Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Friday that the Congress seems to be terribly frightened about the prospect of facing electoral defeat at the hands of Narendra Modi, that it consistently raises the issue of the latter's caste.
"What has happened to the Congress Party. Why is it so frightened," Prasad asked when questioned about the Congress allegations of Modi's caste.
Prasad was reacting to the Congress saying on Thursday that Modi doesn't belong to any backward caste.
On the contrary, the Congress claimed, 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.
Asked to give his reaction to Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal predicting a loss for Modi in the elections and a win for his party during a roadshow in Rural Varanasi, Prasad said: "Kejriwal can do a road show, or even an air show, or even a water show, but the fact remains that the people of Kashi (Varanasi) have made up their minds, and we know who is going to win and who is going to lose."
Kejriwal, who began his roadshow in Rural Varanasi on Friday morning, has said that he was confident about his party achieving electoral victory in Varanasi as also in other parts of the country.
Interacting with the general public, Kejriwal said that he was absolutely sure that BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would face and taste electoral defeat.
"The AAP is winning with a huge majority in Varanasi. Narendra Modi is going to lose," claimed Kejriwal.
"The people of Varanasi are asking how a person (Modi) who comes on a helicopter for only two hours to campaign,can serve them (in parliament or in government)," Kejriwal added.
"They(the BJP) are doing everything they can, be it communal and caste politics, violence or bribing the media, but still he(Modi) will lose," Kejriwal maintained.
