Skip to main content

Modi coined the term divyang, why is he mocking dyslexic people?: Disabled rights body

By A Representative
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.

Comments

TRENDING

Small Farm, big success: How an innovative couple built a model of sustainable farming

By Bharat Dogra  In Sema, a remote village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Bhagwati Lal and his wife Rekha share equal credit for creating a remarkable farm that has become an inspiration for villagers and visitors alike. Their achievement demonstrates how even a very small piece of land can provide a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience and protecting the environment.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup*  Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline.