Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stirred controversy with his remarks suggesting that the Indian Army and key institutions are controlled by just 10% of the country’s population, a statement widely interpreted as a reference to upper castes.

Addressing a public rally in Kutumba, Bihar, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that the majority of India’s population — comprising Dalits, Mahadalits, backward, extremely backward, tribal, and minority communities — remains underrepresented in the nation’s power structure.

“Around 90% of the population comes from Dalit, Mahadalit, backward, extremely backward, tribal, and minority communities. Yet, if you look at the top 500 companies, judiciary, or even the army, leadership positions are overwhelmingly held by the remaining 10%. They control access to jobs, money, and power,” Gandhi said, alleging systemic inequality across sectors.

The remarks immediately drew sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to divide the Indian Army along caste lines.

BJP spokesperson Sanju Verma lashed out on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“Rahul Gandhi is shamelessly devious & deviously shameless too. Listening to him in this clip leaves no doubt that this failed, forever-in-waiting PM is trying desperately to polarize. Now he is trying to divide the Army on caste lines. What an unhinged wreck this LoP is… DISGRACEFUL.”