener to all other companies who may have been doing this secretively and got away so far.
From Mr Ganeshan Srinivasan
Dubai
The company can choose
Any private company is within their rights and discretion to hire or fire anyone on the grounds that they see feasible. There is nothing wrong with this decision. There are also thousands of Muslims in India who are working in Hindu-owned companies and one of them even managed to get voted for president!
From Mr Khurram Asif
UAE
Facebook comment
A questionable act
A Muslim was denied a job in India because of his religion? This is really bad and the act should be condemned. Thousands of Hindus live in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Does this mean they should be denied a life for being Hindu, too?
From Ms Rupa Guha
Kharagpur, India
Facebook comment
Experienced discrimination firsthand
When I was working in an international company in Patna, India, my boss refused to give me permission to step away to pray on Friday. I then approached the head office of the company in Mumbai. They also did not permit me to do so. That is when I decided to leave my job.
From Mr Naz Alam
Patna, India
Facebook comment
No grades of discrimination
It’s discrimination against an individual’s religion. The company’s decision to discriminate is as senseless as not hiring someone for the colour of his or her hair. There aren’t grades of discrimination; you either do or you don’t. Calling Khan in for an interview knowing they would never hire him is even worse. They wasted his time!
From Mr Giles Heaton
Dubai
Facebook comment
Better to know in advance
I think it was a blessing in disguise for the applicant because working in such a discriminatory environment would have had a negative impact on his career.
From Mr Asif Ahmad Laskar
Fujairah
Facebook comment
Learning to differentiate
The constitution states that India is a secular country. It means that no individual will be discriminated against or stopped from using certain facilities on the grounds of religion. I am still in high school, and I’ve learnt this. I feel like the company’s management was not paying attention during their civics classes or they just don’t respect their constitution.
From Ms Aisha Samreen
UAE
Facebook comment
Judge based on merit
Everyone must judge a job candidate based on his or her competency, not by religion or an individual’s beliefs.
From Mr Tarun Chaki
UAE
Facebook comment
Tired of politics
This company must be penalised. We are tired of such dirty politics.
From Mr Ayub Khan
Dubai
Facebook comment
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