Decode Politics: Rahul Gandhi says Modi ‘not born OBC’; BJP claims Telis notified thus under Cong Gujarat govt

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday found himself in another row during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’s Odisha leg by claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “not born an OBC“, prompting a sharp retort from the Centre.

“He was born a Teli, which was in the general category, and it was the BJP which included them in the OBC category in 2000,” the Wayanad MP said, later revising it to say Modi was a “Modh Ghanchi” in Chhattisgarh.

“Modi ji was not born OBC. Modi is from Modh Ghachi caste in Gujarat and the state government gave it OBC status in 2000. Your Prime Minister (Modi) was not of OBC caste. He was from general caste. For 24 hours, he says he is OBC but Modiji you are not OBC, you are from general caste,” Rahul said.

Accusing Modi of “fooling the people”, he said this was why his government was not in favour of a nationwide caste census as it was essentially meant to determine the real proportion of different castes and groups.

According to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), members of the Teli community in Gujarat are oil millers by occupation and are involved in the traditional craft of “tel ghani (oil extraction)”.

On July 25, 1994, Gujarat government led by Congress’s Chief Minister Chhabildas Mehta had issued a resolution while adding the Ghanchi community among the list of Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs).

Another resolution of the Gujarat government – dated June 20, 1995 and seen by The Indian Express, places the Teli and Modh Ghanchi communities at number 25A in the list while the Ghanchi (Muslims) are placed at number 25.

“From now on, as per the SEBC list, caste certificates should be issued as per entry 25 – Ghanchi (Muslim) or as per entry 25A – Teli and Modh Ghanchi