Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari said Saturday that there is casteism in Bihar's DNA, but soon realised that he has made a controversial statement. He clarified saying that there is casteism in Bihar's politics."Bihar ke DNA mein jativaad hain" (There is casteism in Bihar's DNA), Gadkari told media persons here in a reply to why BJP leaders have been projecting Narendra Modi as 'chaiwala' and a backward caste leader repeatedly during ongoing campaigning for Lok Sabha polls.Soon after Gadkari stated it, he took a U-turn saying that he did not mean that Bihar society is dominantly casteist."What I mean is that there is more use of caste in politics in Bihar," he said in chaste Hindi.
Bihar's ruling JD-U, opposition Congress, RJD leaders condemned Gadkari for his statement and demanded a public apology from him."Gadkari has insulted Bihar and its 10.5 crore people," Congress spokesperson Prem Chand Mishra said.JD-U spokesperson Nawal Kishore Sharma said Gadkari should apologise to people."BJP's real face was exposed again vis-a-vis Bihar," he said.Gadkari is in Bihar to campaign for party candidates.Modi, who is BJP's prime ministerial candidate, will address two election meetings in Katihar and Supaul parliamentary constituencies Saturday.