Upaksham Ramteke
Chief Executive Editor
New Delhi :-
The Dalit and black communities suffer from a victim mentality. You cannot progress by remaining a victim forever or playing the victim card. A complaint has been filed with the National Human Rights Commission against JNU Vice Chancellor Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit, who made such a controversial statement.
Former JNU Students’ Union President Dhananjay filed this complaint on Tuesday. The complaint alleges that the Vice Chancellor’s statements have increased hostility, hatred and malice against the Dalit community.
In the complaint filed by former JNU Students’ Union President Dhananjay, it has been claimed that the Vice Chancellor’s statement violates the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The Act was enacted to prevent atrocities and hate crimes against the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Act criminalizes acts that insult, humiliate or create social enmity against members of these communities and provides for mechanisms for prompt investigation and legal action to ensure protection of their rights and dignity.
The petition has sought the immediate intervention of the National Judicial Commission (NCSC), to take cognizance of the complaint, register a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, conduct an inquiry by an independent committee and initiate disciplinary and legal action against the Vice Chancellor, including his removal from office.
The complaint states that the Vice Chancellor has not tendered any apology, which further strengthens the belief that the remarks were deliberate and intended to promote discrimination.
Dhananjay argued that the comments made by the head of the central university have had a serious impact on Dalit students and have created feelings of hatred and animosity towards students from other marginalized communities.
The complaint states that the conduct of Shantishree D. Pandit, who holds a responsible academic post, is criminal and reprehensible. Educational institutions should be havens of inclusivity, knowledge and constitutional morality. On the contrary, her statements have created a divide between students and members of Dalit and marginalized communities and caused them emotional distress.
The complaint also claims that after Pandit’s comments were circulated, incidents of harassment of students from Dalit and marginalized communities have taken place and the atmosphere on the campus has become hostile.
Apart from this, another complaint has been filed by Suraj Kumar Boudh, founder of Mission Ambedkar, a forum that works to spread the teachings of B.R. Ambedkar. Similar concerns have been raised in the complaint filed by Boudh.
He requested the NCSC to inquire into whether these comments are prejudicial, create enmity or create contempt or disrespect towards the Scheduled Caste communities and issue a notice seeking a detailed explanation from the Vice Chancellor.
It may be known that JNU Vice Chancellor Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit recently made a controversial statement on Scheduled Caste. She had said that Dalit and Black communities suffer from a victim mentality. You cannot progress by remaining a victim forever or playing the victim card. A controversy has arisen after the video of her statement went viral on social media. Many have condemned Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit’s controversial statement.
