Delhi Restaurant Denies Entry to Couple in Indian Attire, Sparks Outrage After Video Goes Viral
A restaurant in Delhi has ignited a fierce debate online after a couple alleged they were denied entry because the woman was wearing a traditional Indian churidaar-kurta. The incident, which occurred on August 3 at a restaurant named Tubata near the Pitampura metro station, was captured in a video that has since gone viral, drawing both widespread condemnation and arguments over private property rights.
In the widely circulated clip, the woman, dressed in a churidaar-kurta, and her partner, in a T-shirt and pants, claimed they were stopped at the entrance due to their clothing. “This was our dress, but they stopped us. Others in skimpier clothes were allowed in. The manager misbehaved and insulted Indian culture,” the couple alleged.
The person filming the video can be heard questioning the policy, asking, “Is wearing Indian clothes against our culture? Are their clothes inappropriate? Such restaurants should be shut down immediately.”
The video quickly spread across social media, where it triggered a storm of divided opinions. Many users slammed the restaurant for what they saw as a discriminatory and disrespectful act. “If this happened abroad, we’d call it racism. Here, it’s just dress code policy. Self-hate is the ugliest fashion trend,” one user wrote, while another commented, “We are aliens within our own country.”
However, a significant number of people defended the establishment’s right to enforce a dress code. “That’s a private restaurant and they have every right to decide who enters and what they’re wearing. It’s not public property,” argued one user. Another echoed this sentiment, saying, “All restaurants have ‘Rights of Admission Reserved.’ Don’t make a scene for fame. Just go somewhere else.”
The public outcry eventually caught the attention of the authorities. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra confirmed that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta took cognizance of the video and ordered an inquiry. Following an intervention by the District Magistrate and a municipal officer, the restaurant’s owner has reportedly confirmed that the controversial policy will no longer be enforced.
