Writer, publisher acquitted in case over use of casteist words

BARNALA: In a blow to police here, a local court has acquitted a writer and publisher over charges of using casteist words in a reproduced book about renowned folk writer BabuRajab Ali.
Moga-based writer Jagjit Singh and Barnala-based publisher Amit Mittar were on September 14, 2012 booked under various sections including under SC/ST Act for using casteist words in the book Gatha Soormia di (tale of warriors).
The writer fraternity, including Jnanpeeth and Sahitya Akademy award winners and scores of left-oriented organizations had made a hue and cry over registration of case against the writer and publisher on flimsy grounds. Both were arrested and made to cool their heels for about 15 days in jail.
Barnala additional district and sessions judge B S Sandhu on Thursday discharged the two of the charges.
Earlier, a similar case was registered at Samana in Patiala wherein a writer and publisher were arrested. Police had taken action suspecting that the books could cause unrest and could lead to rioting or division among communities. The writer fraternity has slammed authorities for arresting the writer and publisher only for reproducing the original poetry of Rajab Ali, who had died in 1979.
"The poem, which allegedly hurt the feelings of dalit community, was written more than 70 years back by celebrated poet Rajab Ali (1894-1979), whose works have been published by the state-run languages department, Punjab besides various other publishers," said Shiromani Sahitkar award winner author Om Parkash Gasso.
He said reprint of the already written words cannot by any stretch of imagination be considered a criminal offence. The arrests had sparked a heated debate among the writer fraternity and many writers had asked the government to frame guidelines about controversial words.
Later, setting things right, police had taken back the SC/ST Act provisions against the writer, who himself is a dalit, after the SC/ST commission had taken note of it.