NEW DELHI: Hitting out at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's call for a review of reservation policy, CPI today questioned the timing of his statement, while accusing the right-wing outfit of "polarising voters" in BJP's favour ahead of Bihar assembly polls.
"CPI strongly condemns Bhagwat's call. It feels the very timing of the statement when hectic preparations are going on in Bihar for assembly elections, proves RSS and BJP are bent upon dividing voters to create polarisation in its favour," CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said in a statement.
"CPI warns that any attempt to ignite sentiments of one section of people against another will result in great disaster. The party appeals people to be vigilant about the partisan, anti-people moves of RSS," he said, even as he reiterated his party's support to the reservation policy.
Reddy claimed the reservation issue is being raked up to distract public attention from their growing disenchantment with Narendra Modi government and its policies, which he said, are "making lives of people more and more miserable".
In an interview to RSS mouthpiece 'Organiser' yesterday, Bhagwat had pitched for a review of the quota policy, contending it has been used for political ends and suggesting setting up of an apolitical committee to examine who needs such benefits and for how long.
The BJP, however, distanced itself from its ideological mentor, insisting it was against any such review.