Dalit ban: Ramdas Athawale to move to Supreme Court

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale has shared his plan to move to Supreme Court against a Bombay High Court directive to the government. The Republican Party of India leader was upset with the directive that stated to refrain from using the word “Dalit” officially and in the media.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Athawale said that the word ‘Dalit’ symbolises the struggle undertaken to give these communities their rights. According to him, using the word ‘Dalit’ is not an insult.

Taking his arguments further, Athawale was of the opinion that he does not oppose to the use of the term “Scheduled Caste” in government affairs, the word “Dalit” should not be turned into a “worrisome word” in common usage. However, using the word ‘Dalit’  should not be turned into a “worrisome word” in common usage, he added.

He said as published in The Hindu, “I have no objection to the use of ‘Scheduled Caste’ in government works, but it isn’t fair to ban media, authors and other such persons from using the word ‘Dalit’. It should be left to them whether they wish to say Scheduled Caste or Dalit.”

It is to be known taken in consideration that last month the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had issued an advisory to all media outlets not to use the word while referring to the Scheduled Castes, reports The Hindu.

Commenting on the latest Dalit row, another Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan was cautious. He stated, “The word Dalit is aggressive by nature. You can use any word, Dalit or Scheduled Caste; it is meant for the oppressed and exploited classes. Such debates will not exist if we are able to put an end to this oppression.”

ALSO READ: Ministry of I&B asks media to refrain from using the term, ‘Dalit’