Bhagwat's reservation remark not behind BJP defeat: Rakesh Sinha

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) ideologue Rakesh Sinha on Monday said that Mohan Bhagwat's reservation remark hadn't hampered BJP's chances in Bihar Assembly polls as advocated by different leaders in the state.

Rebutting BJP MP Hukumdev Narayan Yadav's statement on Bhagwat's reservation remark, Sinha said the former was running away from his responsibility by relating the defeat in Bihar with RSS chief's interview.

"This statement of Mohan Bhagwat has not changed the voting pattern of the Bihar elections at all. Hukumdev Narayan Yadav is a very senior leader and he is also accountable for this loss," he said.

"He is a five time Lok Sabha member, he should answer as to how much he has done for the expansion of BJP among the backwards in the state," he added.

RSS ideologue also maintained that Bhagwat had only given a rational assessment of reservation policy which is meant to empower backwards who failed to get the reservation benefits.

"Mohan Bhagwat ji had categorically said that the reservations should continue even for 100 years if it is required. RSS is intended to give reservation to the poorest of the poor among the schedule caste and Schedule tribe and OBCs there is no question of opposing the reservation," he said.

"There is no question of opposing the reservations, I think it was a political gimmick by the Grand alliance," he added.

Yadav had earlier said that Bhagwat's suggestion for a review of reservation was "ill- timed" and "agitated" backward castes and Dalits.

"The party should analyse why backward castes voted solidly for the grand alliance. What Bhagwat ji said agitated voters from backward castes and Dalits," he said.

He said that though Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah clarified the issue but it did not work.