NEW DELHI: In a bid to ridicule Congress president Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi ended up mocking dyslexia and dyslexic children.
The incident happened on Saturday (March 2) during the question-answer session at the Smart India Hackathon in IIT, when a student from Dehradun introduced her project about dyslexia.
“Dyslexic children are those whose learning and writing pace is very slow, but creativity level and intelligence is quite good,” she said, to which the PM interjected and jokingly remarked, “Will your scheme help a child who is 40-50 years old?” –(referring to Rahul Gandhi).
As the students laughed, the girl replied in affirmative, “Yes.” To which the PM said, “In that case, the mother of such kids would be very happy.”
The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), a coalition of cross-disability rights groups from India termed his remark “uncalled for and totally insensitive response” demanded an apology from PM Modi for his “disrespectful and insensitive remarks” on dyslexia.
The NPRD said, “The PM should under no circumstances be making such a remark. It also displays scant respect for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 according to which this constitutes an offence. The least the PM can do is apologize for his remarks.”
Truly Disgraceful! The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) has condemned the Prime Minister's response on dyslexic people and demanded an apology! Here's their statement 1/7
— geeta seshu (@geetaseshu) March 3, 2019
The Prime Minister Modi also faced severe backlash on social media with many people took to Twitter to criticise him for his insensitive and thoughtless remark.
Shameful and distressing. Some of us have dyslexic or disabled relatives, friends, children and parents. Sattar saal mein pehli baar, a person with this crassness occupies the chair of the PM. Enough, Mr Modi. Yeh hain sanskar aapke? https://t.co/8wBvtjPy7q
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) March 3, 2019
The incidence of dyslexia in India is believed to be 15%. As per a 2013 report, there are 228,994,454 dyslexic students enrolled in recognized schools
This message for an insensitive PM Modi who doesn’t mind mocking them for political point scoring.
Brilliantly done @arvindtm pic.twitter.com/rEQrSxxLpd— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) March 4, 2019
Dear PM .@narendramodi
Myth:Dyslexia and intelligence are connected
Fact:Dyslexic individuals are very bright and creative; have accomplished amazing things as adults
What's common between these renowned public figures? -Dyslexia!
.@DyslexiaIDA .@DyslexiaYale .@BDAdyslexia pic.twitter.com/kh9mr3AAJ9
— AIPC – MUMBAI NORTH (@AipcMumbaiNorth) March 4, 2019
Have to agree that by implying Rahul Gandhi is dyslexic, the PM has indeed mocked Dyslexia. Also credit to him that he is trying to find treatment for his “so called opponent”
— Bharat (@bharat_) March 4, 2019