Govt Counters Rahul Gandhi’s Claims on PM Modi’s Caste with Historical Facts

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th Feb. In a tit-for-tat exchange, the government firmly responded to Congress Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi’s recent claims regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s caste identity.

Gandhi, currently on his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Odisha, accused PM Modi of misleading the public by claiming membership in the Other Backward Class (OBC) community. However, the government, in a concise statement titled “facts regarding Rahul Gandhi’s statement on PM’s caste,” rebuffed these claims, highlighting historical records regarding the Prime Minister’s caste lineage.

Gandhi’s allegations centered on PM Modi’s purported affiliation with the Ghanchi caste, suggesting that it was not recognized as an OBC community until the BJP government’s tenure in Gujarat. However, the government’s response clarified that the Modh Ghanchi caste, to which PM Modi belongs, has been included in the OBC list by both the Gujarat state government and the Indian government.

The statement reiterated that the inclusion of the Modh Ghanchi caste in the OBC list occurred after thorough surveys and recommendations, with notifications dating back to July 25, 1994, during the Congress-led administration in Gujarat. Moreover, the government emphasized that the subsequent inclusion in the national OBC list on April 4, 2000, also occurred when PM Modi was not in power or holding any executive office.

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks come amidst ongoing debates between the government and the opposition regarding a nationwide caste census, a contentious issue that has gained traction following Bihar’s recent caste survey. The survey underscored the significant population of OBCs and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) in the state, prompting discussions on their electoral influence.

Gandhi’s pledge to conduct a nationwide caste census and address the Supreme Court-ordered cap on reservations has further intensified the political discourse. He criticized PM Modi’s stance on caste-related policies, accusing him of conveniently invoking his OBC identity for electoral gains while neglecting the welfare of marginalized communities.

Responding to these criticisms, PM Modi, during a recent address in the Rajya Sabha, invoked historical context, referencing former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s reservations stance. He accused the Congress of perpetuating anti-reservation sentiments, citing Nehru’s skepticism towards reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and OBCs.

Contrary to Nehru’s views, PM Modi asserted his government’s commitment to prioritizing the interests of SC, ST, and OBC communities, citing various welfare schemes aimed at their upliftment.

As political tensions escalate over caste-related issues, the exchange between the government and the opposition underscores the deeply entrenched ideological divisions and electoral strategies at play in India’s political landscape.