An Indian data scientist who has faced vitriolic attack over his video showing how he used food banks in Canada has claimed that it was a racial bias that got people to target him, he told an international media agency. In that he feared for his safety and had not ventured out of his room for the last six days.
The Indian Data Scientist Mehul Prajapati who is on a student visa in Canada reached out to the Indian media agency. To share his side of the story after facing attacks over his video. The video showed how he used food banks, meant for the underprivileged and struggling students to stock up on grocery and save money.
The now deleted video went viral and he faced severe backlash. Many people pointed out that Prajapati’s salary reportedly around 98,000 Canadian dollars per year meant he did not to rely on food banks intended for struggling students. They tagged his employer TD Bank and sought action against him. TD Bank confirmed that Prajapati was no longer working with it.
Mehul Prajapati arrived in Canada in 2022 on a student visa and to pursue a master’s degree at the Wilfrid Laurier University. As an international student, he highlighted the challenges, including financial strain and mental stress of being away from family in a foreign country. While sharing his story, with the Indian media agency, Prajapati said it was not possible for him to have worked full time with TD Bank because he was on student visa.
Regarding his employment status, Prajapati explained that his course included an internship which concluded on December 22, 2023. Since then, he has not worked in any organisation. The University in collaboration with Laurier Students Public Interest Groups and Martin Luther University College provides free groceries to students facing food insecurity.
Prajapati said his video was for educational purposes and meant for international students. He said he only mentioned his college food bank and not government run banks, in his video. The resource mentioned in the video is meant for university students specifically, not he general public. Everything I mentioned is factual as per the website, said Prajapati.
The college website elaborates on the program stating that it offers free groceries and essentials for Laurier and Luther students in need. To access this, the students must be enrolled at either college or have identification.
Prajapati had also volunteered for the program previously. “LSPIRG and Martin Luther College welcome you to our Free Weekly Distro Program to combat food insecurity on campus, we provide free groceries and other essentials for Laurier and Luther students who need them,” the college website said. “Take as much as you need. We don’t limit how many students take because we don’t know how much you need,” the website added.
In the video, he emphasised checking university websites as the content was tailored for students. Prajapati clarified that his intention was to inform students about university food banks and not to steal resources. My aim was to help students and not take from others.
“For the past six days, I have stayed indoors due to mental stress caused by hurtful comments. These accounts are spreading rumours without solid proof targeting a specific group. It is racial and discriminatory bullying and I am a victim of it,” Prajapati concluded. Prajapati’s story is yet another reminder of the dark side of social media where people from instantaneous opinions and gang up on individuals without caring for the whole truth.
