New Delhi: The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) has received flak after one of the question papers in an exam Sunday referred to the Bhil community in a derogatory manner.
The question paper referred to the community as ‘drunkards’ and criminals’ and also classified them as a ‘poor tribe’. This has led to an uproar, resulting in #AntiTribalMPPSC trending on Twitter, with many criticising and questioning the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in the state.
The question in a reading comprehension passage stated that due to the Bhil community’s “criminal tendencies they are unable to pay back what they owe to people”.
Paper sparks outrage
The BJP MLA from Pandhana, Ram Dangore, who appeared for the exam on 12 January and is a member of the community, said action should be taken against those who set the paper. He added that he would file a police complaint under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act).
BJP state vice-president Rameshwar Sharma criticised the Kamal Nath government and said the MPPSC question paper was an insult to the Bhil tribe.
“Kamal Nath now thinks that this community, which played an important role in India’s struggle for Independence, is an alcoholic and criminal one,” he said.
Even Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s brother, Laxman Singh, tweeted against the paper. He called for officials in charge of the paper to be punished and sought an apology from Chief Minister Kamal Nath.
Vyapam whistleblower Dr Anand Rai called the incident an insult to the Bhil tribe and demanded immediate removal of MPPSC secretary Renu Pant and called for action against its chairman Bhaskar Chaubey.
Chaubey Monday said that action has been initiated in the case. “The paper setter and moderator have been served notices and they have been given seven days to respond,” he said at a press conference in Bhopal.
The Bhil community
The Bhil tribe is the second largest tribe in India, mainly residing in Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and northern Maharashtra. It is divided into major groups such as Bhil Garasia, Vasave Bhil, Pawra Bhil and Tadvi Bhil.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Bhil community constitutes a substantial part of the population with roughly 60 lakh people.
In May 2019, Payal Tadvi, the doctor at the BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai who committed suicide after she was allegedly subjected to mental torture and harassment on the basis of her caste by senior resident doctors, was from the Tadvi Bhil community.
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And who is to know if BJP planted this to embarrass the congress government? They are, after all, past master at this game.