Police to question Ashis Nandy, three others in Delhi

Jaipur, Jan 29 (IANS) A Rajasthan Police team will leave for Delhi Wednesday to record the statement of sociologist Ashis Nandy on his comment on Dalits, tribals and other backward classes (OBCs) at a Jaipur Literature Festival session, an official said Tuesday.

The team will also record the statement of Nandy’s fellow panellists Tarun Tejpal, Richard Sorabjee and Urvashi Butalia.

Nandy was booked under the SC/ST Act Saturday for his comment linking Dalits, tribals and backward classes to corruption.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Prahlad Krishaniya said: “We will rush a team to Delhi tomorrow (Wednesday) to record statements of Nandy as well as other panellists who were with him during the session.”

A notice has been dispatched to Nandy requiring him to appear before the police for questioning, he said.

The sociologist sparked widespread protests from activists of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes groups who had demonstrated at the venue — the Diggi Palace — Saturday and Sunday. Nandy left for Delhi Sunday while skipping a session.

A first information report has been registered against him at a police station here under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) and one section of the Indian Penal Code, police said.

IANS 2013-01-29 22:30:21