Complaint against BJD MP Tathagat Satpathy for remarks against tribals

BJP is afraid of truth, says the lawmaker

By Our Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR, FEB. 18: The Odisha state unit of BJP has lodged a complaint against BJD Lok Sabha member Tathagat Satpathy at Capital police station here for his controversial remarks against tribal people on his tweeter account.

The saffron party on Sunday alleged that Dhenkanal MP has insulted the tribal community by posting derogatory statements on social media.

“The MP has insulted the tribal community. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act 2016 clearly states that complaint can be lodged if tribal people are mentally and psychologically tortured in any platform. The constitution has provided me the right to complain and I have utilised it,” Sishir Gamang, BJP leader said on Sunday, adding the party has lodged a police complaint against the lawmaker on Friday.

Responding to Mr Gamang, the MP Mr Satpathy said that they were afraid of the truth.

“I can’t make them understand whatever I have tweeted about Ekalavya schools. Anybody can go through these tweets. They filed the FIR only out of fear as the truth came to fore,” Mr Satpathy told a local television channel over telephone.

On Thursday, the parliamentarian had tweeted “School for Adivasis? Well, teach ‘those’ types how to shoot arrows, dance a dumb dance, make crude mats and all. Don’t tell them nothing about computers, environmental and other sciences, languages, maths. No never. They are fit for jungle life,” Tathagat tweeted.

He had further mentioned on his social media account, “Surprised most people unaware what curriculum these Eklavya schools are designed to follow! That’s why maybe they are incapable comprehend irony. Pity them.”