Want to spread idea of 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam': Gehlot on casteism remark

Asserting that his statement on casteism was misquoted, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot today said that he just wanted to spread the idea of 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam' (world is one family) and eradicate the problems like untouchability.

"Today also we come across some incidents of untouchability and to stop this we need to work on it. We have to spread the idea of 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam' (world is one family) of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. When anything which is revered is made then the low caste people are used but afterwards these people are not allowed to use it. This kind of mentality exists even today," he told ANI.

He further said that his statement was only targeted to eradicate the problems of untouchability existing in the country, adding that the media has misquoted him.

Highlighting the social discrimination that the Dalits have been facing, Gehlot yesterday said that people from upper class get a well dug by Dalits but don't let them drink water from it.

"You get a well dug by us, but when it becomes yours (then) you stop us from drinking its water. When a pond has to be made, we are made to labour. At that time, we spit in it, sweat in it and even urinate on it. But when we get a chance to drink water from it, you say that the water will become impure," Gehlot said at a seminar on Dr B.R. Ambedkar in Nagda, Ujjain.

"You install idols in temples amid chanting of mantras then the doors are closed to us. Who will set things right? We make the idols that you worship, yet the doors of the temples are closed for us," he added.