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The Defence Minister argued that Rahul Gandhi’s habit is to make ‘baseless statements to mislead people’ and that he ‘tries to create anarchy in this country’
Singh firmly declared that ‘healthy politics is one which does not mislead people or throw dust in their eyes, it is about taking people into confidence’. File pic
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi on Friday delivered a scathing criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following his controversial statement suggesting that only 10% of the population controls the Indian Armed Forces. The Defence Minister dismissed the remark as an irresponsible and divisive political tactic, asserting that it was a clear attempt to compromise the military’s unity by introducing caste-based rhetoric.
Rahul Gandhi made the “10% control” statement during a campaign rally in Bihar, linking it directly to his demand for a national caste census and the broader issue of unequal representation in key institutions. His rationale was to highlight what he views as the systematic exclusion of the majority 90% of India’s population—comprising Dalits, Backward Classes, Scheduled Tribes, and minorities—from top positions of power. Gandhi claimed that the top 10%, which he implied were upper castes, dominate the corporate sector, the judiciary, and the bureaucracy, asserting that “even in the army”, this small demographic holds control, thus denying participatory rights to the vast majority.
Rajnath Singh’s response was sharp and focused entirely on protecting the apolitical nature of the military. He argued that Rahul Gandhi’s habit is to make “baseless statements to mislead people” and that he “tries to create anarchy in this country” because he cannot win public trust through constructive work. Singh firmly declared that “healthy politics is one which does not mislead people or throw dust in their eyes, it is about taking people into confidence.”
Directly addressing the issue of caste and religion in the forces, Singh stressed the unique, secular ethos of the army. He declared, “As far as the armed forces are concerned, I believe they have only one religion—a military duty.” He confirmed the military’s diversity, stating, “The armed forces have people from all religions. You will see people from all castes, religions, and sects are in our armed forces. Everyone follows their own religion and religious practices. The priests who perform those rituals are also present there.” He concluded with a firm warning: “There is no discrimination of any kind, no casteism, no communal or sectarian bias in our army. I believe that he should leave the armed forces out of such statements. He should not drag the armed forces into politics.”
Rajnath Singh’s comments reflect the government’s stance that the military’s cohesion and professional integrity should remain above electoral politics and attempts at caste-based polarisation.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
November 07, 2025, 20:30 IST
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