Patna, Bihar – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has strongly rebuked Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, for his recent remarks allegedly dragging the Indian military into caste politics. Speaking at a campaign rally in Banka, Bihar, ahead of the state assembly elections, Singh accused Gandhi of attempting to divide the armed forces and create "anarchy" by injecting caste-based considerations into the military's composition.
The controversy arose after Rahul Gandhi claimed that "10% of the country's population" controls the armed forces, bureaucracy, and judiciary. He made these remarks during an INDIA bloc rally in Aurangabad, Bihar, suggesting that upper castes were cornering opportunities across institutions and reiterating his demand for a nationwide caste census.
Singh dismissed Gandhi's statement as "ludicrous," implying that it was a veiled demand for caste-based reservations within the military. He firmly stated that the Indian Army has no religion or caste, and its soldiers adhere to "Sainya Dharma" (the code of a soldier). Singh emphasized that the armed forces should not be viewed through the lens of caste and that the BJP supports reservations for the poor and backward, but the army should be free from community-based politics.
"Whenever this country has faced a crisis, our soldiers have held India's head high with their bravery," Singh said. "They have only one religion - Sainya Dharma. We do not want to discriminate within the Army based on caste, sect, or religion". He warned that politicizing the forces could demoralize soldiers who serve beyond caste and community lines.
Singh further accused Gandhi of routinely making baseless allegations against constitutional bodies to mask the opposition's electoral failures. He referenced prior accusations from Gandhi and Congress allies of vote theft, without providing evidence. He also alluded to Gandhi's recent boat trip and swim in Begusarai, commenting on Gandhi's statements regarding the Election Commission influencing the Haryana polls.
The Defence Minister's strong rebuttal was echoed by other BJP leaders and Union ministers, who condemned Gandhi's remarks as divisive and irresponsible. Union Minister Chirag Paswan called Gandhi's remarks "shameful" and "unfortunate," questioning the Congress leader's perspective of viewing the army through the lens of caste and religion.
Even figures outside the NDA fold criticized Gandhi's statement. Former finance minister and Trinamool Congress leader Yashwant Sinha expressed his disappointment, stating that "The only caste the Indian Army has is patriotism, courage and sacrifice".
