Amethi (Uttar Pradesh), May 16 : Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that lack of political awareness and casteism are the main reason behind the backwardness of some of the states of the country.

Gandhi is on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Amethi. He was replying to queries from participants in the "Rashtriya Ekta Shivir" organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra.

He urged the youth to come forward to counter the menace of casteism and communalism.

"The progress of India has unnerved countries in the West but our country is still fighting casteism and communalism," he said.

He said he witnessed this on his recent visit to the states of Orissa and Chattisgarh.

"The people of Orissa and Chattisgarh are not much politically aware and their lack of participation (in the political process) is the reason why the people of these states have lagged behind in the race for development," said Gandhi.

"I had recently visited both the states and experienced that casteism and discrimination were rampant there," he added.

Rahul further said that leaders, after winning elections, and policemen, after wearing their uniforms, forget their responsibilities.

"Perhaps they forget that all people in this country are Indians," he said.

This problem was not confined to a particular state but was a matter of concern for the entire country, he further added. (ANI)