Organisers of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) handed over the CD and speech of sociologist Ashis Nandy to police in Jaipur, as they probe his remarks against members of the scheduled castes and tribes. The noted sociologist and political scientist, while addressing the Lit Fest on January 26, had blamed other backward classes (OBCs), Schedule Castes (SCs) and Schedule Tribes (STs) for corruption in society. The remarks kicked off a furor, with many voices condemning Nandy for his remarks. A case was registered against Nandy, and his remarks condemned as insensitive and inaccurate.
The JLF's organiser, Sanjoy Roy, said that the festival was a platform for debate and that any objections to the statement must be engaged with in a democratic manner, and not through a gag on free speech.
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