According to reports, the incident unfolded on Tuesday evening when the elderly man and his son arrived at GT Mall.
An incident at Bengaluru's GT Mall has stirred widespread outrage after an elderly man was reportedly denied entry for wearing a dhoti, a traditional Indian attire. The incident, captured on a viral video, shows the elderly man and his son pleading with security personnel despite having tickets for a movie.
According to reports, the incident unfolded on Tuesday evening when the elderly man and his son arrived at GT Mall. They were stopped at the entrance by security personnel who allegedly cited a mall policy prohibiting entry to individuals dressed in dhotis.
In the video footage, the elderly man can be seen calmly explaining their situation, mentioning they had travelled a long distance and couldn't change clothes. However, the mall supervisor reportedly insisted that these were strict instructions from management and suggested the man change into pants to gain entry.
The video quickly went viral, sparking widespread criticism on social media platforms. Many users condemned the mall's actions, labelling it as disrespectful and discriminatory towards traditional attire.
Political figures also weighed in on the controversy. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised the incident, linking it to broader political issues under the Karnataka Congress government.
"Under Karnataka Congress govt patronage, farmers are being abused and insulted for wearing Dhoti? Banned entry in a mall! The Karnataka CM wears a dhoti! Dhoti is our pride.. Should farmer wear a tuxedo in a mall? (sic)," he expressed on X, while questioning the government's stance on the matter.
Social media users echoed similar sentiments, demanding accountability from GT Mall management and advocating for cultural respect. Calls for corrective action ranged from apologies to compensatory measures such as free movie passes for the elderly man.
As of now, GT Mall management has not issued an official statement addressing the incident.
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 "Viral video: Man denied mall entry in dhoti triggers public backlash, WATCH")
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