In Shorts
- Rahul Gandhi, during a Bihar rally, stated that OBCs, SCs, and STs constitute a large part of the Indian Army.
- The BJP swiftly condemned the statement, accusing him of “insulting” the armed forces and playing divisive politics.
- The controversy emerged during a speech centered on demanding a nationwide caste census.
PATNA: A fresh political controversy engulfed Bihar on Tuesday after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi made remarks concerning the demographic composition of the Indian Army during a public rally. The statement, made while championing the cause for a nationwide caste census, has been met with fierce criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking at an event organized by the opposition ‘INDIA’ bloc in Bihar, Gandhi intensified his party’s demand for a caste-based population count across the country. In his address, he claimed that data from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities are not being collected appropriately. It was during this argument that he referenced the armed forces.
“The Indian Army… if you take a look, a large part of it is made up of OBCs, Dalits, and Tribals,” Gandhi stated. This assertion immediately became the focal point of a heated political debate, diverting attention from the core topic of the caste census.
The ruling BJP launched a swift and sharp counter-attack. Party leaders accused the Congress scion of “insulting” the armed forces and attempting to divide the institution along caste lines for political gain. BJP spokespersons condemned the comments as “irresponsible” and demanded an immediate apology, framing it as part of a pattern of undermining the armed forces.
The rally, which also featured prominent leaders from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other alliance partners, was intended to present a united opposition front. However, Gandhi’s comments on the Army’s composition have provided fresh ammunition for the BJP to challenge the coalition’s narrative, shifting the discourse from socio-economic justice to national security and the alleged politicization of the military.
As of now, the Congress party has stood by Gandhi’s broader argument for a caste census but has not directly addressed the specific backlash regarding the Army remarks. The incident underscores the highly sensitive and politically charged nature of any discussion involving the armed forces in the national conversation.
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