Janai hunting for an apartment rented again a debate on food-based discrimination in urban housing after he shared a rejection of the owner, citing his non-vegetarian status. The incident has caused shared reactions on the Internet, some calling it covered Castaism, and others defend the owner’s right to choose.
Asking Rangaswami, a resident in search of housing in Chennai, shared a chat with a potential owner who moved him away. The message reads: “Sorry sir. Looking only on the family of vegetables.”
Rangaswami has titled his now Viral Post on X: “Eating Non-Veg is detrimental to finding housing in Chennai.” He later added: “Complete convo directly referring to caste. I said I would completely avoid non-veg in the house. Their concern is not me to eat non-Veg. Their concern is for the caste.”
The conversation string has shown that Rangaswami assured the owner that he would not cook meat in the house and is “95% vegetables”. Despite this, the rejection came hours later.
The problem has polarized social media users. One user wrote: “I’ve been a vegetarian for almost a lifetime. Livediev in Europe surrounded by meat dishes and I have never had a problem. But here, these restrictions feel funny.”
Another claims that such preferences are a matter of comfort: “Famous vegetarians who really feel sick about the smell of meat. If it is comfort, it may make sense, at least for them.”
However, some supported the owner’s decision. “His house, his rules. Buy your own and rent everyone you want,” one user said. Another added: “I am a non-vegetarian and I have never had a problem finding a place in Chenai. Cook meat, drink occasionally, you still find good homes. This is not always difficult.”
Rangaswami has since announced an appeal to monitor: “In need of an apartment in” No Vegetables “in and around Vadapalani, Saligramam, Klambakam, Ashok Nagar. If you have one-please DM. “
In Indian metros, it is not uncommon for renting to depend on eating habits, marital status, religion, and even pet ownership.
