Modi distorting statement to play backward caste card: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Tuesday attacked Narendra Modi for his retort to Priyanka Gandhi's "neechi rajniti" remarks, alleging that the BJP's prime ministerial candidate distorted the meaning of the words in a bid to play "backward caste card" for political gains.

Alleging that BJP has traditionally been against backward communities and minorities, Mayawati said BJP has realised its poor showing in the elections and now playing "dirty tricks" to influence the remaining two phases of polling in UP.

"'Neechi rajniti' does not mean politics of backward communities. Modi has distorted the statement to link with caste to play backward card for political gains," Mayawati told reporters.

"Which school did Modi go to? Either teacher was not good or he did not take interest in studies. How else can one interpret 'neechi rajniti' as politics of backward caste. Either this is the case or he is being mischievous," she said.

Referring to controversial statement of yoga guru Baba Ramdev regarding scheduled castes women, she asked, "If Modi is such a well-wisher of backward community and scheduled castes, why is he is silent on Ramdev's statement?"

Questioning silence of Congress and SP on Modi's retort, Mayawati alleged that Congress leaders are not reacting much on Modi as they have realised that they are finished in Uttar Pradesh.

“They (Congress) have realised that they are finished in UP and did not react well on Modi remarks as they think it would be good if it damaged BSP," she said.

She said BJP had brought down the VP Singh government which had agreed to BSP's demands of implementing the Mandal Commission recommendations. "BJP has traditionally been against backward communities and minorities. How can they claim to friends of backward community?" she asked.

Raising doubts over Modi being a backward, Mayawati asked, "Why did Modi not declare his caste if he is from backward community? It makes clear that he is not from backward community. Even if it is assumed that he is from backward community, I will ask BJP what they have done for the backward community. I want to ask Narendra Modi what did he do for backward community during the six years of NDA rule."

Making fun of Modi's statement that he will go back to selling tea, she asked, "Where will he sell tea?" "If he fails to become prime minister he will go back to his chief ministership of his state," she added.