July 7, 2012
*Press Statement* The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled strongly condemns the views expressed by presidential candidate Shri P.A. Sangma at Ahmedabad on July 6, 2012, while on a campaign tour. When asked about his views on the top-post, the BJP-backed candidate is reported to have remarked that: “India should have a President, who is not blind, dumb and deaf. India should have a thinking and a functional President.” If the reported remarks are true it reflects very poorly on a candidate who is aspiring to the topmost office of the country. It is unbecoming of a person contesting to become the first citizen of the country to express such insensitivity and callousness, even while lashing out at his rival. The language used to deride your rival cannot be tempered with phrases that are clearly derogatory in nature. In a sweeping remark the presidential aspirant has deemed persons with disabilities as being unfit to hold the office of the President. While strongly protesting against such unwanted remarks, the NPRD calls upon for an unqualified apology from Shri Sangma for his insulting remarks. The text of the report appearing in the Shillong Times is available at the following link: http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2012/07/07/cong-wont-have-a-cakewalk-in-prez-polls/ *Muralidharan* *Assistant Convener* * * Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
