Members of the INDIA bloc incarcerate people in the name of caste: Prime Minister Narendra Modi | Political News – Business Standard

Launching a scathing attack on the INDIA bloc on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said members of the opposition alliance believe in inciting people in the name of caste and making them fight.

He also said that the opposition leaders cannot ‘tolerate’ Dalits and tribals holding high posts. He cited the presidential election contested by Droupadi Murmu.

Varanasi is Modi’s parliamentary constituency. The Prime Minister also noted that Ravidas ji has repeatedly called him to his birthplace, the ancient temple city.

Speaking here to commemorate the 647th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, Modi said: “In every age, the sermons of the saints show us the path and also warn us. In our country, when anyone indulges in discrimination in the name of caste, it harms humanity.

“If anyone incites (others) in the name of caste, it also harms humanity. Therefore, brothers and sisters, every Dalit and deprived of the country today must keep in mind that ‘INDI gathbandhan’, who believes in inciting and making people fight in the name of caste, is opposing the schemes are meant for the welfare of Dalits and ‘vanchit’ (underprivileged),” he said.

The Prime Minister further said that the truth is that these people are indulging in politics of vested interests for the family in the name of caste welfare.

“You must remember that when the construction of toilets started, they ridiculed it. They also mocked Jan Dhan’s accounts and also opposed Digital India.

“Not only this, these ‘parivar vaadi’ (dynastic) parties have a different identity: they do not want Dalit or tribal persons outside their families to progress. They cannot tolerate Dalits and tribals holding high posts,” Modi said.

“You should know that when Droupadi Murmu, the first woman tribal president, contested the elections, who all were against her and which parties came together to defeat her.

“They were all ‘parivar vaadi’ parties, which see Dalits, tribal people and the disadvantaged as their vote bank during elections. We must remain alert to these people and from such a mentality. We need the positive upbringing of Ravidas ji as he avoided the negative mentality of caste system,” he said.

Praising Sant Ravidas, Modi said, “Ravidas ji belongs to everyone and everyone belongs to Ravidas ji. He cannot be confined within the boundaries of caste, religion, sect and ideology.

“Ravidas ji has repeatedly called me to his birthplace. I got an opportunity to fulfill his promise. I get an opportunity to serve his lakhs of followers. Serving the followers in the Guru’s birthplace is nothing less than a privilege for me,” he said.

Born in Varanasi, Ravidas was a mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement in the 15th and 16th centuries. Revered as a spiritual master in various regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, he was a poet, social reformer and spiritual figure.

Modi also said that India is moving rapidly on the path of development by adopting the messages of Sant Ravidas.

“On the occasion of Sant Ravidas’ birth anniversary, I welcome you all to his birthplace. On this occasion, you have come from far away places, especially my brothers and sisters from Punjab… Varanasi seems to have become a mini town. -Punjab ,’ he said.

At Sant Guru Ravidas Janmasthan Temple in Seer Goverdhanpur near BHU, the Prime Minister inaugurated the newly installed statue of Sant Ravidas in the adjoining Ravidas Park. He also inaugurated several development works around Sant Ravidas Janam Sthali worth around Rs 32 crore and laid the foundation stone for Sant Ravidas Museum and beautification of the park worth around Rs 62 crore.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Chairman of Sant Guru Ravidass Janam Sthan Temple Trust Sant Niranjan Dass, among others, were present on the occasion.

First print: February 23, 2024 | 3:34 PM IST