‘It’s Like No One Wants Me Anywhere’: Differently-Abled Woman After Gurugram Restaurant Incident

Earlier, in a series of tweets, Srishti Pandey had stated that a staff member at Raasta, Gurgaon told her that other customers “will get disturbed” if she went in with the wheelchair.  

New Delhi: Srishti Pandey, the Differently-abled woman who was “denied” entry into an upscale restaurant in Gurugram’s DLF Cyber Hub, said this was not the first time that she has gone through such an experience. 

“I have been denied access to schools and educational institutions in general, several other places,” she told news agency ANI.

Earlier, in a series of tweets, Srishti Pandey had stated that a staff member at Raasta, Gurgaon told her that other customers “will get disturbed” if she went in with the wheelchair. 

“I decided to go out with my best friend and her family, we went to Raasta Gurgaon in cyber hub and asked for a table for 4 people. Manager ignored us twice but later said that the wheelchair won’t go inside, because it will disturb other customers”: Srishti Pandey said, recounting her experience.

“I was very numb, I didn’t say a word after that, I was just trying to process what was happening. We didn’t expect that kind of treatment from a fancy place like that,” she added.

Srishti further revealed that being a differently-abled woman she has faced these experiences earlier at other places.

“This is not the first time. I have been denied access to schools and educational institutions in general, several other places and now it is eatery as well. It’s like no one wants me anywhere at all,” she said, as quoted by ANI.

Earlier, as Srishti’s tweets gained widespread attention, Raasta’s Founder and Partner Goumtesh Singh had replied to her Twitter thread by apologising and ensuring appropriate action against members found responsible. 

“Dear Ms. Srishti Pandey, I am personally looking into this incident. Let me start by apologising on behalf of the entire team for any bad experience that you may have had. Please rest assured if any of our members are found in the wrong, appropriate action will be taken against them,” Goumtesh wrote. 

The Gurugram Police also took cognisance of the matter, asking Srishti to share details for further action.

(With Agency Inputs)