New Delhi: A tense exchange between a woman passenger and an Uber driver whose vehicle broke down mid-journey has gone viral. A video of the interaction shows the woman unleash a barrage of insults at the driver. While the video itself doesn't make the context of the argument clear, text running on the screen says it began after Uber charged the woman for the journey completed until the car broke down. The interaction between the passenger and the driver suggests the amount charged was Rs 150.
The video begins with the woman expressing her frustration about the breakdown and threatening legal action against the driver. Despite his pleas that she understand the situation, the woman is seen referring to his taxi as "inadequate (ghatiya, do kodi ki gadi)".
In his defence, the driver explains that he depends on this job for sustenance, but the woman dismisses his pleas, saying he should maintain the vehicle better if it is indeed his "rozi-roti".
The woman is seen persistently demanding a refund for the deducted fare, ignoring the driver's explanation that refunds are handled by Uber. She even accused him of being a fraudster, disregarding his attempts to clarify the situation.
When the driver threatened to report her behaviour to Uber, the woman got worked up. She escalated the situation with threats of physical violence and public humiliation, yelling, "Chappal marungi sidha muh pe (will throw a slipper straight at your face)."
The video has triggered widespread reactions from viewers, with many condemning the woman's behaviour as unacceptable.
Respect Is A Two-Way Street: Uber Reacts
The transportation aggregator reacted to the incident saying "respect is a two-way street".
In a statement, the Uber said, "We believe respect is a two way street and there is no place for threatening, discriminatory and inappropriate behaviour on the Uber platform."
"Any proven discriminatory behaviour may lead to penalties including removal of user's access from the Uber app and we will be guided by our community guidelines in all such cases, including this one," said the Uber spokesperson.