MYSURU: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said casteism and narrow-mindedness were on the rise with increasing literacy levels.
After inaugurating a religious meet during Suttur Jatra Mahotsava here, he said, “People tend to think that with the increase in literacy and with more and more people becoming doctors and engineers, there will be a drastic decline in social evils. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening.”
Taking a dig at the Ghar Wapsi campaign, he asked which among the 2,750 castes one had to convert to if a Christian wanted to embrace Hinduism.
“While no one may want to convert and be part of a lower caste, people who belong to the higher castes will not welcome new converts. The situation will improve when there is equality,” he said.
Former chief minister Dharam Singh said caste-based politics is on the rise and requested that Kharge to work towards doing away with inequality and disparity in the society.