Apply same sensitivity to SCs here

Harassment and victimisation based on caste, colour, creed or race at any place is worthy of condemnation. Any one indulging in such behaviour only certifies that he or she is a person of low mentality, calibre and does not merit much attention.

In India too, there is a lot of harassment and victimisation based on castes. SCs and STs are often at receiving ends more often than not. Khairlangi is the latest incident in this respect. It is another matter that when a famous personality like actress Shilpa Shetty was harassed, so many people have come forward and voiced their concern and in such a high pitch; but when a some one belonging to lower castes within India gets harassed, there is hardly any one to raise his voice against that harassment.

The reason is obvious, centuries old castist psyche of discrimination against the lower caste has not changed even after six decades of independence.

Wake-up India, harassment is a harassment, be it of a big person or a small one. We must raise our voice against all such cases of discrimination and try to help people, particularly the poor and the needy, belonging to lower strata of society.

Only then shall India be able to compete with developed countries around the globe.

First Published: Jan 18, 2007 19:47 IST