Have imbibed spirit of Guru Ravidas in every scheme: PM

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will mark the birth anniversary of

Sant Ravidas

by visiting a temple dedicated to him at Karol Bagh here, in a move that attests the political clout of the devotees of the Bhakti saint in Punjab and UP, represents his canonisation as a big revered figure in the north, while it also signals the Sangh Parivar’s deeper embrace of the Dalit icon.


“On Wednesday at 9am on the auspicious occasion of

Ravidas Jayanti

, I will go to Shri

Guru Ravidas

Vishram Dham Temple in Karol Bagh, Delhi and pray for the welfare of people there,” said Modi, who has been instrumental in the construction of a big complex at the birthplace of the Bhakti saint at Govardhanpur, Varanasi.

“I feel proud to say that we have imbibed the spirit of Guru

Ravidas

ji in every step and every scheme of our government,” the Prime Minister added.

The recognition of Ravidas also reflects an acknowledgement of the importance of Dalits who took to streets to protest against the demolition of a Ravidas temple unauthorisedly constructed on public land