Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lambasted the 27-Opposition parties’ INDIA group, stating its members are instigating the people in the name of caste and making them fight one another.
Speaking at a function in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, to commemorate the 647th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, he said, “In every era, the sermons of the great saints show us the path and also alert us. In our country, whenever anybody indulges in discrimination in the name of caste, it damages the entire humanity.
“Every Dalit and backward class citizen should keep in mind that the INDI alliance instigates and makes people fight one another in the name of caste, and opposes the schemes meant for their welfare.”
These leaders, he said cannot “tolerate” the Dalits and tribal people reaching high offices, and cited the presidential election in which several political parties opposed the candidature of Draupadi Murmu, the NDA nominee.
The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is a rag-tag group of 27 political parties led by the Indian National Congress, whose President Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to be made its prime ministerial candidate for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
About members of this group, he said, these people indulge in politics of vested interest of the family in the name of the welfare of castes.
“You might remember how these parties had ridiculed the government’s scheme of constructing toilets for the beneficiaries. They mocked the Jan Dhan bank accounts and also opposed the Digital India Mission,” which made possible the digital payments revolution across India.
“Not only this, these parivarvaadi (dynastic) parties have another identity – they do not want any Dalit or tribal person, or anyone outside their families to move ahead. They cannot tolerate Dalits and tribal persons occupying high posts,” PM Modi said.
“When Draupadi Murmu, the first woman tribal President, was contesting elections, they all opposed her and joined hands to defeat her.
“These parivarvaadi parties look at the Dalits, tribal people, and backward classes merely as their vote bank during the elections. We have to remain alert to these people and from such a mindset, and follow the positive education of Sant Ravidas ji while avoiding the negative mentality of casteism,” he said.
Applauding the Sant, PM Modi said, “Ravidas ji belongs to all and everybody belongs to Ravidas ji. He cannot be confined within the boundaries of caste, religion, sect, and ideology. “
“Ravidas ji has been calling me to his birthplace. I got an opportunity to take forward his pledge and serve his lakhs of followers. Serving the followers at the birthplace of the Guru is a privilege for me,” he said.
Born in Varanasi, Sant Ravidas was a mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti Movement in the 15th and 16th centuries. Venerated as a spiritual teacher in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, and Haryana, he was a great poet, social reformer and spiritual figure.
PM Modi said India is moving rapidly on the path of development by adopting the messages of Sant Ravidas.
“On this pious occasion of the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, I welcome you all to his birthplace. You have come from far-off places on this occasion, especially my brothers and sisters from Punjab… Varanasi seems to have become a mini-Punjab,” he said.
At the Sant Guru Ravidas Janmasthan Temple at Seer Goverdhanpur near BHU, the PM inaugurated the newly installed statue of Sant Ravidas in adjoining Ravidas Park. He also launched various development works worth nearly Rs. 32 crore around Sant Ravidas Janmasthali and laid the foundation stone for the Sant Ravidas Museum and beautification of the park, worth about Rs 62 crore.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Chairman of Sant Guru Ravidass Janmasthan Temple Trust Sant Niranjan Dass, among others, were also present on the occasion.