Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and a member of the Congress, received harsh criticism from Defense Minister Rajnath Singh for his recent remarks regarding the Indian Army and was advised not to politicize the armed forces.
Speaking on Wednesday at a public demonstration in Banka, Bihar, Singh emphasized that the Indian Army has always preserved one fundamental duty: serving the country above all divisions.
According to the Defence Minister, soldiers adhere to “Sainya Dharma,” which means that their only religion is service to India. He claimed that the military has continuously shown bravery and selflessness in times of national emergency, preserving the honor of the country via their valor on the battlefield.
According to Singh, social and economic reservations are supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in order to help underprivileged people. He emphasized that the Army must stay above caste, religion, or political divides, but he drew a hard line against allowing caste-based reservations to be extended to the military forces. Singh addressed the assembly, saying, “Our soldiers stand united under one faith – that of devotion to the motherland.”
He warned that the Congress has seriously harmed India’s social fabric by encouraging caste and religious conflicts for political purposes.
The minister restated the BJP’s goal of ensuring social fairness without discrimination and fostering inclusive growth. He claimed that true leadership is found in bringing all facets of society together and that Indian civilization has always placed a strong focus on unity rather than divisiveness.
The latest counterterrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir, known as Operation Sindoor, which was carried out following the terror assault in Pahalgam, was also mentioned by Rajnath Singh.
He attested to the fact that the operation destroyed important terrorist hideouts owned by significant Valley-based organizations. Singh stated that India would not think twice about relaunching the mission if terrorism reappears in the area, despite calling it “temporarily postponed.”
In reaction to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks from a day earlier at a rally in Kutumba, Bihar, which have since sparked political controversy, Rajnath Singh made these remarks. Gandhi said in his speech that only 10% of the people, mostly from upper-caste origins, controlled the Indian Army and other important national institutions including the judiciary, corporate sector, and bureaucracy.
He maintained that India’s marginalized groups, such as Dalits, Mahadalits, backward castes, and minorities, are still underrepresented in positions of authority even though they make up 90% of the country’s population. According to Gandhi, systemic inequality across institutional hierarchies is sustained by this lack of representation.
Additionally, he asserted that the biggest industrial companies in India, including those owned by Adani and Ambani, are concentrated within this same elite group and have disproportionate control over resources, wealth, and power.
The BJP sharply criticized Gandhi’s remarks, accusing him of insulting the military and trying to include them in caste-based political discourse. Rajnath Singh’s belief that the Indian Army functions without regard to caste or community, driven only by discipline and patriotism, was repeated by a number of leaders of the ruling party.
A focal focus of the ongoing campaign, the controversy surfaced soon before the Bihar Assembly elections. On Thursday, November 6, 121 constituencies will participate in the first phase of voting; on November 11, 122 constituencies will participate in the second phase.
As Bihar enters a politically heated election environment that is currently dominated by a discussion on caste, inclusion, and national integrity, votes will be counted on November 14.
