Indian denied job for being Muslim

NEW DELHI: In a blatant case of religious discrimination, a Mumbai-based diamond export company has rejected the job application of a business management graduate on the grounds that he is a Muslim, prompting the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to take up the matter.
Zeshan Ali Khan posted a screenshot of the “regret” email from a senior executive of the company on his Facebook page, which led to a national outrage.
“Thanks for your application. We regret to inform you that we hire only non-Muslim candidates,” read the mail sent by Hare Krishna Exports Private Limited company, which enjoys global presence.
Later lawyer and activist Shehzad Poonawalla filed a complaint to the NCM, Union Home Ministry and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, seeking justice for the alleged case of discrimination. NCM chairperson Naseem Ahmed has acknowledged receipt of the petition.
“If it is true, it is really unfortunate. We have received the petition this morning only and as per our set procedure, we will call for the comments of the respondent company and based on their response, we will decide the course of action,” Ahmed told reporters. The Modi government has taken notice of Zeshan’s case.
“The Constitution of India forbids discrimination on the basis of religion or caste. A company can hire or fire anyone on the basis of merit, not on the basis of religion,” Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Thursday.
Hitting out at the Modi government, Zeshan told reporters over phone, “our Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about inclusive growth, but the reality is that private companies do not care about it. The company could have rejected me if they found I was not qualified enough. But they have rejected me simply because I am a Muslim. Sounds like a joke.”
“At a time when PM Modi is visiting foreign countries and inviting them for investment and pushing ahead the ‘Make in India’ campaign, the leading export houses are rejecting local candidates for their religion,” he emphasised. Zeshan added that he will not accept a job from this company.
“The executives of the company called me today and said it was a typing error. They want me to believe it was a mistake. How can there be a mistake of such nature. I will never accept a job from this company,” he averred.
Reacting to this, Zeshan’s father Ali Ahmed said that Muslims have been left behind in the process of development.