Sangh Parivar against 80% Hindus, says JD(U) president Sharad Yadav

NEW DELHI: JD(U) president Sharad Yadav has said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's controversial call for "an apolitical" relook at the reservation policy "has once again exposed the entire Sangh Parivar's, including BJP's deep-rooted plot to deny the constitutionally guaranteed reservation tights to Dalits, tribals and OBCs who form 80 per cent of the Hindus in India."

"What Bhagwatji said has once again exposed the mindset of Sangh, its affiliates including BJP. These Sangh Parivar outfits while keep talking about the need to unite the entire Hindus are, in fact, against the welfare of 80 per cent Hindus who belong to SCs, STs and OBCs. Bhagwatji's call for an apolitical relook at the reservation policy only reflects the deep-rooted plot of the Sangh Parivar to work towards denying constitutionally-guaranteed reservation rights for these very 80 per cent Hindus," Yadav told ET.

Dismissing as "a desperate ploy to create smokescreen" BJP's distancing from the RSS chief's remarks, Yadav said. "It is important to note Bhagwatji's statement has come within days of the RSS-BJP conclave in Delhi which was attended by PM and other ministers. So it is clearly part of a calculated strategy. BJP's show of distancing itself from the RSS can't convince anyone given the kind of relation RSS and BJP share," he said.

On BJP giving a considerable share of tickets to Yadavs in Bihar, the JD(U) leader said, "the biggest political mobilisation and movement in North India, especially in Bihar and UP, has been for social justice led by the Janata Dal parties. Among the larger social forces that rallied in that movement was the Yadavs and other OBCs. Let the BJP explain what its role/attitude was towards that political movement. If BJP thinks it can cover-up its track-record by fielding some Yadav candidates, it are only underestimating the political understanding of the people of Bihar. The election results will show that."