Jaipur

Yogi Adityanath on Monday said the caste system was originally meant to organise society, but “casteism” weakens the social structure and divides the nation.

Addressing a programme at the Sire Temple in Jalore, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister also said religion should act as a unifying force in society.

“Caste should be the means of running the society systematically, but casteism weakens that system,” Adityanath said.

He alleged that previous governments divided people in the name of caste, region and language, which weakened the country and led to challenges such as unrest in Kashmir, Naxalism, linguistic disputes and caste conflicts.

“The benefits of governance often failed to reach Dalits, the poor and other marginalised sections,” he said.

Adityanath said India is moving forward to become a major global force under the leadership of Narendra Modi, adding that steps have been taken to address issues such as Kashmir and Naxalism while ensuring welfare schemes reach people without discrimination.

Highlighting infrastructure development, he said roads have been built in previously underserved areas and connectivity has improved through expanded railway networks, airports, metro services, medical institutions and engineering colleges.

Targeting the United Progressive Alliance government, Adityanath claimed it had treated India’s spiritual traditions as regressive.

“In contrast, the present leadership recognised that our faith is deeply connected to Sanatan Dharma and that society cannot move forward without faith,” he said.

Referring to the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he said the temple could have been built decades earlier but previous governments did not act on it.

He also mentioned the redevelopment of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, noting that earlier only a limited number of devotees could visit the temple at a time, whereas now thousands can have ‘darshan’ simultaneously.

“Similar arrangements are being created for devotees in Mathura and Vrindavan,” he added.

Calling India a unique nation shaped by saints, warriors, farmers, artisans and labourers, Adityanath urged citizens to work towards the vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

He also said India had faced centuries of attacks by foreign invaders who looted the country and disrupted its social order.

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“These forces succeeded largely because of internal divisions. Had the country remained united, no invader could have dominated it,” he said.