Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan on Monday defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “backward” credentials, which are being questioned by Opposition leaders, including BSP chief Mayawati and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
“Who is backward from his birth? Does an infant born out of a mother’s womb have a caste? The caste is a reality, but backward and forward is a Constitutional construct. Now Paswan in Bihar is a Scheduled Caste but not so in Delhi,” Mr. Paswan said at a press conference here.
Mr. Tejashwi was the first to say that PM Modi was a “fake OBC.” This line of attack was followed by Ms. Mayawati, who said at a rally in Kannauj that Mr. Modi added his caste in the backward category for political gain.
In response to these comments, Mr. Modi told a rally in Kannauj on Saturday: “Mayawati ji , I am most backward... I request with folded hands not to drag me into caste politics.”
“Why are they screaming and getting a stomach ache… these comments are a sign of desperation and clearly show they have already lost the election,” Mr. Paswan said.
According to him, the results on May 23 will favour the National Democratic Alliance and by May 26, Mr. Modi will once again be sworn in as Prime Minister.
He also sought to remind the Opposition that Mr. Modi in the past had to face derisive comments and insults over his caste.
Mr. Paswan taunted the Congress for backing out from the contest in Varanasi. “Now Priyanka Gandhi has said she is not contesting. In the face of defeat, she backed out,” he said.
According to Mr. Paswan, in this election the candidate is no longer important as the vote is being cast only for Mr. Modi. “There is one united view in this country that Prime Minister Modi should be brought back and the candidates are not important,” he said.
