BJP takes on 'politically bankrupt' Sharad Yadav for 'insulting' kanwariyas

Taking a strong exception to Sharad Yadav 's alleged statement that the Kanwar Yatra is performed by unemployed, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said the 'politically bankrupt' Janata Dal (United) leader has insulted the kanwariyas and demanded his apologise for the same.

"He has become politically bankrupt and lost his mental balance. He said the kanwariyas don't have anything to eat and that is why they have gone out. I want to ask him if his ancestors had gone on a pilgrimage because they were starving. Those who go to Haj are they unemployed? Are the kanwariyas, who go to Hardiwar, Kolkata, Badrinath are all unemployed?" BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma told the media here.

Sharma said Yadav is insulting the kanwariyas and demanded an apology from him for making such a statement.

"He will be given a befitting reply. The nation won't tolerate the insult of the kanwariyas," he added.

Yadav yesterday said that the Kanwar Yatra is performed by those who are unemployed.

"A huge number of kanwarias on the road show the scale of unemployment in the country. Had there been employment, the number of kanwariyas would have been less on the roads," Yadav said.

Kanwarias carry metal canisters filled with holy water from the Ganges River and offer to Lord Shiva at temples in the holy Shravan month.