By IANS,
Kolkata: Lyricist Javed Akhtar Thursday backed sociologist Ashish Nandi, saying his comments on corruption in the weaker sections of the society ahs been “misinterpreted” and “misrepresented”.
“It was misinterpreted. It was misrepresented. He has fought for the downtrodden. Suddenly why would he take a U-turn?” Aktar told media persons at the Kolkata Literary Meet.
“He was saying that in the corrupt society when powerful or privileged people commit corruption, then it is acceptable. Whereas when the weaker section commits corruption, it looks very corrupt.”
“Ashish meant that ultimately corruption is the equaliser in a corrupt society. He was not trying to say that weaker sections are corrupt,” said Akhtar.
The sociologist sparked widespread protests from activists of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes groups and also had two police cases slapped on him for his comments at the recently held Jaipur Literary Festival.
Speaking of how people long denied power were wresting it from the established elite, Nandy had said that Dalits, tribals and other backward classes (OBCs) were engaged in “corruption”, by which he meant that these groups functioned without being constrained by law or propriety in their bid to better their plight.