JD(U) contradicts Shah's claim of Modi as first OBC PM

PATNA: JD(U) today contradicted BJP President Amit Shah's claim that the BJP had given the first OBC prime minister from the community, and hit out at the party for its alleged attempt to sell Narendra Modi as a "caste leader" in view of the coming Bihar elections.

"Amit Shah is wrong in claiming that BJP gave the first OBC prime minister. Chaudhary Charan Singh and H D Deve Gowda hailing from OBC have occupied the post earlier," JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi told PTI.

Citing BJP's victory in Bihar Legislative Council poll, Shah had yesterday said that the Janata Parivar proved to be a damp squib and claimed his party had given the "first prime minister" and "maximum chief ministers from the community."

Tyagi made a scathing attack at the BJP for trying to "sell" the prime minister as a caste leader.

"In Gujarat he was known as 'Hindu hriday samrat'. During Parliamentary election he sought vote in the name of development. In Delhi poll Narendra Modi was presented as a 'vikash purush' (development messiah) but in Bihar he is portrayed as an OBC leader," the JD(U) General Secretary said.

"We wish to know from BJP what is his (PM) real identity?" he said taking a jibe at the saffron party.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also took potshots at the BJP for "falsely" claiming Narendra Modi as the first OBC prime minister of the country.

He too cited the name of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda to contradict Amit Shah's claim.

Kumar himself hails from OBC caste.