'Karma' decides individual's status, not caste: Union minister Gehlot

JAIPUR: Union minister for social justice and empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot said no human being is born low or high based on birth but the 'karma' decides the status of the individual in society.

The union minister was speaking at the inauguration of the three day Samarsada sangam (harmony meet) organized by Vidhya Bharti here on Friday.

He advocated harmony in the society and decried the caste system in Hindu society as the creation of vested interests.

The minister while lauding Bhimrao Ambedkar said he really worked hard for the welfare of the down trodden, but some vested interests are now trying to weaken the society by creating schism in the society in the name of castes. He said a society divided is weakened and said it only help the enemies of the country to take advantage of such a situation like during the British period.

The minister referring to the dalits being converted in to other religious said the society should not create such a situation for the deprived sections. He said injustice; ill manners are creating a situation where people were forced to change their religions.

He said even Christians and Muslims accept that their ancestors were Hindus, but we have to think the reason for their conversion. He said it is the duty of all Indians to maintain social harmony and nobody try to create a situation in which a certain sections to change their religion. He said the government has made many schemes for the upliftment of the weaker sections so that they need not change their faith.

He said it was thought in schools and colleges that Akbar but a king could not adjudged as great based on attacks and annexations of neighbouring kingdoms. So government has introduced in the curriculum the life of Maharana Pratap, a great king who sacrificed his life in defense of his kingdom against aggression.