PM Modi does not belong to backward classes by birth, converted later: Revanth Reddy

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has kicked up a controversy by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "legally converted BC" who carries the mindset of an upper caste.

At a party meeting on the caste survey on Friday, Revanth Reddy said Modi belonged to an affluent caste until 2002, when he became the Gujarat Chief Minister. Reddy added that his caste's inclusion in the BCs list made Modi a BC in 2002. The BJP responded by asking Revanth Reddy to clarify which caste Rahul Gandhi belongs to.

“Modi is not a BC by birth, but a legally converted BC. Modi was not born in BC. After he became CM, his caste was included in the BC category. The certificates may show BC, but in his heart, he doesn't consider himself a BC. He still carries the mindset of an upper caste," said Revanth Reddy at the meeting held in Gandhi Bhawan to explain the caste survey and the SC subcategory to the party leaders and workers.

Responding to Revanth Reddy's comments, Union minister of state for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that to divert attention from the discrepancies of the caste survey, the chief minister had raked up Modi's caste.

“Should one speak carelessly about the Prime Minister while holding a responsible position as Chief Minister? I'll leave it to Revanth's wisdom. Modi is undoubtedly a BC," Sanjay asserted.

"In 1994, the then Congress government in Gujarat itself included Modi's caste in the BC list. When Modi became Prime Minister for the first time, the backward classes, poor from upper castes, and Dalit communities across the country celebrated. Modi himself included 27 BCs as ministers in his first cabinet. Similarly, he appointed 12 Dalits and 8 STs as ministers. How many BCs are there in Revanth Reddy's government? Only two,” he said and asked, "What's the purpose of discussing Modi's caste? If it comes to that, one should discuss Rahul Gandhi's caste, religion, and race."

“Because Rahul Gandhi's grandfather was Feroze Khan. His mother, Sonia Gandhi, is a Christian and an Italian national. So which caste are you promoting for Rahul? Rahul has no single caste, religion, or race. If we want to discuss this, shall we start the debate about Rahul's caste and religion from 10 Janpath itself? What answer will Revanth give to this? This is what it means to dig one's own grave. If Revanth has the guts, shall we consider the MLC elections as a referendum on Rahul Gandhi's caste and religion?,” asked Sanjay.

He also pointed out that in the caste enumeration survey, the Congress government concluded that 46 per cent are BCs. In the previous survey during KCR's tenure, the number had been found to be 51 per cent.

"By this calculation, how many ministers should be in your government? And how many opportunities have you provided to BCs?," Sanjay asked Revanth Reddy.