Thiruvananthpuram: Brushing aside Opposition criticism that his visits to Dalit households were a political stunt, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he doesn't believe in the caste system and his purpose was to reach out to the poor.
"I personally don't believe in caste system. I go to a human being's house and not a Dalit's house," Rahul said.
He said it was the media which saw his trips to rural households as visits to Dalit houses. "The frame of Dalit is your frame, not mine. I ask my office to arrange for my visit to a poor person's home in the poorest village. You see him as a Dalit, I see him as a poor person," he said.
He said he meets a tea vendor and a university student on the same lines. "I don't ask him (tea stall vendor) whether he is a Dalit, the difference is in the opportunities. They are as intelligent and as smart as you, but had no opportunity to go to a university – that is the only difference," he said.
Regarding the reaction of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on his visits to poor households, he said he would continue with his programme despite protests by the BSP chief.
"If she doesn't like it, my apologies to her,” Rahul said.
The Congress General Secretary expressed confidence that his party will come to power in UP but did not want to hazard a guess as to when it will happen.
"I can guarantee that this is going to happen and people are going to be proud of the Congress government in the state," he said.
Rahul also said that he was "extremely impressed" by the way students were willing to join politics and described drives in various parts of the country to induct youngsters in Youth Congress as successful.
He said the system in the party had a place for all sections of the society, including SC, STs and women.
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