Venom of casteism will ruin, destroy rural India, rues Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lamented that the “venom of casteism” was causing the “destruction” of villages, and urged people to work for the development of rural India.

In his address during the birth centenary of reformist Nanaji Deshmukh and 115th birth anniversary of socialist Jayaprakash Narayan, Modi advocated that rural development schemes must be outcome- and not output- oriented. This was essential to achieve targets and avoid delusions and diversion, so that qualitative changes take place in the lives of rural people when independent India turns 75 in 2022, he said.

“Our villages are still poisoned with the venom of casteism... the poison of casteism destroys the village and crushes its dreams.

“We need to make efforts so that the villages rise above casteism and become inclusive and cohesive. Everyone should resolve to work for the villages. The government is taking steps to take villages forward,” he said.

Villagers, too, aspire to live the life lead by city dwellers. Hence, same facilities should be made available in rural areas, he asserted.

Modi sought to bring reformist Deshmukh at par with other icons — Jayaprakash Narayan and Hindutva ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya.

He cited efforts made by  Deshmukh towards rural development and for social causes, besides his sacrifices for public good. Modi recalled that he gave up his political life by refusing an offer from former prime minister Morarji Desai to become a minister in his government and spent his remaining years serving people in Chitrakoot area of Uttar Pradesh.

The country, assured the prime minister, has sufficient resources to deliver benefits to the last man in the queue, he added.