From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday asked police in the Capital to investigate the Delhi Golf Club incident and submit a report on it.
The elite club shunted out a Khasi woman, Tailin Lyngdoh, on Sunday because she was wearing Jainsem which, according to two club officials, was “maid’s dress”.
The incident led to an outrage on social media and prompted Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to meet Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday.
Describing the incident as “racial”, Rijiju asked the Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik to inquire the incident which, he said, “will affect the social fabric of the country”.
The Ministry of Urban Development has also sought a factual report from Delhi Golf Club.
Dubbing the incident as “regrettable and unfortunate”, a senior official in the ministry said, “We have sought a report from the club authorities. Appropriate action will be initiated if the club is found violating human rights norms.”
But despite widespread protest from all quarters, the club in a statement said, “We have sought an explanation from the staff and disciplinary action is in the process. An apology has been made to the member who had brought the guest. This has been unconditionally accepted. It is unfortunate that an undesirable attempt is being made to give the incident political and cultural overtones.”
“Incident could have been handled in a better way by the staff, the guests were not asked to leave,” it added.
However, the statement did not say if the elite club had apologised to the guest from Meghalaya for the incident.
Nivedita Barthakur Sondhi, the entrepreneur from the North East and Tailin Lyngdoh’s employer, said neither she nor Lyngdoh had been contacted by the club or received an apology from it.
Lyngdoh works as a governess to Sondhi’s nine-year-old son.
The statement issued by club Secretary Rajiv Hora said, “An item in national dailies and (on) social media relating to the alleged mistreatment of a guest of a Delhi Golf Club member, where the club had apparently objected to the violation of the dress code by the guest has been brought to the notice of the management.”Meanwhile, speaking to newspersons, Tailin Lyngdoh said, “They (Delhi Golf Club staff) told me to leave the dining hall as maids were not allowed. They were very rude. I felt ashamed and angry. I was wearing the traditional Khasi dress Jainsem and they told me this dress was not allowed.”
“I have been to many countries, but this has never happened to me. Surprised to know that this has happened here in Delhi,” she added.
Social activist Suhasini Ali demanded that the NCW should step in and punish the culprits. (With inputs from PTI)