Vice President calls for ending untouchability

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for ending the practices of untouchability and caste discrimination in the country. Even after several years of independence and civilization, untouchability is still practised in the country and some are denied entry in temples and other paces of worship, he said.

The Vice president was speaking after distributing the Adi Shankara Asianet Young Scientist Awards 2018, instituted by the Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology, here on Monday.

He called for ending the practice of caste differences and discrimination, which were not part of the culture and tradition of the country. Hindu philosophy never allowed such practices. However, such practices came in between, he said.

Mr. Naidu called for upholding the spirit of the motherland and mother tongue. One can use foreign language when speaking to foreigners or for acquiring knowledge and scientific advancement. However, one should use his mother tongue while at home and speak to each other in mother tongue, he said.

Respect culture

The Vice president said one should be proud of his culture, tradition and language. “I am not against other languages. Learn as many languages as possible. But do not neglect the mother tongue,” he said. “India is one nation and our forefathers are the same. Our civilization is the same and we are one country though we speak different languages. One should respect his culture, heritage, mother tongue and motherland,” he said.

Governor P. Sathasivam and Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran were among those who attended the functiion.

Mr. Naidu, who arrived here on Monday morning, also visited the Adi Sankara Nilayam at Kaladi before leaving for Guruvayur.