The BJP on Wednesday, 17 April demanded an apology from Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his remarks suggesting that Ram Nath Kovind became president because of his caste. The party also urged the Election Commission to take cognisance of the matter and take action against Gehlot.
Earlier on Wednesday, Gehlot had alleged that Ram Nath Kovind was made the President of India because of his caste, reported ANI. Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur, Gehlot said that the decision was taken keeping in mind caste considerations to benefit the BJP in the Gujarat elections, which they were scared of losing.
“Kyunki Gujarat ke chunaav aa rahe the, vo ghabra chuke the ki ‘humari sarkar Gujarat mein nahi banne ja rahi hai’... mera aisa maanna hai ki Ram Nath Kovind ji ko banaya (President), jaatiya sammeekaran baithane ke liye aur Advani sahab chhut gaye,” he said.
(Translation: Because Gujarat elections were approaching, they were afraid that they would not be able to form the government there… I believe Ram Nath Kovind ji was made president keeping in mind caste considerations and Advani ji lost the race.)
However, facing flak for his comments, Gehlot later tweeted that he was “misquoted by few media houses” and said he has the greatest regard for President Kovind.
BJP Angered by Gehlot’s Comments
"It is very unfortunate that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, a senior Congress leader who himself is on a constitutional post made a casteist remark against the president, who is the custodian of the Constitution," BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said, addressing a press conference at the party office in New Delhi, reported PTI.
He said the remark showed the "anti-Dalit" mindset of the Congress.
“We request the Election Commission to take suo-moto cognisance of Gehlot’s remarks against the president,” he said.
Rao said the BJP has also demanded an apology from Gehlot.
According to Gehlot, Kovind had been selected as the president over LK Advani, who was supposed to take the office, keeping in mind the caste equation.
“I was reading an article. He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) was afraid that he was not going to form the government in Gujarat. BJP chief Amit Shah might have given him the suggestion after which it was decided to make Ram Nath Kovind the President," the Congress leader said.
"Advani was left out though he was to become the President. People of the country had the expectation that he will get the honour that he deserved but was deprived of,” Gehlot said.
There are a large number of Koli community people in Gujarat, to which President Kovind belongs, Gehlot added, reported Times Now.
(With inputs from Times Now, PTI and ANI.)
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