New Delhi, Oct 24 – Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Karpurigram, the birthplace of socialist icon Karpoori Thakur, the Congress party criticized the PM, questioning the historical role of the Jan Sangh in the downfall of Thakur’s government in Bihar in April 1979. The Congress highlighted that Thakur’s administration had introduced reservation for OBCs, which was met with opposition from the Jan Sangh.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh raised several inquiries directed at the Prime Minister. He emphasized that it is a known fact that the Jan Sangh, the precursor to the BJP, played a significant role in bringing down Karpoori Thakur’s government during the introduction of OBC reservations. Ramesh also pointed out that Thakur faced severe criticism from leaders of the RSS and Jan Sangh at that time.

Additionally, Ramesh questioned Modi’s past remarks, recalling that on April 28, 2024, the PM labeled those advocating for a caste census as ‘urban naxals.’ He noted that Modi’s government had previously rejected a caste census both in Parliament on July 20, 2021, and in the Supreme Court on September 21, 2021.

Ramesh further criticized the Prime Minister and his administration, stating that they failed to safeguard Bihar’s 65% reservation law for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs, a protection that was previously ensured by the Congress government for a similar law in Tamil Nadu in September 1994.

PM Modi is scheduled to address two election rallies in Samastipur and Begusarai districts, with a visit to Karpurigram planned before the public rally in Samastipur. Karpoori Thakur was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna last year by the NDA government.