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Communist Party of India general secretary D.Raja on Friday said there was absolutely no need for raking up caste in the ongoing general elections.
Talking to ANI here, Raja said the issue of caste does not really matter in the political space, as the public, by and large, is looking for a stable and strong government and good governance.
Specifically referring to BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Raja asked: "Why did Modi take this question of caste to such an extent? Narendra Modi should be condemned for this."
Modi has this past week taken advantage of the Congress leader Priyanaka Gandhi Vadra's controversial statement of him practising a "Neech Rajniti" brand of politics, by suggesting that it was an attack on his OBC background.
Raja was reacting to the Congress claim that Modi was born in an upper caste "Vaishya" family, with the title of Modh for being wealthy like the Modh Brahmins and Modh Banias.
His family, alleged the Congress, belonged to the "Modh Ghanchi" Vaishya sub-caste.
As evidence of Modi belonging to an upper caste, the Congress presented a Gujarat Government resolution dated January 1, 2002, which shows that Modi placed the Modh Ghanchi caste, a minority found only in Gujarat, in the Other Backward Castes (OBCs) category within four months of becoming the state's prime minister.
Former Gujarat Assembly opposition leader Shaktisinh Gohil said the Congress had obtained the Gujarat government resolution under the Right To Information Act (RTI).
"By acquiring OBC status for his selfish motives, Modi has encroached upon the right of members of OBC," said Gohil. "Modi is a man born in upper caste who is indulging in low level politics. A man's actions have nothing to do with his caste. The best example of this is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar."
Referring to Modi as a "fake OBC," Gohil also contested Modi's claim of being a tea-seller, saying his uncle ran a canteen at a state road transport office, where Modi would sit occasionally. "If what Modi says about being a tea-seller is true, then he should disclose from which larri (cart) he used to do so. There must be many persons of his age, who used to have the tea stalls in the area, who can vouch for his authenticity," said Gohil.
Asked why the Congress was revealing this information so late in the day, Gohil said he received the government resolution just a couple of days ago and that could make it public only after polling was over on Wednesday in the Abdasa assembly by-election, which he contested in Gujarat.
He explained that the Modh Ghanchis are not of the "Teli" caste like the Muslim Ghanchis of Gujarat, who enjoy the OBC status. They are "Vaishyas," said Gohil, quoting from the Gujarati lexicon 'Bhagvadgomandal' which states that Modh are rich people living in a particular village. Modh is an adjective showing prosperity status of a particular caste or community.
On Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Raja said that he was really not keen or interested on commenting, as the former was saying a lot of things.
Asked which party did he see as winning the elections, Raja said: "Lets see who emerges after the elections. One has to also see the ground level situation in Gujarat.
