Yagnik, co-author of The Shaping of Modern Gujarat: Plurality, Hindutva and Beyond, says, "I am surprised to read that Rahul claims that he is a Brahmin. His grandfather (Feroze Gandhi, husband of former prime minister Indira Gandhi) hails from Gujarat and Parsis are Gujaratis."
Recently, a report (external link) of The Times of India had claimed, 'Matters came to an interesting point during a recent review meeting when the upper caste/Brahmin argument invoked by a local Uttar Pradesh leader saw Congress leader Rahul Gandhi rebutting the claim by remarking 'I am a Brahmin... and general secretary in the party'.
Yagnik said, "This is very confusing. Being a grandson of Feroze Gandhi, a Parsi, Rahul can certainly project himself as a Gujarati."
Yagnik added, "Earlier, in the 'seventies, Prime Minister Mrs Gandhi announced in an election meeting in Gujarat that she was a bahu (daughter-in-law) of Gujarat and had received applause."
In view of Chief Minister Narendra Modi's game-plan for the coming elections, Yagnik says, "In the light of the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recent by-election in Mansa, close to Gandhinagar, I fail to understand why the Congress is not using the opportunity to revive in the state?"
