Retail giant sacks staff for offensive comments on Kerala temple row

dubai — An Indian expat in Riyadh was fired from his job on Tuesday for posting offensive comments on the Sabarimala row.

Deepak Pavithram, an employee of Lulu Hypermarket in the Saudi capital, was sacked for making misogynist and insensitive comments about women on social media.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, V. Nandakumar, Chief Communications Officer at Lulu Group said: “We have a strict and zero tolerance policy with regard to our staff misusing social media to spread malicious or derogatory comments which might hurt religious sentiments. All GCC nations are home to a large cosmopolitan population from almost all countries in the world and we respect their sentiments, culture and religious beliefs.”

Kerala expats in the Gulf took to social media to express their appreciation for Yusuff Ali MA, chairman and managing director for taking a strong step against the derogatory remarks.

The Supreme Court on September 28 had ruled that women would be allowed entry into Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

The temple opened its door for women of all age groups for the first time on Wednesday after the historic ruling.

This is the second termination in recent times by the Lulu Group on similar grounds.

In August 2018, they had terminated the services of a Keralite expat in Oman after he posted distasteful comments about flood victims in Kerala.

He had posted a comment on a Facebook seeking sanitary napkins in relief camps.

The company took action against him despite his apology for the remarks the next day. The organisation follows a zero tolerance policy for misconduct.

We have a strict and zero tolerance policy with regard to our staff misusing social media to spread malicious or derogatory comments which might hurt religious sentiments.

V. Nandakumar, Chief Communications Officer, Lulu Group

No one should be able to change the way this temple has functioned for centuries... If any change is made they will have to kill us and go over our bodies.

Biju S. Pillai, a local resident

It was shocking that officers were there doing nothing... Protesters had free rein, attacking our vehicle.

Radhika Ramaswamy, CNN NEWS 18 journalist

I am here to protest the Supreme Court decision... We want to save our traditions.

Anisha S, engineer