India needs to get rid of casteism and untouchability: Yogi Adityanath

Lucknow, April 9: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that casteism and untouchability were the two biggest hurdles India needs to overcome. He called upon the religious saints to eliminate the two banes from the society.

Speaking on the occasion which was attended by hundreds of ‘Sadhus’ from different parts of the country, Adityanath said, “Today, India is moving ahead as one of world’s biggest developing economies. Should we not feel proud? Can our caste always protect us? If we were not divided on the caste lines, Somnath temple could not have been demolished. It was demolished because of our vices, due to lack of unity, due to division on caste lines and untouchability.”

“The UP CM asked the religious leaders to take the lead in spreading the message of brotherhood and unity among the people of India while adding that untouchability can never be part of Indian culture and if it does then people should be ready for Somnath like attacks. He added that many elements who want to weaken India, they always try to bring such divisions in our society,” Adityanath added.

Adityanath gave an example of Uttar Pradesh and said, “What used to be the situation in Uttar Pradesh before 2017? Two big communal riots were reported every week. And in riots, religious leaders and their followers were insulted and when you go to lodge a complaint, you would be put behind bars. Today, Uttar Pradesh is not witnessing riots. Today, nobody can do riot.”