News Analysis India

Tag: caste system

  • Concepts like `Varna’ and `Jaati’ should be completely discarded: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

    By PTI

    NAGPUR: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said the concepts like `Varna’ and `Jaati’ (caste) should be completely discarded.

    Speaking at a book release function here, he said the caste system has no relevance now.

    Citing the book that was released, “Vajrasuchi Tunk” written by Dr Madan Kulkarni and Dr Renuka Bokare, the RSS chief said social equality was a part of the Indian tradition, but it was forgotten and this led to damaging consequences.

    Referring to the claim that the Varna and caste system originally did not have discrimination and had its uses, Bhagwat said if today someone asked about these institutions, the answer must be that “it is past, let’s forget it.”

    “Everything that causes discrimination should go out lock, stock and barrel,” the RSS chief said.

    He also said the previous generations made mistakes everywhere, and India was no exception.

    “There should not be any problem accepting those mistakes. And if you think that by accepting that our ancestors made mistakes they will become inferior, that won’t happen because everybody’s ancestors made mistakes,” Bhagwat added.

    NAGPUR: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said the concepts like `Varna’ and `Jaati’ (caste) should be completely discarded.

    Speaking at a book release function here, he said the caste system has no relevance now.

    Citing the book that was released, “Vajrasuchi Tunk” written by Dr Madan Kulkarni and Dr Renuka Bokare, the RSS chief said social equality was a part of the Indian tradition, but it was forgotten and this led to damaging consequences.

    Referring to the claim that the Varna and caste system originally did not have discrimination and had its uses, Bhagwat said if today someone asked about these institutions, the answer must be that “it is past, let’s forget it.”

    “Everything that causes discrimination should go out lock, stock and barrel,” the RSS chief said.

    He also said the previous generations made mistakes everywhere, and India was no exception.

    “There should not be any problem accepting those mistakes. And if you think that by accepting that our ancestors made mistakes they will become inferior, that won’t happen because everybody’s ancestors made mistakes,” Bhagwat added.

  • Dalit youth killed over removal of Ambedkar posters in Rajasthan 

    By Express News Service
    JAIPUR: A Dalit youth succumbed to injuries after he was brutally thrashed by a group of people over the removal of Ambedkar posters in Rajasthan’s Hanumangrah district. 

    Vinod Bamania, 22, from Kinkralia village died in the hospital at Sri Ganganagar.

    According to the police, Vinod was a member of the Bheem Army. It was alledged that some youngsters from OBC community are behind his killing. The police have arrested two out of the four accused, according to the victim’s family.

    Mukesh, a cousin of Vinod, said that a days ago Vinod and some of his friends had celebrated Ambedkar Jayanti and had put up some posters of the Dalit icon outside their house. Later, some of the accused tore off the posters leading to a quarrel between two sides. Vinod was attacked on June 5 which left him seriously injured. Two days later, he died in the hospital. The FIR mentioned Anil Sihag and Rakesh Sihag along with the a few others as accused.

    According to the FIR, the accused not only beat up the youngster but also made highly objectionable casteist comments while they were thrashing him. Mukesh said, “On june 5, I and vinod were going to our farm when a vehicle stopped near us suddenly. A number of people came out of the vehicle with hockey sticks and lathis and attacked us.” The attackers allegedly said, “Now, we will tell you what Ambedkarvaad is”. 

    According to the police, Vinod had earlier lodged several complaints of Dalit atrocities against the accused. Mukesh says Vinod was targeted because of that. 

    Circle officer of Rawatsar Ranveer Singh Meena said: “The whole dispute centres around the tearing of the posters of Ambedkar from Vinod’s house. We have arrested two people behind the attack and two main accused — Rakesh Sihag and Anil Sihag — are absconding.”

    Members of the Bheem Army accused the police in Rawatsar for being “inactive” and held a demonstration. However, Hanumangrah SP Preeti Jain said the allegation is baseless as the cops took quick action after they came to know abou the incident.

    The police have lodged the case under section 307 , 323, 341 and 143 of the IPC and also under many sections of the  SC/ST Act. After Vinod’s death, the cops added section 302 (for murder cases).