Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stirred a massive controversy after his recent remarks praising Brahmins went viral on Tuesday, September 10.
At a meeting of the Akhil Brahmin Mahasabha in Kota on September 8, Speaker Om Birla said that Brahmins were held in high regard from birth because of their dedication, sacrifice and for the guidance that they provide to other communities.
“Brahmin community always works towards guiding all other communities, and the community has always held a guiding role in this nation,” Birla said during the event. “It has always played a role in spreading education and values in society. And even today if just one Brahmin family lives in a village or a hutment, then that Brahmin family always holds a high position due to its dedication and service. Hence, Brahmins are held in high regard in society by virtue of birth,” Birla said.
He also took to Twitter to make similar comments on the same day and posted images from the event.
समाज में ब्राह्मणों का हमेशा से उच्च स्थान रहा है। यह स्थान उनकी त्याग, तपस्या का परिणाम है। यही वजह है कि ब्राह्मण समाज हमेशा से मार्गदर्शक की भूमिका में रहा है। pic.twitter.com/ZKcMYhhBt8
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) September 8, 2019
The Speaker said that Yuvak Yuviti Parichay Sammelan or youth introduction meetings for Brahmin families searching for prospective brides and grooms was the only way to protect Indian society.
“If we want to bind the society together, then there is only one arrangement today; like our ancestors used to forge alliances for marriage, we today have parichay sammelan, and if we want to save the society, then this is the lone alternative,” Birla said.
He also said that most of the teachers in the country are from Brahmin community.
Om Birla’s comment received massive backlash, and the public has been calling for his resignation as Lok Sabha Speaker.
Birla was asked to withdraw his comments by the State President of People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Kavita Srivastava claiming that his statements establish a community’s supremacy and were against Article 14 of Constitution. Srivastava said the remarks were demeaning towards other castes and promoted casteism. She also threatened to send a complaint to President Ram Nath Kovind.
Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani also sought Birla’s apology. “This celebration of the Indian caste system is not only condemnable but also cringe-worthy,” he tweeted. “It’s a joke on us that a casteist like him is our Lok Sabha speaker. He should publicly apologise for this attitude.”
He added: “It’s a tragedy that such people take oath on our Constitution that wants to annihilate the caste system.”
Problem with apologising is that it will still not change his ridiculous mindset.
It's a tragedy that such people take oath on our constitution that wants to annihilate the caste system.
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) September 10, 2019
Civil rights body People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) also condemned Birla’s casteist remarks, claiming them to be in contravention of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.
“We strongly condemn Om Birla’s statement. It is against Article 14 of the Constitution to establish the domination of any community, to declare any community as superior to other communities. This, in a way, gives a sense of inferiority to other communities. Encourages casteism,” a statement issued by PUCL Rajasthan read.
The Logical Indian
The Logical Indian strongly opposes the casteist remarks made by the Lok Sabha speaker. Such comments by an individual in a Constitutional post only strengthens the hold of the caste system in the society and promotes one caste over the other.
We urge all those who have sworn to uphold and abide by the Constitution to help eradicate the casteist and discriminatory mindset and not encourage it.
Also Read: “A Brahmin Is Twice-Born, Should Be At Helm Of Affairs”: Kerala HC Judge