New Delhi: As per media reports, Former editor of India Today (Hindi), Dilip Mandal, has been appointed as the Media Advisor to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The report by Indian Mandarin website, which reports on the appointments, says that the Hindus critic will now serve the ministry as a media advisor. The decision has sparked debate, especially due to Mandal’s past as a staunch critic of Hindutva politics, and his recent shift toward advocating for it, though under the guise of Other Backward Classes (OBC) politics.
Mandal’s appointment comes at a politically sensitive time, a day before a planned nationwide strike by the Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi organizations. These groups have been protesting against the Supreme Court’s recent judgment, which allows the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the reservation system. The protestors are demanding central legislation to nullify the decision, arguing that it will divide the SC community and weaken affirmative action efforts.
Interestingly, Mandal has been vocally involved in the discourse surrounding the issue. He criticized the Chief Justice of India over the verdict on social media, aligning himself with those opposing the sub-classification.
However, Mandal’s past controversies continue to shadow his new role. During his tenure as a professor at Makhanlal University, he was accused of harassing students from the General Category, an allegation that intensified scrutiny on his polarizing views. Moreover, he has been a subject of criticism for his statements against Hindu religious symbols and figures. Mandal once tweeted that for him, “Mata Savitribai Phule and Fatima Sheikh are the eternal torchbearers of education.” He further stirred controversy by remarking that he still stood with Saraswati, as she had been “sexually exploited by Brahma,” referencing Jyotiba Phule’s work, Slavery (1991).
Mandal has also voiced opposition to the reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), a policy introduced to extend quota benefits to individuals from the General Category based on economic criteria.
While Mandal’s supporters hail his appointment as a progressive move toward OBC empowerment, critics accuse him of shifting his ideological stance for political convenience.
Mahi Saha
Mahi Saha, from Ranchi, reports for Neo Politico.
