The boy, Aakash, was thrown out of a McDonald's outlet in Pune.
After reports emerged that an eight-year-old destitute child was thrown out of an outlet of McDonald's in Pune, the fast-food giant has suspended the security personnel allegedly involved in the incident.
"The concerned security personnel involved have been suspended pending completion of an enquiry," McDonald's said in a statement.
On January 10, the child, Aakash, was selling balloons outside the fast-food restaurant, when a woman took him inside, promising him a 'Fanta Float' drink.
On seeing the child, a staff member allegedly came and pushed the boy out, saying, "We don't allow 'such' people inside."
"The waiter pushed me out. This has happened before", Aakash told NDTV, highlighting the plight of the homeless in the city.
Speaking to NDTV, Aakash's father said, "That night, when Aakash came back he told me that he was pushed out. He was scared."
The incident came to light after the woman who had taken Aakash inside McDonald's, Shaheena Attarwala, posted his picture on social networking site Facebook and described the demeaning attitude of the employee. The post sparked nation-wide outrage.
In a show of support, an NGO in Kolkata, the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights, today took 15 underprivileged children to a McDonald's and treated them.
"It's very nice," said one of the children as he munched on a burger and fries.
The McDonald's staff at Kolkata was courteous. One of them, on the condition of anonymity said that they felt bad about the Pune incident. "Whatever the parents' financial background, children are children," he said.