NCP Leader Plays 'Non-Caste' Caste Card

Patna: Aug. 9, 2008

Bihar leaders' uique ability to turn a solemn event like a funeral into a political 'akhara' once again became evident on Friday when the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Upendra Singh Kushwaha, at the so-called 'Chandragupta-Chanakya Ekta Sammelan', lashed out at the NDA government calling it an administration of corrupt ministers and officials.

"Things in Bihar today are worse than the pre-Chandragupta days. Caste plays a major role in the government affairs and those who made tall promises before the elections are now conveniently shoving them aside hoping the people would not remember them", said Kushwaha who is aspiring to displace Janata Dal (U)'s Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan as the de facto leaders from Bihar.

The Sammelan, organized to mark the birth anniversary of Goswami Tulsi Das, however, had nothing to do with the poet but everything to do with political ambitions and double talks.

Massaging the emotions of the Brahmans while carefully not calling it a caste-based politics, Kushwaha said Brahmans in Bihar today were an ignored lot who were not given the respect that they deserve.

"With NCP in power, it would give equal respect to Brahmans, dalits, and backwards", said Kushwaha while asking the Brahmans to play the role of Chanakya to keep leaders in check from abusing their power.