Jaipur, October 25: Police in India are investigating complaints that a five-star hotel hurt Hindu sentiments by letting waiters serve liquor while clad in saffron-coloured clothes inscribed with the word Ram.
Police acted after complaints in the western state of Rajasthan that waiters had served drinks to guests on Friday during Dussehra.
“Investigations are presently on and no offender will be spared”, Superintendent of Police Sanjay Agarwal said on Monday in Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, which is ruled by the BJP.
The hotel apologised, saying in a statement it had no intention of hurting Hindu sentiments. It said its bar held an event based on a 1970s hit Bollywood movie song. In the movie, Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, some characters wore clothes inscribed with “Hare Rama”, a chant in praise of Lord Ram.
The waiters wore inscribed saffron-coloured clothes in imitation of the movie characters. Saffron is the colour most associated with Hinduism. Hindu groups criticised the hotel, calling its action a “blot”.