Bhubaneswar: The Orissa Assermbly on Saturday
asked its members and officials not to use the word "Harijan"
while referring to the scheduled caste community.
"It is seen that the word Harijan is used in writing
in assembly questions. It is better not to use the word
Harijan," speaker Pradip Kumar Amat said through a ruling.
The Speaker`s ruling came in the wake of some ruling
party members raising the issue during the zero hour. "We are
confused over the use of word Harijan. Though there is a ban
on the use of the word (Harijan), some members and assembly
secretariat use it frequently," said ruling BJD`s senior
member Kalpataru Das.
Some days back, it was seen that Congress chief whip
Prasad Harichandan had used the word Harijan in his speech
which was pointed out by treasury bech member and former
minister Bishnu Charan Das. Harichandan, however, corrected
himself immediately, Kalpataru Das pointed out.
However, it was observed that the same word had been
used by the assembly secretariat, he pointed out seeking a
ruling from the chair.
BJD member Pradeep Maharathy also supported Das and
wanted a ruling from the chair on the use of word Harijan in
the house.
PTI
