Rahul Gandhi said in Bihar’s Kutumba that the country’s key institutions, including the armed forces, are dominated by a small upper-caste segment representing roughly 10 percent of the population, leaving the majority groups — Dalits, extremely backward classes, other backward classes, and minorities — with little to no real presence in positions of power.
During his campaign address ahead of the Assembly elections starting Thursday, the Congress MP argued that India’s population is largely composed of historically disadvantaged and marginalized communities, nearly 90 percent by his calculation, but they remain excluded from economic and institutional leadership. He stated that the top corporate and administrative seats are primarily occupied by individuals from the upper-caste bracket.
He said that even among the nation’s 500 largest companies, leadership roles are rarely held by individuals from backward or Dalit backgrounds, asserting that high-profile jobs and institutional control consistently flow toward the same privileged group. Gandhi linked this imbalance to what he described as a systemic concentration of power, extending even to the military leadership, and claimed the vast majority population remains unrepresented across major national arenas.
He framed the Congress party’s vision as one that seeks fair space and dignity for the 90 percent population segment he referenced, saying the party stands historically aligned with the fight for backward and minority rights and social inclusion.
His remarks drew a strong reaction from the BJP, with party spokesperson Suresh Nakhua accusing Gandhi of injecting caste into national security matters and disrespecting the armed forces. Critics said the statement reflects animosity toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi and crosses lines by implying caste-based dominance within the military structure.
This controversy follows an earlier uproar in August, when Gandhi was criticized for claiming that Chinese forces were physically assaulting Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh and occupying a significant stretch of Indian territory. That remark triggered a defamation case from a retired defence officer, who said Gandhi’s comments damaged the morale and reputation of the Indian Army. After the Allahabad High Court refused to dismiss the complaint, Gandhi approached the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court questioned the credibility and basis of his public allegations, asserting that such remarks, when made without substantiated facts, undermine national interest and dignity.
