Hindu-Muslim couple ‘denied’ room in hotel

young couple from Kerala was allegedly denied a room in a hotel here on Tuesday because they belonged to different faiths.

Shafeek Subaida Hakkim and his Hindu wife Divya DV alleged being denied a room at Olive Residency here simply because of their different religions.

They said the hotel refused to give them a room saying that it is not acceptable for a Muslim and a Hindu to stay together.

“[The receptionist] noted the names in the register and then realised that I am a Muslim, while my wife is Hindu. He asked us if we were married as we follow different religions. When I confirmed that we were in fact married, he refused to give us a single room saying that it is not acceptable for a Muslim and a Hindu to stay together,” Shafeek told The News Minute.

However, the hotel has denied this version of events. On Wednesday hotel officials said the issue arose because the couple did not have any luggage.

“The reception got suspicious because they did not have any luggage and asked for a room for half an hour,” a spokesperson for the hotel said.

“We do not give rooms on that basis. If the couple had at least shown proof that they were here for some official work, we would have given them a room ,” he said.

The police are not taking any suo motu action, a police officer at the Wilson Garden police station here said. “We visited the hotel because of it was in the news, but the hotel said the couple was denied a room because they did not provide ID proof,” he said.