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 is 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 prime minister said.
"Identify those who for their self-interest, create caste discrimination and promote it," he asked people, without taking any names.
The prime minister was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Ravidas Janmasthali area development project in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency.
Sant Ravidas belonged to the Bhakti Movement of the 15th and 16th century. Born in Varanasi, his hyms and poems often revolved around his low social position.
His devotional songs were also included in Sikh scriptures.
Praising Ravidas, Modi said, "He dreamt of a society where all are taken care of. We have tried to follow this tenet during the past 4.5 years with 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'" (together, development for all).
"My government focussed on panchdharma: education, income, medicine, irrigation and addressing public grievances," he said, "irrespective of caste, creed and other factors."
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