BJP reacts to Rahul Gandhi's 'no OBC in Miss India list' remark   

New Delhi, August 25

The BJP on Sunday slammed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his "no Dalit, adivasi or OBC in Miss India list" remarks and asked him not to demean the discussion on the empowerment of marginalised sections.

The ruling party's reaction came a day after Gandhi, while pressing for a nationwide caste census at an event in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, said he checked the list of former Miss India pageant winners but found no Dalit, tribal or OBC among them.

"Rahul Gandhi, you are the Leader of Opposition. You talk about the OBCs. It's good. It's your right. But how low will you take this debate?" senior BJP leader Ravi Shakar Prasad said, adding it was a serious issue and the sanctity of discussion should be maintained.

"Mr Rahul Gandhi, I don't question your right to raise any issue. But if you are talking of empowering the OBCs, don't you think you need to maintain some sanctity in the debate," Prasad said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters when asked about the Congress leader's remarks.

Prasad asked Gandhi to take note that there have been several eligible contestants from the minority community who made it to the Miss World like Reita Faria and Diana Hayden.