New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI) Terming as “unsavoury” the recent remarks by BJP leader Ram Kumar Gautam and spiritual leader Maha Vishnu on disabled people, a disability rights group on Thursday called for stringent punishments to perpetrators who “deliberately reinforce prejudice and stigmatisation of the disabled.”
National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People (NCPEDP) applauded Chennai Police for their swift action in arresting Vishnu, while asking Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure strict enforcement of model guidelines.
While Vishnu had said disabilities were the “misdeeds of past lives”, Gautam reportedly used derogatory words to describe disabled people. “Such statements reinforce damaging societal attitudes,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP.
He further added, ”Disability is not a consequence of personal failing or ‘misdeeds of past lives’ and to frame it as such perpetuates a discriminatory narrative. Persons with disability are as autonomous, capable individuals as non-disabled people. The barriers they face are not inherent but are the result of societal systems and attitudes. This isn’t about ‘fixing’ disabled people; it’s about addressing the structural inequities that prevent full participation.”
The experts rued that the disparaging statements were coming close on the heels of excellent performance of th country’s para athletes at the Paris Paralympics. Indian athletes won a record 29 medals earning the praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his senior Ministers and the whole nation.
Prof Dr Satendra Singh, Coordinator Enabling Unit of UCMS & GTB Hospital, said, “Hate speech that attributes a person’s disability to ‘bad karma’ is not only cruel but also deeply ignorant. Such beliefs dehumanize individuals, turning their struggles into punishment narratives rather than recognizing their inherent dignity.
“Blaming karma for suffering perpetuates stigma and erases the responsibility we have to create a compassionate and inclusive society. If left unchallenged, slurs persists and grows, as we saw the disturbing trend being continued till now despite Section 92(a) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 having provision of imprisonment on disability abuse,” he said.
In Chennai, following widespread condemnation from disability rights activists and the public, Vishnu was arrested by Chennai police. A member of his team issued an apology, but the damage was already done.
“His remarks not only insulted individuals with disabilities but also perpetuated a toxic belief system that continues to hinder the progress of inclusion,” added Ali.
