Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Laloo Prasad Yadav on March 2 accused the Vajpayee government of fomenting communalism to an extent where it threatened to drive the country to the verge of disintegration.

Addressing a rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan, Yadav exhorted the upper caste and the backwards to unite and launch a concerted movement to fight the communal forces raising their ugly heads across the country.

The rally was organised by the All India Brahamrishi Mahasangh on the 115th birth anniversary of Swami Sahjanand, who, coming from dominant Bhumihar caste, had fought a relentless battle for the rights of marginal farmers as well as labourers in Bihar during the British rule in 1930s.

He said the RJD government was in favour of improving the lot of the Dalits and backwards but that did not mean it was against the upper castes, particularly the Bhumihars.

He said C P Thakur was re-inducted into the Union Cabinet to assuage the feelings of Brahmarishi Samaj, but was given an insignificant portfolio.

He said instead of installing a painting of Hindu Mahasabha leader Veer Savarkar in Parliament, the government should have installed the photograph of Swami Sahjanand to honour millions of farmers and labourers.

PTI