NEW DELHI AUG. 26. The Students Federation of India (SFI) has demanded an apology from the Prime Minister, Mr. Vajapayee, for opposing the inclusion of casteism on the agenda of the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) to be held in Durban.

In a statement made available to the media it also congratulated the preparatory committee of WCAR for including casteism on its agenda and said its inclusion was a huge setback to the NDA Government, which according to it had even threatened to boycott the meeting .

Describing caste oppression as a present-day reality which needs to be wiped out, it said it was inhuman, and against the fundamental rights.

``Like fascism and racism, casteism is also related to the social and economical inequalities existing in society'' the statement said. The only way of eliminating the scourge, according to it was the economic empowerment of the weaker sections.