'All Thieves Have Modi Surname' Remark: BJP Plans Nationwide Campaign To Highlight Congress' 'Contempt For OBCs'

A Surat Court found Congress leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of criminal defamation for his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname, leading to the loss of his Lok Sabha membership and a two-year jail sentence.

The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) aims to highlight this issue as they prepare for direct electoral battles with the Congress in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, states with significant OBC (Other Backward Classes) population.

The Congress, however, is defending Gandhi, and accusing the BJP of engaging in vendetta politics. The BJP, in response, is emphasising Gandhi's 'casteist slur' in which he referred to anyone with the Modi surname as a "thief".

BJP president J P Nadda initiated the attack on Gandhi, condemning his "pathetic and casteist mindset" and accusing him of harbouring deep-seated hatred for the OBC community.

Union minister and prominent OBC leader Bhupender Yadav echoed these sentiments in a press conference, questioning whether Gandhi and the Congress party believe they are above the law. Yadav argued that Gandhi's words not only insulted the OBC community but also promoted division rather than unity in India.

As per news reports, in light of these developments, the BJP plans to launch a nationwide campaign centered on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP and his remarks targeting people of one community.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi met with ministers belonging to the OBC communities to coordinate the party's response, with ministers such as Dharmendra Pradhan, Krishan Pal Gurjar, Prahlad Singh Patel, and Rameswar Teli attending the meeting.

To further highlight the Congress's 'contempt' for the OBC communities, the BJP plans to stage protests, organise group meetings, and hold chaupals in villages starting on 6 April, coinciding with the BJP's foundation day.

The OBC community's support, which is significant in numbers, has become critical for the BJP since the beginning of the Modi era around 2014.

The party's focus on the OBC groups has not gone unnoticed, as various OBC communities have largely rallied behind the Modi-led BJP.

The Modi sub-caste is a part of the larger Ghanchi community. This community, which has been classified as OBC since 1994, originated as a nomadic tribe and eventually became involved in the oil-making and trading business, primarily in Gujarat.

Outside Gujarat, they are also known as the Teli/Ghanchi (oil-maker) community.

The Teli community is spread across India and is known by different surnames depending on the region.

In Rajasthan, they are called Ghanchis, while in Gujarat, they are referred to as Modis.

Individuals with the Modi surname can also be found in other states, such as Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Jharkhand.

Notably today, 25 March, when Rahul Gandhi held a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, he was flanked by Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Rajasthan chief minister, Ashok Gehlot. Both the leaders are among the prominent politicians belonging to the OBC community in their state, and the governments of both have to face an election within the next nine months.

This suggests that while the Congress may not be openly acknowledging it, it is aware of the potential political fallout of the entire episode.