After a series of exchanges on social media over Ola Electric’s service issues, comedian Kunal Kamra agreed to join Ola, accepting CEO Bhavish Aggarwal’s job offer—but with specific terms. The debate began earlier this month on X (formerly Twitter), and Kamra’s recent post clarified, “After being tagged thousands of times, I already feel like an Ola employee.”
Background: Kamra Criticizes Ola’s Service Quality
Kamra had posted a photo of numerous Ola scooters parked at a service center, questioning the backlog and its effect on two-wheeler owners. “Do Indian consumers have a voice?” he asked, highlighting the daily struggles of workers dependent on their vehicles.
Aggarwal responded by calling the post a “paid tweet” and challenged Kamra, saying, “Come and help us out! I’ll pay you more than you earned for this or from your comedy career. Otherwise, let us focus on real customers.”
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… https://t.co/ZQ4nmqjx5q
— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) October 6, 2024
Kamra’s Conditions for Ola
Kamra laid out his conditions for joining Ola:
- Ola Electric must complete all scooter repairs within seven business days.
- If repairs take longer, customers should receive a replacement scooter or a daily ₹500 reimbursement.
- Ola should offer ₹500 per day in penalties for delays, capped at ₹50,000.
Kamra also suggested Ola include free service insurance with every scooter to cover service-related issues.
I have no choice but to accept @bhash’s offer to work with OLA…
After being tagged thousands of times I anyway feel like I am an OLA employee.
OLA can seal this collaboration by committing to the below action points & looking forward to joining. pic.twitter.com/flqOgIkUo6— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) October 28, 2024
Calls for Government Intervention
Kamra also urged Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to address Ola’s service problems. He shared a user’s complaint about poor conditions at a service center, asking, “When will government agencies intervene?”
Minister @nitin_gadkari please look at the plight of indian customers,
their voices aren’t heard.
They can’t get to work.
They are taking bad loans to solve an issue that is primarily Ola’s responsibility…
When will government agencies intervene? https://t.co/nJYapedavI— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) October 28, 2024
Ola’s Response to Complaints
Meanwhile, Ola Electric’s CFO Harish Abhichandani recently stated that 99% of complaints had been resolved, assuring customers of the company’s comprehensive redressal program.
Bhavish Aggarwal has yet to respond to Kamra’s demands.