Chitradurga: Sri Prasannananda Swamiji of Valmiki Gurupeetha, Rajanahalli, said that political parties should protect the interests of SC/ST communities always and not only when elections are held.
He was speaking after attending a preparatory meeting and Janajagruti meeting of Maharshi Valmiki Fair held at Radhakrishna Kalyana Mantapa in the Town on Wednesday December 14.
“India has a hierarchical caste system. The practice of one person looking down on another person because of the caste of birth is still alive. Therefore, as long as there is a caste system in the country, reservation is necessary for the people of the exploited communities, he asserted.
“India has a system of religion, caste and sub-castes, and even today some communities are excluded in villages, he said and added that if Dr. B. R. Ambedkar said had not given reservation to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the lives of these people would have been in shambles.
