NEW DELHI, June 23: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed report from the Maharashtra government about an incident in which two South African air hostesses were denied entry in a Mumbai bar because they were black.Taking suo motu notice of media reports about apartheid in a Mumbai cafe, the NHRC has asked the state Chief Secretary to send in his report to the Commission by August 4. If the Commission does not receive a detailed report from the State Government, it will take action as it deems fit.
The incident at Cafe Leopald in Colaba on June 19 was first reported by The Indian Express. The two stewardesses had gone to the cafe for lunch, where they were joined by some Indian friends. When they decided to move to the bar upstairs, the watchman stopped the South Africans. They were reportedly told the managenment's policy was not to allow Blacks in the bar.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra government would seek a police report on the reported incident. ``I will get the police toexamine the issue after receiving a letter from the commission to see what action can be initiated,'' the state chief secretary P Subrahmanyam said tonight.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
