New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday termed the "discrimination" faced by Dalits in the country as comparable to that of apartheid in South Africa.

"Dalits have faced a unique discrimination in our society that is fundamentally different from the problems of minority groups in general. The only parallel to the practice of untouchability was apartheid in South Africa," Manmohan Singh said while addressing an international Dalit-Minority conference here.

Convened in the Parliamentary Library auditorium here, the conference was attended by delegates from 84 countries, including those from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries.

Singh compared the prevalent bias against Dalits in caste-ridden Indian society despite the government's firm and consistent stand at various international forums that Indian `casteism' cannot be compared with the erstwhileuth African policy of `apartheid.'

"Untouchability is not just a social discrimination. It is blot on humanity," said Singh adding, "Even after 60 years of constitutional and legal protection and State support, there is still social discrimination against Dalits in many parts of the country. The political, social, cultural and intellectual battle against such discrimination must continue.

"Our government is deeply and sincerely committed to the equality of all sections of our society and will take all necessary steps to help in social, educational and economic empowerment of Dalits," the prime minister assured.

Addressing the same conference, which was also attended by former prime ministers V.P. Singh and I.K. Gujral, besides Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman A. Rehman Khan, Paswan said "the border area of the country is largely populated by Muslim populations and unless the country lets them feel secure, the interiors of the country could not be secure and sanitized."

Paswan also reiterated his demands for separate allocations in budget for Dalits and Muslims and sought reservation for them in judiciary.