The incident unfolded when Nazia Elahi Khan entered the Mumbai store and demanded a meeting with the store manager, identified as Mohsin Khan. According to video footage of the exchange, the BJP leader aggressively questioned the manager regarding allegations that Hindu employees were being discouraged from wearing symbols of their faith at work. She accused the management of selective restriction, claiming that while Islamic attire such as the hijab was permitted, traditional Hindu markers like the tilak and bindi were being suppressed. During the confrontation, Khan ordered Hindu staff members to step forward and identify themselves, subsequently applying tilak to their foreheads. During this act, she asserted that there is no shame in bearing the mark, noting that she herself wore one despite being a Muslim.
While the manager, Mohsin Khan, repeatedly denied the accusations of discrimination during the encounter, the leader continued to target him with slogans and questioned whether he compromised his own religious practices. The roots of the confrontation lie in screenshots of an alleged company style guide that surfaced online, which appeared to restrict tilaks and bindis while offering specific provisions for turbans and hijabs. Critics argued these policies were inconsistent with constitutional protections. In the wake of the controversy, Lenskart issued a formal clarification stating that its updated guidelines explicitly and unambiguously welcome every symbol of faith and culture. The company confirmed that bindi, tilak, sindoor, hijab, and turban are all permitted, while offering a deep apology to any team members who felt their faith was unwelcome. This event underscores the volatile nature of workplace identity politics and the significant pressure on Indian corporations to maintain cultural inclusivity in a highly sensitive social landscape.
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