PM: Caste discrimination impedes social harmony
Modi blasts those who made fun of Vande Bharat Express; gifts projects worth₹3,382 crore to Kashi
VARANASI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invoked Sant Ravidas, a mystic poet of the Bhakti Movement, on his birth anniversary to urge people to end caste discrimination and identify those who promote it for “self-interest”. Modi said caste discrimination was an impediment in achieving social harmony.
“Guruji (Sant Ravidas) had said that there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste. Till caste discrimination is there, people cannot connect with each other, social harmony is not possible and equality cannot be ensured,” the PM said.
The PM was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Ravidas Janmasthali area development project in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency.
Modi also visited Diesel Locomotives Works, Banaras Hindu University and Aurhe village, about 20 km from Varanasi, where he launched several schemes. In all, Modi gifted developmental projects worth Rs 3,382 crore to Varanasi.
Speaking at Aurhe village, Modi lashed out at the people who made fun of Vande Bharat Express, saying they insulted the engineers and technicians who made the first world class semi high speed train in the country.
The PM also paid tribute to CRPF jawan Ramesh Yadav who was killed in the attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama on Thursday. He said every Indian will always remain indebted to the families of the jawans who
sacrificed their lives for security of the nation. “Unke is rinn ko chukane ki shakti hum shabhi ko mile, iske liye Baba Bholenath se, Maa Ganga se, aur aap sabhi se ashriwad maangne aya hun (I have to come seek blessings from Baba Vishwanath, Maa Ganga and all of you so that we get the strength to pay back to the families of the jawans).
“The country will never forget the sacrifice made by the security personnel in Pulwama and will always thank their families for sending their loved ones for protecting the nation,” Modi said. He added: “Today is birth anniversary of Chhantrapati Shiva Ji Maharaj, a symbol of
swaraj, swawalamban, shaurya, swatantrata (self-rule, self-reliance, gallantry and independence). I extend my best wishes to the nation. He showed us the path by his good governance to build a strong nation.”
Modi said: “The semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express has been produced in the country under Make in India initiative. Many people wrote to me praising the achievement. But some persons are targeting and making fun of the train. This is very painful. This is an insult to the engineers and technicians involved in the project that gave a world class train to the nation.”
He appealed to the people to beware of people who are full of negative mentality.
Modi also lauded the conversion by DLW of two old diesel loco engines into one electric rail engine. He flagged off the new electric loco and termed it a “great achievement”.
The prime minister also mentioned a number of projects started by his government. He said that his government was moving forward to make BHU a very important centre of health and education as per vision of BHU founder Mahamana Pt Madan Mohan Malviya.
He said his government began ‘gokul mission’. Decision to make ‘Go sewa commission’ has been taken during this budget to accelerate the ‘gokul mission’ further. He also mentioned two cow conservation centres to be constructed in Varanasi.
The Prime Minister also interacted with the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana -- Ayushman Bharat at Banaras Hindu University.
Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the Prime Minister also paid obeisance at the Ravidas temple here.