New Delhi, Oct 6: A war of words broke out between Ola founder Bhavish Agarwal and stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on Sunday on social media platform X over the after sales and service quality of the company's electric scooters. It started when Kamra responded to a post on X by Agarwal, who posted a photo of Ola's gigafactory, by putting a picture of several Ola Electric scooters parked together seemingly waiting for servicing.
"Do Indian consumers have a voice? Do they deserve this? Two wheelers are many daily wage workers lifeline ...," Kamra wrote along with the photo. He tagged Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari, asking: "Is this how Indians will get to using EV's?" The comedian also tagged the official handle of Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India @jagograhakjago, seeking an answer saying "any word?" Kamra further wrote, "Anyone who has an issue with OLA electric leave your story below tagging all...". ‘Will Pay You More Than You Earned For This Paid Tweet’: Bhavish Aggarwal Slams Kunal Kamra After Comedian Criticises Handling of Ola Electric Scooters Outside Dealership Store.
To this Agarwal responded, "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." He further said, "We're expanding service network fast and backlogs will be cleared soon."
To the "failed comedy career" remark by Agarwal, Kamra responded by posting a video clip of one of his shows with audience clapping and cheering and called the Ola Electric founder and CMD "arrogant and substandard". In response, Agarwal said,"Chot lagi? Dard hua? Aaja service center. Bahut kaam Hai. (Did it hurt. It's very less. Come to service center). I will pay better than your flop shows pay you."
Kamra then challenged Agarwal to "give a total refund to anyone who wants to return their OLA EV & who's purchased it in the last four months", saying he doesn't need his money but "people not being able to get to their workplace need your accountability". "Show your customers that you truly care," Kamra asserted. Agarwal hit back saying,"We have enough programs for our customers if they face service delays. If you were a genuine one, you would have known. Again, don't try and back out of this. Come and do some real work rather than armchair criticism." Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal Launches ‘Hyper Service’ for Customers With 1-Day Quick Service Guarantee, AI-Powered Maintenance and More.
Bhavish Aggarwal Responds to Kunal Kamra’s Post
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.
— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) October 6, 2024
Or else sit quiet and let us focus on fixing the issues for the real customers. We’re expanding service network fast and backlogs… https://t.co/ZQ4nmqjx5q
Kunal Kamra and Bhavish Aggarwal Engage in War of Words
So you can’t offer a 100 percent refund to people who have purchased your OLA in the last 4 months who are genuine customers…
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) October 6, 2024
But you want to pay me who’s not a costumer.
let me give you other options.
Can you do 85 percent refund for 1/ 2 months?
Can you do 75 percent… https://t.co/iYyHFAOmz3
Instead can you give a total refund to anyone who wants to return their OLA EV & who’s purchased it in the last 4 months?
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) October 6, 2024
I don’t need your money people not being able to get to their workplace need your accountability.
Show your customers that you truly care? https://t.co/tI2dwZT2n2
Come and Do Some Real Work
We have enough programs for our customers if they face service delays. If you were a genuine one, you would have known.
— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) October 6, 2024
Again, don’t try and back out of this. Come and do some real work rather than armchair criticism. https://t.co/HFFKgsl7d9
Many Ola Electric consumers jumped into the spat and complained about the service quality of the company, asking Agarwal to address their issues.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
New Delhi, Nov 22: Flipkart's co-founder Binny Bansal has stepped down from the board of PhonePe, the fintech company said on Friday.
PhonePe also announced the appointment of Manish Sabharwal as an Independent Director and Chair of its Audit Committee.
In this role, Sabharwal will be instrumental in upholding the integrity and effectiveness of PhonePe's financial reporting, internal controls, and risk management practices, he company said in a release.
"PhonePe also announced that Flipkart's co-founder, Binny Bansal has stepped down from its Board of Directors. Binny acquired PhonePe in 2016 and has been on its Board since then," the release said.
Commenting on the board rejig, Sameer Nigam, CEO and Founder of PhonePe said, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Binny Bansal for being one of PhonePe's earliest and staunchest supporters. His active engagement, strategic guidance, and personal mentorship have profoundly enriched our discussions. Binny will be missed!"
Nigam further said that Sabharwal's depth of understanding of India's macro economy, coupled with his leadership in shaping India's policies for education, employment, and employability will be invaluable as PhonePe continues to work ahead towards shared vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Sabharwal is Vice-Chairman of Teamlease Services, India's largest staffing and human capital firm.
Bansal played an instrumental role in Flipkart's acquisition of PhonePe way back in 2016 and had been on its board since then (the payments firm separated from Flipkart in 2022).