On March 7, the online food ordering and delivery application Swiggy stirred up controversy with its billboard advertisement moral policing Hindus for Holi celebrations. Swiggy put up billboards to advertise their grocery delivery vertical Swiggy Instamart with hashtag #BuraMatKhelo.
BJP Delhi’s State Secretary Vaishali Poddar (@PoddarVaishali) tweeted, “@Swiggy’s advertisement defaming Holi is highly inappropriate and insensitive towards the Hindu community. The company should take responsibility for its mistake by removing the billboard, reel and apologize to the Hindus. #HinduPhobicSwiggy”
– @Swiggy's advertisement defaming Holi is highly inappropriate and insensitive towards the Hindu community. The company should take responsibility for its mistake by removing the billboard, reel and apologize to the Hindus. #HinduPhobicSwiggy pic.twitter.com/wuSegvzYoW
— Vaishali Poddar (@PoddarVaishali) March 7, 2023
Social media influencer Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) tweeted an image comparing Swiggy’s advertisements on Eid and Christmas with Holi and said, “Swiggy: 1. On Christmas 2. On Eid 3. On Holi #HinduphobicSwiggy.”
https://twitter.com/AskAnshul/status/1632983420778446848
Social media influencer Ankit Pandey (@AnkitPandeyIN) tweeted, “@Swiggy should acknowledge their mistake and apologize to the Hindu community for their Selective irrelevant Holi Gyan. Why don’t you they people not to cut Bakras on Bakrid & Christmas? #HinduPhobicSwiggy,” with an image of Swiggy’s billboard advertisement.
. @Swiggy should acknowledge their mistake and apologize to the Hindu community for their Selective irrelevant Holi Gyan. Why don't you they people not to cut Bakras on Bakrid & Christmas?#HinduPhobicSwiggy pic.twitter.com/JBYPqUUN7b
— Ankit Pandey (@AnkitPandeyIN) March 7, 2023
Swiggy’s campaign with hashtag #BuraMatKhelo has received backlash on social media, with numerous people uninstalling the application. The backlash against Swiggy’s campaign have crossed 36.5 thousand tweets (as of 1:00 PM, March 7) with users.
However, this is not the first time Swiggy has faced backlash on social media. In September 2022, Swiggy’s delivery executives in Chennai went on a strike to demand better pay.
Protests of Swiggy delivery partners continue, today at Collector's Office at Rajaji Road. #swiggy #chennai pic.twitter.com/t4mONSKttW
— S Kaushik (@SKaushi5) September 22, 2022
According to a report as said by a Swiggy delivery executive, “They (Swiggy) have given Rs 24 as petrol allowance per day, which works out to Rs 168 per week. In reality, we spend Rs 200-Rs 250 a day. How can we manage with such low payment.”
According to reports, Swiggy’s delivery executives protested against the startup’s proposed revised structure leading to a Rs. 5000/- per week decline in their income.
Earlier, the e-commerce application faced backlash after a video of their delivery executive sitting on his motorcycle in pouring rain, without a raincoat and getting soaked, went viral on social media.
IPS officer Dipanshu Kabra tweeted, “Unfortunately, only 5 stars can be given in @Swiggy. Crores of stars are also less for such dutiful and hardworking employee,” along with the delivery executive’s video.
However, a Twitter user tweeted, “Looking hard for 5-star rating. Along with season discounts, bags, and T-shirts, you can also give a raincoat to your employee. @swiggy ones,” to which Swiggy replied, “We value the efforts of all our delivery partners, including this executive from Vijayawada. Their safety is of utmost importance to us and we take multiple measures to ensure they are weather ready across the year. All delivery executives have access to reflective rain proof jackets and waterproof bags. They are also covered under medical insurance.”
