Ahmedabad: Human Development and Research Center (HDRC), an NGO run by St Xavier’s Non-Formal Education Society, got embroiled in a major controversy over a job advertisement of sanitation worker stating that candidates from unreserved, general category would be given preference for the post.
On Wednesday, the notice invited ire from various social groups. While youths from outfits like Rajput Shaurya Foundation (RSF) and Yuva Shakti Sangathan (YSS) vented their anger vandalizing the NGO’s premises, breaking window panes and pots over its “tactic to divide society”, a Muslim outfit slapped a legal notice asking the agency to tender unconditional apology within seven days.
The controversial notice for the job stated that candidates from general category – Brahmin, Kshatriya, Bania, Patel, Jain, Saiyed, Pathan, Syrian Christian, Parsi – would get first preference for the job of cleaning of fice courtyard, bathroom and toilets. “The NGO must sack those responsible for the inflammatory act. Our agitation will not be peaceful on Gandhian way,” said YSS president Ronaksinh Gohel.
“It is a deliberate act by Christian missionaries to denigrate the status of Saiyad, considered direct descendants of the Prophet.They have hurt religious sentiment and incited communal hatred,” Usman Qureishi, Sunni Awami Forum, stated in a legal notice slapped on HDRC, The Times of India reported.
Angry outburst forced HDRC office-bearers to call off the press briefing convened to to clear the air over the `misunderstanding’ at the eleventh hour. Later, HDRC buckled under pressure from other NGOs and affiliated organizations and tendered an apology. There was and is no intention to hurt ” sentiments of any religion, community or caste through the advertisement issued by us. We apologise if we have hurt anybody’s sentiment. We will ensure this is not repeated in future,” said an apology issued by HDRC secretary Jimmy Dabhi.
The clarification issued by Dabhi said that preference for candidates from certain castes aimed to bring social equality in the society. “The aim was to push further Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan with aim of `Sauno Vikas, Sauno Saath” by giving an opportunity to people of all communities and not to restrict the job for a particular community ,” Dabhi said.
Govind Parmar, city-based advocate who is associated with HDRC, said that authorities of St Xavier’s Autonomous College in premises of which the NGO functions instructed them to tender apology in the issue.
HDRC director Prasad Chako did not remain present to comment on the issue. However, the rights activists from various organizations expressed solidarity with HDRC, thronged its premise and asserted that there was no offence in issuing such an advertisement.
They maintained that threatening and ransacking the office premises was surely a criminal act.