Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has found himself in the middle of an online controversy after lashing out at comedian Kunal Kamra. Kamra had posted a picture on X (formerly Twitter) criticizing the way Ola electric scooters were being kept outside what appeared to be an Ola dealership. Aggarwal responded with a fiery retort, suggesting Kamra either join the company to help or stay silent and let Ola handle customer issues.
Aggarwal wrote on X, “Since you care so much @kunalkamra88, come and help us out! I’ll even pay more than you earned for this paid tweet or from your failed comedy career. Or else sit quiet and let us focus on fixing the issues for the real customers. We’re expanding service network fast and backlogs will be cleared soon.”
Kamra’s original post had questioned the treatment of Ola customers, stating, “Do Indian consumers have a voice? Do they deserve this? Two wheelers are many daily wage workers lifeline… @nitin_gadkari. is this how Indians will get to using EV’s? @jagograhakjago any word? Anyone who has an issue with OLA electric leave your story below tagging all…”
Aggarwal’s response sparked a flurry of reactions from users on X. Many users defended Kamra, pointing out that he was simply highlighting a valid concern about Ola’s customer service. One user, claiming to be a “real” Ola customer, stated that the company’s service had left them disillusioned. Another user criticized Aggarwal’s arrogance, emphasizing that instead of providing a solution, he was blaming the person who raised the issue.
Others echoed the sentiment that Ola needed to address customer concerns. A user urged Aggarwal to fix the issues, questioning whether Ola even acknowledged the problems. Another user pointed to the success of Ola’s competitor, Rapido, as evidence that Ola’s lack of focus on customer service had opened doors for rivals.
This public exchange highlights the growing importance of social media for customers to voice their concerns and for companies to engage with them. Aggarwal’s response, however, may backfire, as it reinforces perceptions of a lack of customer service and a dismissive attitude toward customer complaints.
