Defence minister Rajnath Singh issued a sharp rebuke to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, urging him not to involve the Indian Army in electoral politics. Addressing election rallies in the poll-bound state of Bihar, the senior BJP leader warned that the armed forces must remain above political and caste-based debates, asserting that soldiers follow only one religion: “Sainya Dharma.”

Speaking at rallies in Banka and Jamui, Singh accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to politicise the military by demanding caste-based reservation in the armed forces. His remarks came a day after Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Kutumba, alleged that the Indian Army was “controlled by 10% of the population,” a comment widely interpreted as a reference to the dominance of upper castes in the institution.

Rajnath Singh rejected Gandhi’s claim emphatically. “Do not drag the Army into politics. Soldiers have only one religion, that is Sainya Dharma. Whenever the nation faced a crisis, its soldiers raised India’s head high through bravery and valour,” he said. He added that the Congress leader was “trying to create anarchy” by introducing caste narratives into discussions about national security.

The defence minister reiterated the BJP’s support for reservation policies but stressed that applying them to the armed forces was inappropriate. “There should be reservation; we are supporters of reservations and have given reservations to the poor. But in the Army, there is no caste or religion—there is only Sainya Dharma,” he said. Singh asserted that caste-based politics has historically harmed the nation and that the government’s vision is one of uplifting all sections of society, without discrimination.

In his speech, Singh also referred to Operation Sindoor, the military campaign launched following terrorist attacks in Pahalgam. He stated that the operation, which targeted major terrorist hideouts, had succeeded in dismantling key networks but was not yet fully concluded.

Rahul Gandhi had used his rally in Kutumba to highlight broader issues of economic inequality. He argued that although 90% of India’s population consists of marginalised communities—Dalits, Mahadalits, backward classes, and minorities—this majority is underrepresented in corporate India, bureaucracy, judiciary, and other national institutions. Gandhi claimed that “all the bank’s money goes to them,” referring to the allegedly privileged minority, and listed the Army among institutions where he believes caste imbalance persists.

The backlash to Gandhi’s remarks was swift and forceful. Several BJP leaders and allies criticised the Congress leader for what they saw as an attempt to fracture the unity of the armed forces.

Chirag Paswan, Union minister and leader of BJP ally LJP (RV), condemned the comments as “shameful and unfortunate.” He emphasised that the Army should never be viewed through the prism of caste or religion, describing Gandhi’s remarks as an insult to soldiers. “The Army serves the nation as a whole. Dividing it on the basis of caste is not only wrong but deeply disrespectful,” he said in Patna.

Senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also issued a scathing criticism, accusing Gandhi of “speaking the language of an urban Naxal.” According to Hussain, Gandhi’s comments undermine the morale of the armed forces and distort their ethos of unity and discipline. He demanded that the Congress leader apologise to the nation. “By doing this, he has lowered the Army’s morale. The public will never forgive him,” he asserted.

The exchange forms part of a broader political confrontation ahead of the elections in Bihar, where issues of caste, social justice, and national security are dominating public discourse. While the Congress is attempting to refocus the debate on systemic inequalities, the BJP has sought to frame Gandhi’s remarks as an attack on national institutions.

Rajnath Singh’s warning reflects the government’s consistent position that the armed forces must remain untouched by caste politics. He stressed that the military’s reputation is built upon unity, discipline, and shared purpose. “Whenever the country has faced danger, our soldiers have risen above all divisions. This is why India continues to hold its head high,” Singh said.

As the political debate intensifies, Gandhi’s remarks are expected to remain a major point of contention in the campaign. BJP leaders have made it clear that they view any suggestion of caste influence in the Army as unacceptable. Meanwhile, Congress leaders argue that Gandhi was drawing attention to systemic inequalities across institutions, rather than undermining the armed forces.

With Bihar’s elections fast approaching, this clash between the defence minister and the Leader of the Opposition highlights the tense political atmosphere. The debate over reservation, representation, and the role of the Army in public discourse is likely to continue shaping campaign narratives in the days ahead, with both sides framing the issue as central to their competing visions for the country.