Vajpayee was candid in his speech at Meenakshipuram about the caste prejudices that exist in Hindu society. ‘There is no doubt,’ he said, ‘that our Hindu society suffers from many ills. Distinctions on the basis of birth and caste practised for centuries have not been wiped off. Social ills continue to accumulate. The momentum of reform was not carried forward. But our religion does not approve of such discrimination. Untouchability has no place in our religion… The temples must be open to all; wells must be used by all our brothers and sisters.’
