Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks on the lack of Dalit, OBC, and tribal representation in administrative roles have ignited a political firestorm, drawing a sharp response from Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, who termed the comments “laughable” and “baseless.”

The controversy began during a recent District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee meeting in Rae Bareli, where Gandhi claimed that administrative positions in the region were dominated by members of two specific castes, leaving Dalits and OBCs underrepresented. Recounting his experience, Gandhi said, “I asked all officers to introduce themselves, and during the introductions, I did not hear a single name from the Dalit or OBC communities.”

Responding to Gandhi’s claims, Minister Singh refuted the account, stating that officers introduced themselves voluntarily rather than at Gandhi’s request. He criticized Gandhi’s remarks as an attempt to create “unrest” in Rae Bareli and beyond.

“These comments are not just about Rae Bareli; they are aimed at creating discord across the nation,” Singh argued.

Singh also rejected Gandhi’s suggestion that Dalits, OBCs, and tribals are underrepresented in the judiciary, pointing out

that many judges were appointed during Congress rule.

He remarked, “Congress has a history of neglecting Dalits and OBCs. Under Modi and Yogi’s rule, no

one faces injustice.”

Gandhi’s remarks also stirred attention when he claimed that Congress had historically discriminated against Dalits and backward communities, specifically

in Rae Bareli, where no Dalit or backward candidate has reportedly been given a ticket since 1951.

Singh countered by questioning why Gandhi had not fielded a Dalit candidate from his own Wayanad constituency, labeling the statement as “divisive.”

With both sides exchanging sharp rhetoric, Gandhi’s comments have underscored ongoing political divides over caste representation and social justice.