Statements by some individuals

“This is mad. By this logic Manu Smriti should be banned so also writings by Dalits themselves. The whole business is sad and unfortunate." Nirupama Dutt, senior journalist, Chandigarh

This is crazy...obviously political. To arrest a pro-Dalit publisher for "using caste names". They clearly got on someone's wrong side. Well, I hope this sparks off a robust debate so that some issues get aired that otherwise don't get discussed in the mainstream press. Latika Neelakantan, former senior commissioning editor, Penguin India

Most deplorable act of the ignorance ruling our times. Ajay Bhardwaj, filmmaker

This is really becoming a big issue in India. Mira Kamdar, senior fellow, editorial board, World Policy Journal, Paris

Police and their political bosses are acting stupidly. Will they register a case against those who are publishing,printing Swami Dayanand written Satyarth Parkash. It has several references, sentences which can come under the same interpretation being adapted by police now. A few years back Jalandhar police arrested librarian of a school who issued a book of plays from school library written several years back by late Gurdial Singh Phull. Then also Sc/St Act was slapped. The book was duly approved by education dept authorities and had a play on Maharishi Valmiki… IP Singh, journalist, Times of India, Punjab

Govt better revoke the arrests....sitting in USA we had heard tendency of this govt to put people in jail for their political gain or vendetta but that was mostly against political activist... That was bad in itself but oppression of publishers/ journalists should not be tolerated ... It's not good for state... Even investors start running away when they realize govt is unfair and unthoughtful.... Anurag Goel, software professional, US

"Two publishers in Punjab have been arrested under SC/ST act. They had published Babu Rajab Ali's poetry. Babu Rajab is Punjab's one of the best ever poet. His poetry contains name of a caste. Making reference to traditional caste name does not amount to insult or castist attitude. Here publishers have a track record of being not-castist. I think; we are becoming hyper-senstive to such things which are killing the space for dialogue. Deletion of references will not solve any issue rather we will became more intolerant towards each-other. This is a serious infringement in democratic space. We need to engage with this issue. The release of arrested publishers with immediate effect should be a demand of any justice loving citizen ..." Daljit Ami, filmmaker, Chandigarh

"Much must not be read into reprinting the old poetry of Babu Rajab Ali and if so is the case a lot of literature will attract similar punishment". Gurdial Singh, writer, Janapeeth Awardee, Punjab

Rajab Ali had written these words many decades ago and if these have been carried out in any book it is not the fault of writers, editing the books or publishers and the action is unwarranted. Surjit Patar, poet, Punjab

Making a reference to traditional caste names in academic works can not be construed as name calling. I know some of the scholars who make it clear in the beginning of their works that references to historical caste names are just for interpretation of the contexts rather for any other purposes. Moreover in the case of the publishers the intention is not at all for the abusive use of the particular caste category. It is in this context that this case needs to be understood.  Ronki Ram, ICCR Chair Professor of Contemporary India Studies, Leiden Institute for Area Studies (LIAS) &  International Institute for Asian studies (IIAS), Leiden University, The Netherlands

Several years back many people complained about a “Doha” (couplet) in Ramcharit manas for similar reason (about women and Chamars) but fortunately better sense prevailed and they have not banned Ramcharit Manas. People must appreciate under what context something was written at that period/time. It is just the way people reacted about the cartoon of Ambedkar. An anonymous comment from kafila.org 

 (Compiled from various sources)