BJP slams Nitish, says practiced caste politics all along

The BJP on Wednesday hit back at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his remarks that the party was playing caste-based politics in the state, saying that those who have practiced caste politics from the very beginning were now questioning the BJP's politics of development.

"The parties of the grand alliance have ruled Bihar since the last 60 years and have thrown Bihar into politics of caste. In fact, casteism is in their breed. Their politics have been based on caste since the beginning and now they are saying that the BJP is playing caste-based politics," union minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters at a press conference here.

"The BJP is a synonym of development and is dedicated to develop the country, whereas the leader of the grand alliance Lalu Prasad is a symbol of caste politics," he added.

Javadekar also took a dig at Nitish Kumar for attacking the RSS and its chief Mohan Bhagwat.

"The RSS and the BJP were good for Nitish when they made him the chief minister of Bihar. And now the RSS and the BJP have become bad elements for him," he said.

"Nitish is losing the battle of Bihar, and so he has become desperate. He has lost his cool and control. So he is using abusive language for BJP leaders," he added.

The union minister also reiterated that the BJP government at the centre was not controlled by the RSS.

"Nitish's remote control is with Lalu. Our remote control is with the people of the country. As far as the RSS is concerned, it is a nationalist organisation which teaches nationalism," Javadekar said.

The BJP leader again on Wednesday clarified the party's stand on reservation. "There will be no change in the present reservation structure."