Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) has surrounded itself in a controversy over derogatory references to the Bhil tribe in one of their question paper. BJP MLA Ram Dangore – who is a Bhil and a candidate sitting in the same exam has called for action, and referred the question to be an insult to the community.
The controversial references were included in an ‘unseen passage’ in the General Aptitude Test held statewide on Sunday.
Ram Dangore said “I am teacher and hail from Bhil community. We have our very own history and has played a key role in our country’s freedom struggle. I was shocked by the derogatory references to the Bhil tribe in the question paper.”
BJP legislator from Pandhana said, “Bhil community has a population of 1.6 crore in India, along about 60 lakh of them residing in Madhya Pradesh. They are a dominant tribal community in the country.”
Dangore said “The question paper says the Bhil community is completely under the influence of liquor. How can such a thing be written in a PSC exam? We are being targeted.”
He further reiterated, “The first paper of the MPPSC exam had a reference to a Bhil icon.” “ A question referred to international blind cricketer Sonu Golkar, who is a Bhil and won Vikram Award, the state government’s highest sports award,”
Dangore will file a police complaint on Monday. Dangore said “We demand the immediate removal of the question paper setter. I will file a complaint to register a case under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.”
