Joint Statement: Issued on behalf of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Citizens for Democracy (CFD)
Tags: Ashis Nandy Controversy, Rajasthan Government, Social Justice and Human Rights
Related Issue: Right to Free Speech, Right to Equality, Right to Fair Trial, Right to Due Process
Police Action against Ashis Nandy Condemned
We deprecate strongly the police action being taken against Ashis Nandy. The accusation that Nandy has made derogatory casteist remarks against dalits and OBCs are utterly baseless. Ashis Nandy has been longstanding friend and guide of the OBC and dalit cause and his record for such deprived sections of society extending over three decades would show how false and motivated such allegations are.
We condemn the action of the Rajasthan Government for having initiated proceedings against him. We demand that proceedings be immediately withdrawn. The government and the people who have leveled allegations against him should take them back and express unqualified apology to him.
We also call upon the National Commission For SCs to discontinue the inquiry, which is totally uncalled for.
Signed and issued by: Justice Rajindar Sachar (Retd), Kuldip Nayar, N.D. Pancholi,
Mahi Pal Singh, National Secretary, PUCL