JDU national general secretary Shyam Rajak on Thursday slammed Giriraj Singh for adding his gotra to his name.

Rajak, however, was careful to not name the Union minister.

The JDU MLA said such a practice is harmful to society and the country.

He also reacted to a Congress worker putting up a hoarding outside Sadaqat Ashram in which the caste of Congress leaders are written.

“It is very unfortunate for the country and the society that people are giving importance to caste and gotras. Such act proves that some people are just restricted to their caste and gotras,” Rajak told The Telegraph.

Giriraj on Monday announced that he would prefix his gotra to his name and henceforth be called “Shandilya Giriraj Singh”. He has also asked Hindus to follow the practice to save “Sanatan Dharma”.

Giriraj The Telegraph

The BJP leader, who is infamous for his controversial statements, announced his decision on Twitter in which he wrote in Hindi: “To save the country, Sanatan has to be saved and to save Sanatan, we will have to walk the path shown by sages and attach ourselves to our respective gotras.

“From today, I change my name to Shandilya Giriraj Singh, after Rishi Shandilya. I request all sanatanis to prefix their gotras to their names.”

Rajak said: “I strongly condemn such people when they get involved in such issues without thinking of the repercussions and impact on the society.

“I will urge them to get involved in some constructive work which can motivate society to do good rather than engaging in destructive work.”

Cong caste banners

A Congress worker, Siddharth Kshatriya, has put up a banner at different locations in Patna, including one at the Congress headquarters, in which the caste of Congress leaders are written.

The posters claim the Congress has maintained social balance by appointing people from all sections of society.

In the poster, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is labelled as Brahmin. Sitting alongside him is (AICC) Bihar in-charge Shaktisinh Gohil, labelled Rajput.

Sadanand Singh and Alpesh Thakor have been called backward, whereas Akhilesh Singh and Kaukab Quadri have been labelled as Bhumihar and Muslim respectively.

Newly appointed state Congress president Madan Mohan Jha has been labelled a Brahmin.