Laying the foundation stone for a temple dedicated to Sant Ravidas, a 14th century poet and social reformer revered by Scheduled Castes (SC) in north and central India, to be built at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said marginalised sections of society were the biggest beneficiaries of his government’s policies.
“Today, the Dalits, Backward Classes, and tribal communities are the biggest beneficiaries of all the major schemes the country is running for the welfare of the poor. You all know very well that the schemes that used to come during the previous governments were according to the election season. But we think that the country should stand with Dalits, deprived sections, Backward Classes, tribal people, women — at every stage of life, we should support their hopes and aspirations,” Mr. Modi said, addressing a large gathering after the foundation laying event.
The event also marked the culmination of the ‘Samrasta (harmony) Yatras’ the BJP launched in July with the aim of connecting with different sections of society, especially Scheduled Castes, in the poll-bound State that has 35 Assembly seats reserved for SCs in the 230-member Assembly.
The PM exuded confidence over winning a third term for himself, saying Sant Ravidas would give him a chance to return for the inauguration of the temple in one to one-and-a-half years.
While Mr. Modi’s 20-minute-long address was largely devoid of political references, he said that Sant Ravidas was born in the period “when the country was ruled by Mughals and society was grappling with instability, oppression and tyranny”. He added that during the Mughal period, when the beliefs of locals were being attacked and restrictions were being imposed to erase their identity, Sant Ravidas had said that subservience was the biggest sin.
Hailing the poet who stood against institutionalised caste hierarchy, Mr. Modi further said that Sant Ravidas fought social evils and awakened society.
