The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), condemning what it called "the disrespectful and insensitive" remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an interaction with students at the Smart India Hackathon 2019 organised by the India Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, has said, these were "all the more unpardonable as it comes from a person holding such a high office."
"Instead of answering a question posed by a student, the Prime Minister sought to take potshots at his political rivals. In an uncalled for and totally insensitive response the Prime Minister tried to portray all dyslexic people in poor light", said NPRD, adding, "And this disgusting attitude comes from a person who had equated disability with divinity and coined the term 'divyang'."
According to NPRD, "Even during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign Modi had used terms like blind, deaf, lame etc. to belittle his rivals. It is a reflection of a totally regressive mindset", adding, "Some of his political rivals also display the same tendency. Congress President Rahul Gandhi had called the PM schizophrenic, in the not-too-distant past."
"The PM should under no circumstances should be making such a remark. It also displays scant respect for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 according to which this constitutes an offence. The least the PM can do is apologies for his remarks", Muralidharn, general secretary, NPRD, asserts.
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