New Delhi: Langdakar chalne se koi handicap nahi ho jata, doosri line me ja (Walking with a limp does not make you a handicapped person. Move to the general queue)." "Where did you get the medical certificate from and how much did you paid for it?"
These are some of the alleged remarks faced by Pradeep Raj, an international athlete with disability, at the immigration counter of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Raj, who has got a national youth award from the President and is general secretary of the Association for Disabled People, was travelling to South Korea for an international meet when security personnel at immigration counter no 41 (reserved for the disabled) allegedly misbehaved with him on September 22.
"At the immigration section, there is a provision of a separate line for disabled people. I was in that line. But I was shocked at the meaningless questions the Delhi Police staff deployed at counter no.41 asked me," said the para-Olympic table tennis player.
Not satisfied with his medical certificate, the official wanted to know what his specific disability was. "He humiliated me saying, 'Langdakar chalne se koi handicap nahi ho jata, dusri line me ja.' The only disability they seem to understand is a wheelchair-bound person. It was a violation of my right to be treated with respect, equality and dignity," said Raj.
30/09/14 Manash Pratim Gohain/Times of India
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These are some of the alleged remarks faced by Pradeep Raj, an international athlete with disability, at the immigration counter of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Raj, who has got a national youth award from the President and is general secretary of the Association for Disabled People, was travelling to South Korea for an international meet when security personnel at immigration counter no 41 (reserved for the disabled) allegedly misbehaved with him on September 22.
"At the immigration section, there is a provision of a separate line for disabled people. I was in that line. But I was shocked at the meaningless questions the Delhi Police staff deployed at counter no.41 asked me," said the para-Olympic table tennis player.
Not satisfied with his medical certificate, the official wanted to know what his specific disability was. "He humiliated me saying, 'Langdakar chalne se koi handicap nahi ho jata, dusri line me ja.' The only disability they seem to understand is a wheelchair-bound person. It was a violation of my right to be treated with respect, equality and dignity," said Raj.
30/09/14 Manash Pratim Gohain/Times of India
