Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday strongly responded to Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks on the Indian Army. Speaking at a public rally in Banka district, Bihar, Singh cautioned against politicising the armed forces and highlighted that soldiers follow a single creed—“Sainya Dharma.”

“Our army soldiers have only one religion. That religion is ‘Sainya Dharma’. There is no other religion besides this. Don’t drag our army into politics. Whenever this country has faced a crisis, our soldiers have raised India’s head high with their bravery and valour,” Singh said.

The Defence Minister also addressed the harmful effects of caste and sect-based politics, stressing that India’s culture has always promoted equality and social harmony.

“This politics of caste, sect, and religion has caused great harm to the country. Our aim is to uplift all sections of society equally. Discrimination has no place in India; our sages and people have never endorsed it,” he added.

Singh further spoke about Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. He stated that major terrorist hideouts had been neutralised, and though the mission is temporarily paused, it is far from over.

“Some terrorists sneaked in and targeted innocent civilians. We destroyed all major terrorist hideouts during Operation Sindoor. The mission isn’t over; it’s temporarily postponed. We will launch another operation to eliminate them. Today, India is recognised globally as a powerful nation, not a weak one,” Singh asserted.