ROW OVER FAKE OBC JIBE : Modi hits back at Maya, says he is most backward

Lucknow: It was a mega face-off between the BJP and SP-BSP alliance when bigwigs from both sides landed in Kannauj on the final day of campaigning as the constituency will go for polls in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 29.

Addressing his first poll rally in Kannauj, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I would like to thank Mayawati ji, Akhilesh ji and Congress for reminding me of my caste.

I hail from an extreme backward caste. My caste is so small that there are only two-three houses of my caste in my village."

Further asking the SP-BSP alliance not to drag him into caste politics, Modi said, "Backward caste might be a matter of politics for SP-BSP but for me, it's an opportunity to serve my country."

The statement comes days after BSP supremo Mayawati had alleged in a joint rally that Modi does not belong to backward class and it was Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav who are from backward classes and have been working towards the development of the backward people.

Slamming the BSP chief for seeking the support of Samajwadi Party "just for sake of power", Modi said: "Mahamilavatis" can only think of the future of their own dynasty and they are not concerned about the future of the country.

In a tweet on Saturday morning, former CM Akhilesh Yadav said, "I came to know that 'Pradhan Bandi' ji (referring to PM Modi) is coming to Kannauj.

Demonetisation, joblessness in the state, stoppage of potato sale and construction of perfume market and closing his eyes while landing so that he won't see the expressway.

We welcome (Modi) and request not to stop the fragrance of brotherhood."