'If action is not taken, foreign tourists won't feel safe in city'

Australia has gained notoriety for allegedly bullying its guests. Seems India is also drifting away from its philosophy of Atithi Devo Bhavahv Guest is God. Frederico Brasola, a photographer from Rome on holiday in India, an NRI from London, and two of their friends who protested after being denied entry into Club Saffire, a pub at Regent Square in Gurgaon for violating the 'dress code' were brutally beaten up by the pub's bouncers yesterday. Brasola,who had his arm broken in the incident, shares the harrowing experience with MiD DAY.

You were denied entry, as you did not meet the dress code of the club. Did you try to negotiate with them?
After having a bottle of beer at the Ambassador hotel at Khan Market, we reached the club at around 1.30 am.u00a0 At the gates of Saffire, the bouncers refused to let us go in as they said we were not properly dressed up.u00a0 I was in a sleeveless T-shirt and another friend wore casual slippers. I tried to negotiate the matter with smiles. Perhaps they took it in a wrong way.

I even offered them money. When they started abusing us, I lost my temper and said,u00a0 "Get fuck". This was my only mistake, which I don't hesitate to accept.

Did anyone come to help you?
No. Bouncers wre beating us mercilessly while all the staff including the manger were just mute spectator. I gotu00a0 unconscious.

Have you taken any action against the assault?
Despite the threat of being killed, I have filed an FIR in the phase 1 police station. I hope the police will take appropriate action immediately.u00a0

If the necessary action will not be taken, foreigners will feel unsafe to visit the city.
I came here to enjoy my holidays but such unfortunate thing happened which has spoiled my whole plan.

Furious friends

Amit kumar, a travel agent
As bouncers started attacking us with sticks, following an argument, I was trying to call up the police.u00a0 On this they started abusing us and threatened to kill us. Somehow we managed to leave the spot and rushed to the nearby Uma Sanjeevni hospital.
If a hotel like Ambassdor can allow us in this dress why not the Saffire club. It was intentionally done.

Indradeep Dev, NRI from England
The incident is very shameful. I think it was not a racist attack but was a result of poor management by the club.u00a0
I demand an immediate action in the case. If the club is sayingu00a0 that we were drunk, it is baseless.
Since India is one of the biggest tourist destinations, it can not afford to treat the tourists like this. I am in India for the past 18 months to travel across the country. This is my first visit but but sorry to say it is going to be a bitter experience.