Nandy's 'caste comment' triggers controversy, BJP demands apology

 New Delhi, Jan. 26 (ANI): Eminent political critic and sociologist Ashis Nandy's 'caste remark' regarding corruption stirred a major controversy on Saturday, as Dalit thinkers along with politicians condemned the remark and demanded immediate withdrawal of it.

Nandy alleged that the people belonging to OBC (Other Backward Class), Scheduled Caste (SC) and ST (Scheduled Tribe) are more corrupt during a discussion at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Demanding a public apology from Nandy, Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) spokesperson Rajeev Pratap Rudy said that it is bizarre and unacceptable statement.

"He is a trained sociologist, political analyst and renowned intellectual, but he has made an unacceptable, bizarre statement. No one can agree with such statement. It would be desirable that he tenders a public apology and withdraws his statement. The statement is very uncalled and against the constitution," said Rudy.

Dalit thinker and writer, Chandrabhan Prasad said, "Has there been a survey or a data or any evidence that proves OBC and SC/ST are more corrupt? If there is no such survey or evidence then such statements should not be passed. That means he is misusing his intellectual power, like others have misused."

D. Raja , secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) said that the police should register a case under SC/ST Act against Nandy for his abusive statement.

"Nandy doesn't know what is happening in the society and the country. This statement is really an abuse and it reflects the extreme prejudice of the people against the backward classes. In fact the remark is against the law of the land and invites an action under SC/ST act. I hope the police in Rajsthan and Jaipur must be looking in to the matter, because it is a hate statement," said Raja.

Meanwhile, Sanjoy Roy, organiser of the literature festival, defended Nandy and said his statement had been taken out of context.

However, Nandy later clarified that what he meant was that most of the people getting caught in corruption charges belongs to marginalized sections, as they don't have the means to save themselves unlike people from upper castes. (ANI)