MLA's e-mail address sparks fiery reaction
Thu, November 27 2008
Lali, an Indo-Canadian MLA from Yale-Lillooet in British Columbia, recently sent his new e-mail address to friends and media contacts.
However, not everybody is impressed with JattMLA@gmail.com – the MLA’s new address.
Many people find the word ‘Jatt’ in his e-mail address offensive.
Jatt is an affluent caste group in Punjab, India. The Jatt Sikhs are mainly wealthy farmers and landlords. Since they dominate the political and social life of that region, those representing lower caste groups – especially Dalits, who were marginalized as “untouchables” by the age old caste system of India – find the e-mail address “exclusionist.”
Lali is a Jatt Sikh from Punjab. He would not comment on questions concerning the appropriateness of this e-mail address.
He told the South Asian Post that it is a minor and personal issue.
Lali, 51, is the Opposition Critic for B.C. Lotteries, Gaming Policy and I.C.B.C. He was born in Jullundur District, Punjab, and lives with his family in Merritt.
Lali has often been referred to as ‘Jatt MLA’ by certain sections of the ethnic media. But many in Metro Vancouver’s Indo-Canadian community wonder what kind of message the MLA is trying to send when he composes his digital correspondence.
“Such a step, taken by a public figure, is not only offensive but is also unacceptable,” said Jai Birdi, head of the Chetna Association, a Vancouver-based group that works for Dalit empowerment.
Birdi is particularly upset because he is an avid NDP supporter.
“I am surprised that the member of a party that boasts itself to be progressive and a champion of social justice and equality did this,” he told the South Asian Post.
The Surrey-Fleetwood MLA for the ruling Liberal Party, Jagmohan Singh, said while it is a “personal choice” for Lali to use words denoting caste, it is not something he would have expected to see in Canadian politics.
“Personally I will refrain, restrain and avoid using words or symbols that are regressive and derivative of a thousands-years-old rigid caste system,” he said.
Singh, who is also a Sikh, added: “We are living in progressive times where democracy, social justice, care and compassion are core values of society. This divisive caste system contrasts with the great teachings of our gurus, teachings of universal brotherhood and sisterhood.’’
By Gurpreet Singh
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