Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, escalated his rhetoric on social justice during a rally in Kutumba, Bihar, on November 4, the final day of campaigning for the first phase of the assembly election. Gandhi asserted that communities considered upper castes “have total control” over India’s most powerful institutions, leading to inadequate representation for Dalits, backward classes, and minorities, groups he claims constitute 90% of India’s population.
Gandhi was specifically campaigning in Kutumba, a segment reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SC), where the Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram is the Mahagathbandhan candidate.
The Argument for Exclusivity in India’s Elite
The Congress leader challenged the existing power dynamic, arguing that resources and positions of influence are overwhelmingly concentrated among the “10% population” (a reference to dominant or unreserved castes, often termed “savarnas”).
- Corporates and Wealth: Gandhi claimed, “Take out the list of the 500 biggest companies, and search for Dalits, Extremely Backward Classes, Mahadalits, minorities, Adivasis in them. You will not find anyone. You won’t find a single one.” He added that “All the bank wealth goes to them. All the jobs go to them.”
- Bureaucracy and Judiciary: He alleged that key leadership positions in the bureaucracy and the judiciary are similarly dominated, asserting, “They get everything there too.”
- The Armed Forces: In a new and highly controversial inclusion to his critique, Gandhi stated that the upper castes “have control over the army.” He lamented, “And the 90% population — you will not find them anywhere.”
Caste Data Supports Disparity Claims in Judiciary
Rahul Gandhi has consistently cited data to back his push for a nationwide caste census, arguing it is crucial for equal representation. While nationwide caste data is pending, available government data on judicial appointments reveals significant underrepresentation:
- High Court Appointments (2018–2022): Data shared by the Law Ministry in Parliament showed that only one in 20 judges appointed to different High Courts were from minority communities. Furthermore, only 4% belonged to Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST), and around 11% were from Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The ministry noted that while there is no reservation in Supreme Court and High Court appointments, the government is committed to enhancing social diversity.
Bihar’s Caste Survey: The Local Context
Gandhi’s focus on caste is particularly relevant in Bihar, where his ally, the RJD, has a base among the backward classes. The Bihar Caste Survey 2023 offered a numerical breakdown that underscores the state’s diverse population, positioning the so-called upper castes as a minority:
- Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs): 36.01% of Bihar’s population.
- Other Backward Classes (OBCs): 27.12% of the population. (EBCs and OBCs together are over 63%.)
- Scheduled Castes (SCs): 19.65% of the population.
- General Category (Upper Castes): 15.52% of the population.
- Muslims: Accounted for 17.70% of the population.
BJP Condemns Army Reference
Gandhi’s specific reference to the Armed Forces drew immediate and severe condemnation from BJP leaders, who accused him of attempting to divide a professional, apolitical institution along caste lines.
- BJP Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari posted on X, “Rahul Gandhi now wants to divide even our Armed Forces on caste lines! The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force stand for Nation First, not caste, creed or class.”
- Andhra Pradesh minister Satya Kumar Yadav wrote that by dragging the Indian Army into his “casteist tirade,” Gandhi “has insulted one of the world’s most professional and apolitical forces.”
It should be noted that the armed forces do not make official data available on the caste composition of their personnel.