Don't politicise Dalit issue: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday urged against politicise the issue of atrocities on the Dalits and said society must take it as a challenge to end such incidents.

He said the atrocities against the Dalits were a result of a "distorted mentality".

"There should be no politics over this issue. We should take it as a challenge to end this injustice," Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha in a reply to the day-long debate on atrocities on the Dalits.

"People from various castes and communities in India live together. Our ancestors believed in 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (world is one family)," he said.

The minister said atrocities against the Dalits must end and all should work towards it.

Admitting that the Dalits were lagging behind economically, Rajnath said that despite all sorts of problems and social evils pitted against them, they never asked for a separate country.

"Their contribution is immense to the country," he said, adding that atrocities against them were a result of "distorted mentality".

He said that in ancient Indian society, when there was no untouchability or any other social handicap against them, should be our model for the present-day society.

"Humanity has to be considered supreme over other things," he added, saying that various measures were being taken to ensure a respectful life for the downtrodden in the country.

The debate was held following outrage over the incidents of flogging of Dalits, including four youth in Una town of Gujarat, by cow vigilantes.

--IANS

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