Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, he said atrocities on the downtrodden in the name of religion continued even after about 60 years of independence in the country. He said such things were a crime against humanity and human values. He said he had taken up a mission to create awareness to shun dividing forces and become a voice to the voiceless.

He informed that his ‘yatra’ would cover entire Karnataka besides Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He said the country had to its credit tremendous achievements in the field of science but expressed his concern that the benefits were not utilised for the welfare of the people.

He said the basic necessity of these people was education and added that until they were properly educated, the dream of Dr B R Ambedkar would not be fulfilled.

He said he was organising a ‘dharma diksha’ function on October 14, 2006, in Gulbarga where about 5 lakh people embrace Buddhism.