Lucknow: After the recent controversy regarding the newly opened Lulu Mall in Lucknow, about employing 80 percent Muslim staff, the Mall has now given clarification that its 80 percent staff is Hindu and not Muslim as claimed on social media. Meanwhile commenting upon the recent Namaz controversy, Jayakumar Gangadhar, Regional Director of Lulu Mall, issued a statement saying that no one is allowed to conduct religious activities in the establishment.
Lulu Mall Lucknow administration has rejected the allegations of Muslim bias, saying that it is a completely professional establishment, which does business without any discrimination. The statement said that our employees are hired on the basis of skill and qualification and not on the basis of caste, class or religion. The parent company of the mall, Lulu Group International, is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
It is sad that some selfish elements are trying to target our establishment, the statement said. The statement further clarified that 80 per cent of their employees are Hindus and the rest are Muslims, Christians and from various other communities. The mall administration has lodged an FIR and took appropriate action against those who offered prayers in a public place, the statement said.
Police said two people were recently arrested after they entered Lulu Mall on Saturday and recited Hanuman Chalisa. At least 15 others were detained for creating a ruckus while trying to enter the shopping mall. The police had registered an FIR on Thursday based on a complaint by a representative of the mall, which claimed that the people seen in the video offering prayers are not members of their staff. Hindu Mahasabha activists staged a protest after a video of a group of people offering prayers at the mall surfaced on social media.
Also read: Priyanka Chopra gets emotional on horrific Texas School Shooting
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Gopal Krishna Choudhary had told that on the basis of written complaint, sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295A (deliberately done with intent to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons has been included in the FIR. The matter is being investigated by registering an FIR under the relevant sections) and other related sections. The mall administration on Friday put up a notice in the entire premises that no religious prayer would be allowed in the mall.
It is worth noting that Lulu Mall in Lucknow is being called the biggest shopping mall of UP. Ever since this mall was started, this Lulu Mall has been in discussion since then. Let us tell you that a branch of Lulu Group located at Abu Dhabi Headquarters was started at Shaheed Path in Lucknow which was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Lulu Group is headed by Indian-origin businessman Yusuf Ali MA.
One Comment