Patna, April 19 (IANS): Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari said Saturday that there is casteism in Bihar's DNA, but soon realised that he has made a controversial statement. He clarified saying that there is casteism in Bihar's politics.
"Bihar ke DNA mein jativaad hain" (There is casteism in Bihar's DNA), Gadkari told media persons here in a reply to why BJP leaders have been projecting Narendra Modi as 'chaiwala' and a backward caste leader repeatedly during ongoing campaigning for Lok Sabha polls.
Soon after Gadkari stated it, he took a U-turn saying that he did not mean that Bihar society is dominantly casteist.
"What I mean is that there is more use of caste in politics in Bihar," he said in chaste Hindi.
Bihar's ruling JD-U, opposition Congress, RJD leaders condemned Gadkari for his statement and demanded a public apology from him.
"Gadkari has insulted Bihar and its 10.5 crore people," Congress spokesperson Prem Chand Mishra said.
JD-U spokesperson Nawal Kishore Sharma said Gadkari should apologise to people.
"BJP's real face was exposed again vis-a-vis Bihar," he said.
Gadkari is in Bihar to campaign for party candidates.
Modi, who is BJP's prime ministerial candidate, will address two election meetings in Katihar and Supaul parliamentary constituencies Saturday.