Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, May 23

India cannot become a power unless the menace of casteism is removed from society. It is mainly responsible for the tardy growth and the present mess the nation is facing, according to Mr Ram Raj, Chairman of All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he stressed the need for the formation of a casteless society through Buddhism. He said Indian society was facing a grave danger from the caste politics. Dr Onkar Singh Bhatia, general secretary of the confederation, also attended the press conference.

He said it was a matter of great shock and dismay that people here prefer sitting with dogs and cats but not with members of some other castes.

Mr Ram Raj opposed the review of the Indian Constitution and demanded immediate dissolution of the Constitution Review Commission. He said the Indian Consitution was framed by eminent persons and if anything was found against the interest of the people it could be amended through a legislation, and for that purpose the review of the Construction was not needed.

The Dalit leader gave a call to save the hard-won freedom. He said it was a sad thing to say that multinationals and foreign forces were again invading our economy and the present political set up was to be blamed for the mess. He said if these forces were allowed to interfere in the Indian economy, the local markets would collapse.

Mr Ram Raj said our prime motive should be to unite the divided society while removing the caste system.

He said the confederation would organise a massive function in New Delhi on October 14, where more than 10 lakh persons from various castes would be converted to Buddhism to uphold the old culture and religion.

He criticised the Central Government for not providing justice to the Dalits. He said Dalits would fight for their rights.

SC, ST bodies oppose statute’s review

Our Correspondent Hamirpur, May 23

India cannot become a supreme power as long as casteism exists in its society. It is mainly responsible for the tardy growth and the present mess the nation is facing, according to Mr Ram Raj, Chairman of the All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he stressed the need for a casteless society through Buddhism. He said society was facing a grave danger from the caste-based politics and thus harming the cause of the nation. Dr Onkar Singh Bhatia, general secretary of the confederation, also attended the press conference.

He said it was shocking that many people could sit with dogs and cats, but not with human beings of the same society.

He said political system was bad due to the caste equations. Merit figured nowhere. Even if meritorious persons contested elections they were bound to be defeated due to lack of votes from his own caste. Contrary to this, an illiterate or a criminal could win the election if his caste equations dominated his constituency.

Mr Ram Raj opposed the review of the Indian Constitution and demanded the immediate dissolution of the Constitution Review Commission. He said the Indian Constitution was framed by eminent persons after indepth study of the society and if anything was found against the interest of the people that could be amended through a legislation and for that purpose the review of the Constitution was not needed.

Mr Ram Raj said in modern democracy, political system affected other institutions and therefore denial of merit in political field meant denial of merit in all other fields. He said even today judiciary and executive were not functioning well because of bad political system.

The Dalit leader gave a call to save the hard-won freedom. He said then Indians suffered for centuries and only then freedom came to India. But it was sad that multi-nationals and foreign forces were again invading our economy and the present political set-up was to be blamed for the mess. He said if these forces were allowed to interfere into the Indian economy, local markets would collapse as had happened in Surat and Coimbatore. He said all Indians should unite to oppose the anti-people policies of the Central and other state governments.

Mr Ram Raj said our prime motive should be to unite the divided society by ending the caste system. Some high class literates and elites disowned the belief in the caste system, but when it came to practice in real sense, they were just the opposite of what they claimed e.g. establishing social and marital relationship in their caste only.

He said the confederation would organise a massive function in New Delhi on October 14, 2001, where more than 10 lakh persons from various castes would convert to Buddhism to uphold the old culture and religion. Only Buddhism could provide a casteless society in India and this had been seen during the rule of King Ashoka. Moreover, Buddhism was still practical in most parts of the world and it was the second largest dharma in the world, he added.