Varanasi/IBNS/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attacked the INDIA alliance and said those, who believe in provoking and creating difference among the people in the name of caste, oppose every scheme for the Dalits and the deprived and do politics in the name of caste for the interest of their family.

Addressing the 647th Prakash Parv celebrations of the Guru after darshan and puja at Sri Guru Ravidas Janmasthali Temple located in Govardhanpur Seer, the PM said, "Saint Ravidas had said most of the people keep getting entangled and get others entangled in the caste system. This disease harms humanity. The words of the saints show us both the way and also caution us."

He said family-based parties do not want to allow any Dalit or tribal to progress outside their family.

"You must be remembering that they mocked when the work to construct toilets for the poor was started, they made fun of Jan Dhan accounts and they even opposed Digital India," he said.

"There is one more identity of dynastic parties that beyond their family they don't want any Dalit or Tribal to progress. They cannot tolerate any Dalit or Tribal occupying bigger posts. You must be remembering which parties opposed the country's first tribal woman Droupadi Murmu when she was contesting for the post of President," PM Modi said.

He said, "These are the same dynastic parties which view Dalits, backwards and Tribal as their vote bank at the time of elections. We have to be cautious of such people and their thinking. The intentions of our government are clear for the poor, the deprived, the backward and the Dalits. We have to refrain from the negative mentality of casteism and follow the positive teachings of Saint Ravidas."

The PM welcomed the Radasis from all over the country to Kashi on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas.

"Banaras looks like mini Punjab today. Like you, Ravidas ji calls me again and again to his birthplace. By coming here, one gets an opportunity to carry forward his resolutions and serve his millions of followers," he said.

He said, "This is a matter of good fortune for me. Being the MP and public representative of Kashi, it is my special responsibility to welcome you to Banaras and take special care of your facilities."

Modi said schemes worth several crores are being launched today for the development of the birthplace of Saint Ravidas ji.

"Roads leading to the temple, interlocking drainage system, Santsang Bhawan and various facilities for receiving prasad will be developed. With this, the devotees will not only get spiritual happiness but will also get many other facilities." he said.

On this occasion, he inaugurated the new statue of Saint Ravidas and laid the foundation stone of the museum.

On this occasion, the PM also paid tribute to Gadge Maharaj on his birth anniversary and said, "Even when I was not in politics, I used to take guidance from the teachings of Guru Ravidas Ji. I had a feeling in my mind that I should get an opportunity to serve him. Today his teachings are being spread not only in Kashi but throughout the country."

The PM said that in the last 10 years work has been done keeping those people who remained away from the mainstream of development at the centre.

"Earlier, the poor were considered the last and the least, today all the schemes are being made for them. In such great difficulty of Corona, we arranged free ration for 80 crore poor people," he said.

He said, "We launched the Swachh Bharat Yojana campaign and gave the benefit of toilets to every family. Specially our Dalit mothers and sisters have benefited from this because they were the ones who had to face problems. Jal Jeevan Mission is going on for clean water. Piped water was supplied to more than 11 crore houses. Ayushman cards have been made. Jan Dhan accounts have been opened."

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president and MLC Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, Vice President of All India Ravidas Dharma Organisation Navdeep Das, former MP Vijay Sampla, SS Dhillon, Satpal Pradeep Das were present on the occasion.