NEW DELHI: Prakash Ambedkar, a nominated member, expressed anguish in the Rajya Sabha that the Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, had used the word “bhangi” in his address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15 while referring to members belonging to the Scheduled Castes.
Raising the matter during zero hour, he said the word was highly derogatory and tried to convey the impression that there were two distinct societies in India,
He said the word was also unconstitutional as the 1992 government order had clearly stated that the members belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should not be referred to in derogatory terms. Not only this, he said, Mahatma Gandhi had coined the word “Harijans” (sons of God) while referring to the Scheduled Castes.
As soon as Ambedkar said this, he was supported by many opposition members, but the ruling Congress members said the member should not feel offended unnecessarily. The BJP member, S.P. Gautam, went to the extent of saying that the Prime Minister should express regret for using the word.
The Home Minister and leader of the house, S.B.Chavan, said the Prime Minister might have used the word inadvertently, Rao, said Chavan, did not mean any disrespect.
Even after the Home Minister explained the government position, Ambedkar and other opposition members were not pacified.
The Deputy Chairperson, Najma Heptulla, told Ambedkar, who is the grandson of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar, that she was fully aware of his hurt feelings.
She said, what had happened at the Red Fort was a mistake and every human being was liable to commit a mistake.
The Deputy Chairperson added that any such derogatory word used on the floor of the house would not be allowed to go on record.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 11, 1992
