'Blatant lie, shameful': BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi over 'PM Modi Not OBC' remark
Rahul Gandhi alleged that Narendra Modi changed his caste to OBC only after becoming Chief Minister of Gujarat and “hence Modi ji is not an OBC by birth”.
New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not belong to the Other Backward Caste (OBC) community as he was born in the general category, calling it a 'blatant lie' and urging urged the Congress leader to refrain from making such 'shameless and baseless' comments.
'Has this become Rahul Gandhi's level? The poor people, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward communities of our country considered Narendra Modi as their leader. The future of the Congress party lies in darkness… Rahul Gandhi must stop making these shameful and baseless statements,” said senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
'PM Modi not OBC'
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi had claimed that Prime Minister Modi was born in the general caste and did not belong in the OBC category he had earlier claimed.
“When BJP workers come to you, tell them one thing: our Prime Minister lied to the entire country that he belonged to the backward class. He is not born in a backward class, he belongs to the general caste. You can tell this to any BJP worker,” the Congress leader said while addressing a public gathering in Jharsuguda during the Odisha leg of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
Gandhi had earlier in his speech claimed that Modi belonged to the Teli caste, but later clarified that he meant the Ghanchi caste.
“Modi ji has misled the people by saying he is an OBC. He was born into a family of the Ghanchi caste, which was included in the OBC list during the tenure of the BJP government in Gujarat in 2000.
'Modi changed caste to OBC after becoming Gujarat CM'
He alleged that Narendra Modi changed his caste to OBC only after becoming Chief Minister of Gujarat and “hence Modi ji is not an OBC by birth”.
Gandhi also claimed that the community was tagged OBC by the BJP in 2000 after Modi became CM. He was born in the general caste,” he alleged.
'Flatant lie'
However, the BJP refuted Rahul's allegations and stated that Prime Minister Modi's caste was notified as OBC two years before he became Chief Minister.
“This is a blatant lie. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's caste was notified as OBC on October 27, 1999, more than two years BEFORE he became Chief Minister of Gujarat,” wrote BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya on X.
Malviya also alleged that the “entire Nehru-Gandhi family, starting from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rahul Gandhi, was against OBCs.”
(With input from agencies)