It was 2017 when N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, probably embracing globalization in his state, welcomed the South Koreans into the nation. He encouraged them to set up their plant saying, “Make our state your second home, we will facilitate everything.”
However, what we probably didn’t expect was that the Koreans would acquire a part of Andhra Pradesh and deny Indians to enter their ‘province.’
Yes, you read it right: Indians are not allowed in some restaurants and hotels, in India.
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Indians Not Allowed In These Korean Restaurants In India
Somewhere near the Penukonda village of Anantapur is the plant of Kia Motors, which is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. No sooner was the plant was set up, restaurants and guesthouses sprung up in the area.
What is shocking and absolutely not cool is that these guesthouses and even restaurants do not allow Indians to enter. The local residents around the area are also not allowed inside the organizations.
Establishments set up exclusively for Koreans on Indian land and denying entry to Indians is clearly discrimination and a violation of constitutional rights.
Discrimination Against Indians, In India, by Indians
This was brought to light by a media channel called, ‘Sadak Se Sansad,’ who put up a video of their experience when their reporters tried to enter the restaurant and were denied entry.
Two of their representatives went inside the restaurant and asked the manager if the restaurant was only open for Koreans.
To which the manager, who is also a Korean, gave an affirmative answer. However, the manager got in touch with the owner of the restaurant, and as it was evident that they were media personnel, the owner gave them ‘permission’ to have food here.
Although the question arises, what happens when another Indian, without the help of a camera or an ongoing recording enters a Korean restaurant? They are simply not allowed inside.
Check the entire video here.
The Practice Of Discrimination Against Indians Rising
This is not the first time that such discrimination against Indians has been uncovered. This has been going on for a while now and no action has been taken against this.
Rahul M, a journalist working with the People’s Archive of Rural India, shared his experience on Twitter in March 2018. He went to eat at a Korean restaurant but was not allowed entry into it.
The restaurant, Mojave in Anantapur, has set up posters that say Indians are not allowed inside. Rahul said, “Opening a commercial public space and not letting everyone come in is discriminatory.”
Discrimination Against Indians Not Allowed As Per Constitution
Article 15 of the Indian Constitution states that businesses cannot discriminate “on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth… with regard to—
(a) access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or…”.
Discrimination is a huge issue in the world and yet, organizations such as restaurants are the least of all places where such incidents are least expected to happen.
How is setting up restaurants in a particular country and denying permissions to the locals fair? Although a mini South Korean township is expected to be built here in Anantapur, this does not justify denying Indians permission to enter restaurants built in India.
When will the Government take notice of such discriminatory practices that are rampant in India?