Nandy's Remark Indirect Attack on Muslims, Alleges Group | news.outlookindia.com
After groups affiliated to OBC, SC and ST communities, a Muslim outfit today joined the bandwagon by criticising renowned sociologist Ashis Nandy for his controversial remark at the ongoing Literature Festival here.
Newly-formed Azmat-E-Rasool foundation alleged here that the author's comment, in which he purportedly said that people from OBC, SC and ST communities were the "most corrupt", is an "indirect attack" on the Muslim community.
"Nandy made comment against ST, SC and OBC. Many of the minority communities are under OBC so it is indirect attack on minorities," said Paikar Farukh of the foundation.
He demanded legal action against Nandy and the organiser of Literature Festival and threatened a protest in the evening.
"The remark of Nandy is highly condemnable. He intentionally hurt sentiments of ST, SC and OBC people by accusing them of being most corrupt and we support protest of ST and SCs against him," he said.
He alleged that the festival was promoting Western culture and executing the agenda of Western and corporate world.
"Freedom of expression does not allow anyone to attack other communities and hurt sentiments, but in the name of freedom of expression the authors and the organisers are repeatedly violating the law," he said.
Foundation chairperson Habib Khan Garnet alleged that the organisers conferred award on author Jeet Thayil to "tease" Muslims.
"Thayil was among the four authors who read from the banned book 'The Satanic Verses' of Salman Rushdie last year and hurt our sentiments, and for this he was awarded the Prize by the organisers," he alleged.
Thayil was awarded DSC Prize for South-Asian Literature, carrying a prize money of USD 50,000, for his debut novel Narcopolis on Friday.
"His selection for the prize was to tease us," he alleged.
Nandy had kicked up a storm with his comments that people from OBC, SC and ST communities were the "most corrupt" at a session yesterday.
Besides sharp reactions, an FIR was lodged against him at a local police station.
Amid protest and demand for his arrest, Nandy has left the city.
Business Line : News : Ashis Nandy says OBC, SC, ST most corrupt; triggers storm
Noted author Ashis Nandy today stoked a major row with his comments that people belonging to OBC, SC and ST communities were the most corrupt, remarks that came under all round attack.
It is a fact that most of the corrupt come from OBCs and Scheduled Castes and now increasingly the Scheduled Tribes, he said participating in a session at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival.
Going further, he said, I will give an example. One of the states with the least amount of corruption is state of West Bengal when the CPI(M) was there. And I must draw attention to the fact that in the last 100 years, nobody from OBC, SC and ST has come anywhere near to power. It is an absolutely clean state.
He was immediately challenged by one of the panelists Ashutosh, a TV journalist.
This is the most bizarre statement I have heard. The Brahmins and the upper cast can do away with all the corruption but when a low caste person emulates the same thing it becomes so wrong. Such a statement is not right, he said.
Nandys comments triggered a storm with BSP chief Mayawati and LJP leader Ram Vilas demanding registration of case under SC/ST Act against Nandy. Mayawati wanted him to be jailed immediately. Congress, BJP, JD(U), CPI as also the SC Commission Chairman P L Punia also condemned the remarks.
While seeking to clarify, Nandy made a flip flop saying he would apologise if he had been misunderstood.
However, when questioned further, he said I dont apologise at all because I hold it very close to my heart. I was, in fact, supporting the cause of those who are marginalised and those who are in minority and those who are oppressed. I have spent all my life supporting their causes and will continue doing it.
He said he actually meant that if people from OBC, SC and ST indulge in corruption, it is corruption indeed while those from upper caste can go scotfree.
After groups affiliated to OBC, SC and ST communities, a Muslim outfit today joined the bandwagon by criticising renowned sociologist Ashis Nandy for his controversial remark at the ongoing Literature Festival here.
Newly-formed Azmat-E-Rasool foundation alleged here that the author's comment, in which he purportedly said that people from OBC, SC and ST communities were the "most corrupt", is an "indirect attack" on the Muslim community.
"Nandy made comment against ST, SC and OBC. Many of the minority communities are under OBC so it is indirect attack on minorities," said Paikar Farukh of the foundation.
He demanded legal action against Nandy and the organiser of Literature Festival and threatened a protest in the evening.
"The remark of Nandy is highly condemnable. He intentionally hurt sentiments of ST, SC and OBC people by accusing them of being most corrupt and we support protest of ST and SCs against him," he said.
He alleged that the festival was promoting Western culture and executing the agenda of Western and corporate world.
"Freedom of expression does not allow anyone to attack other communities and hurt sentiments, but in the name of freedom of expression the authors and the organisers are repeatedly violating the law," he said.
Foundation chairperson Habib Khan Garnet alleged that the organisers conferred award on author Jeet Thayil to "tease" Muslims.
"Thayil was among the four authors who read from the banned book 'The Satanic Verses' of Salman Rushdie last year and hurt our sentiments, and for this he was awarded the Prize by the organisers," he alleged.
Thayil was awarded DSC Prize for South-Asian Literature, carrying a prize money of USD 50,000, for his debut novel Narcopolis on Friday.
"His selection for the prize was to tease us," he alleged.
Nandy had kicked up a storm with his comments that people from OBC, SC and ST communities were the "most corrupt" at a session yesterday.
Besides sharp reactions, an FIR was lodged against him at a local police station.
Amid protest and demand for his arrest, Nandy has left the city.
Business Line : News : Ashis Nandy says OBC, SC, ST most corrupt; triggers storm
Noted author Ashis Nandy today stoked a major row with his comments that people belonging to OBC, SC and ST communities were the most corrupt, remarks that came under all round attack.
It is a fact that most of the corrupt come from OBCs and Scheduled Castes and now increasingly the Scheduled Tribes, he said participating in a session at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival.
Going further, he said, I will give an example. One of the states with the least amount of corruption is state of West Bengal when the CPI(M) was there. And I must draw attention to the fact that in the last 100 years, nobody from OBC, SC and ST has come anywhere near to power. It is an absolutely clean state.
He was immediately challenged by one of the panelists Ashutosh, a TV journalist.
This is the most bizarre statement I have heard. The Brahmins and the upper cast can do away with all the corruption but when a low caste person emulates the same thing it becomes so wrong. Such a statement is not right, he said.
Nandys comments triggered a storm with BSP chief Mayawati and LJP leader Ram Vilas demanding registration of case under SC/ST Act against Nandy. Mayawati wanted him to be jailed immediately. Congress, BJP, JD(U), CPI as also the SC Commission Chairman P L Punia also condemned the remarks.
While seeking to clarify, Nandy made a flip flop saying he would apologise if he had been misunderstood.
However, when questioned further, he said I dont apologise at all because I hold it very close to my heart. I was, in fact, supporting the cause of those who are marginalised and those who are in minority and those who are oppressed. I have spent all my life supporting their causes and will continue doing it.
He said he actually meant that if people from OBC, SC and ST indulge in corruption, it is corruption indeed while those from upper caste can go scotfree.
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