Union Minister Giriraj Singh's insistence to review the Minority tag to Muslims was today trashed by RJD, which said it is part of a design to exploit communal sentiments for benefit in the Uttar Pradesh polls.
Union Minister of State for MSME and Lok Sabha member from Nawada Giriraj Singh had sought review of the Minority tag to Muslims in recent TV interactions.
Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly Prem Kumar supported the demand.
"It is a genuine and relevant issue which should be given a serious thought," Prem Kumar told reporters outside the Assembly premises.
But, RJD president Lalu Prasad and his party leaders trashed it.
"He (Giriraj Singh) is a mental case... He has been given a task by the BJP to make communal statements," Lalu alleged.
His son and state's Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav said Giriraj Singh's statement was meant to exploit communal sentiments to benefit the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh polls.
Bihar Minority Affairs minister and RJD leader Abdul Gafoor alleged "Giriraj was known for being a "barbola" (loud mouth who makes tall claims)... When Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is making statements laced with communal overtones, what to talk about his ministers."
Giriraj Singh also did not find support from BJP's ally in NDA, Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Jitan Ram Manjhi.
"The Minority tag is decided on the basis of some criteria. Two commissions set up by the Union government to assess the socio-economic-educational status of Muslims have highlighted their poor condition. Hence, we think there is no need to review the matter," Manjhi, former Chief Minister of Bihar, said disapproving Giriraj Singh's demand.
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