‘Pandit’ option for question on opportunists trips up BJP in U.P. days after ‘anti-Brahmin’ claim by opposition

The question “Who changes according to opportunity?” in an Uttar Pradesh Police recruitment examination has triggered a controversy after one of the options listed in the written paper was “Pandit”, prompting objections from within the ruling BJP.

To answer the question, asked in the examination conducted on March 14 for the recruitment of sub-inspectors, candidates had to choose the correct one-word answer for a person who changes according to opportunity. The options were: “Pandit”, “Opportunist”, “Innocent” and “Virtuous”.

Uttar Pradesh BJP secretary Abhijat Mishra, who belongs to the Brahmin community, has written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, raising objections to the question and seeking action against those responsible for setting the paper.

In his letter, Mr. Mishra said the question appeared to be incorrectly framed and insensitive. “The correct meaning of a person who changes according to opportunity is ‘opportunist’, but including ‘Pandit’ among the options hurts the sentiments of a particular community,” he said.

“’Pandit’ is a term associated with knowledge and religious respect. Linking it with opportunism is inappropriate, insensitive and may have been done deliberately,” Mr. Mishra said.

The controversy comes on the heels of the alleged mistreatment of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati during Magh Mela in Prayagraj, following which the opposition parties have accused the BJP government of being “anti-Brahmin”.

Against this backdrop, the latest issue threatens to snowball into yet another political controversy, particularly as the objection has come from a leader of the ruling party itself.

Mr. Mishra urged the State government to order an immediate departmental inquiry against members of the committee responsible for setting the question paper and to take strict action if any lapse is found.

He also demanded that the question be officially rejected or corrected and called for greater sensitivity while framing examination papers in the future.