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Caste one’s lot

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Lalu Prasad's caste remark triggers war of words

ALLAHABAD: Volunteers of National Student Union of India ( NSUI ), Congress’ student wing on Saturday put up a poster at a prominent market square here with a casteist remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Asking those who seek to compare Modi with Jawahar Lal Nehru, the poster reads, “Kahan Raja Bhoj, Kahan Gangu…”, making a crude reference to Modi’s caste, Modh-Ghanchi, a sub-caste of the Teli community which is among the OBC s.“Nehruji se tulna karne wale log zara soche — Kahan Raja Bhoj Kahan Gangu… (Those comparing Nehruji and Modi must realise that the former’s stature is much taller than latter),” reads the banner which has photographs of Nehru and Modi apart from those of Jitesh Mishra and Rajiv Yadav, identified as NSUI leaders of the city.The original Hindi proverb, “Kahan Raja Bhoj, kahan Gangu Teli”, refers to King Bhoja of Dhar and a commoner in the form of Gangu Teli, and is often used in northern India to emphasize incomparable stature of two people.However, it could very well backfire on the Congress as during the 2014 Lok Sabha campaign, Modi had successfully exploited to the hilt his background as a tea seller by organizing “Chai Pe Charcha” across the country. The “Chai Pe Charcha” campaign came soon after Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar made his controversial remarks in early 2014 that “in 21st Century Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. ...But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him”.The controversial poster in Allahabad does not have names of any senior Congress leader. It was put up to mark Children’s Day celebrations, being organized by various organisations to mark Nehru’s 126th anniversary in Allahabad, his hometown.Senior Congress leaders in the city downplayed the issue. “We have no idea about the banner but Congress leaders and volunteers should concentrate to strengthen the party at grassroots level,” said Tariq Sayed ‘Ajjoo’, former working president of City Congress Committee.Justifying putting up the banner, Jitesh Misra, district president, NSUI, Allahabad said: “During Bihar assembly election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had passed lewd remarks on senior Congress leaders who had played a vital role in the freedom struggle. It is not fair for Modi to pass comment on Nehru or Indiraji. Modi should never be compared with Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.”