New Delhi, April 2 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the government is attempting to legally perpetuate the injustice of discrimination against Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel through a bill, and asserted that his party will repeal such a "discriminatory law" when it comes to power.
The Leader of the Opposition said he wanted to speak on the bill in the Lok Sabha and had requested the government to make adjustments, as he was touring Assam, but they refused, stating that "they do not want me to speak on this in Parliament."
"But I want to tell all the paramilitary forces – CRPF, BSF, CISF, and ITBP – that the Congress stands with them and will protect them," Gandhi said in a video statement.
Gandhi's remarks came a day after the Rajya Sabha passed the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, with a voice vote, amid an Opposition walkout. The bill is scheduled to be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
In his video statement, Gandhi recalled that he recently met Assistant Commandant Ajay Malik, who had lost one leg in an IED blast during a Naxalite encounter.
Gandhi said Malik had risked everything for the nation's defense and asked what he received in return for this sacrifice.
"Despite over 15 years of loyal service – no promotion, not even the right to lead his own force. Because all top positions are reserved for IPS officers. This is not just one officer's pain – it is institutional injustice affecting millions of CAPF personnel," the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Gandhi pointed out that no paramilitary force in India has been led by someone who has risen through the ranks of the force. "The top leadership is imposed upon them," he claimed.
"I have worked with paramilitary forces for over 20 years; they take care of my security. They have specific skills that are valuable, and leadership should be given to a person who possesses those skills," Gandhi said.
He accused the government of "overruling" the Supreme Court and claimed that the government's actions were "unfair."
"I don't understand why they are doing this. There may be other considerations, there may be electoral considerations, but they are doing it. I wanted to make a speech in Parliament. They have brought this bill on a day when I am touring Assam. I sent a message to the government that I want to speak on this and please make adjustments, but they refused. They do not want me to speak on this in Parliament," Gandhi alleged.
In his post on X, Gandhi said that CAPF personnel are deployed on the borders, they protect against terrorism and Naxalism, and they secure the democratic festivals – our elections, but when it comes to their rights and respect, the system turns a blind eye.
"Even the CAPF personnel themselves are against this discrimination. The Supreme Court has questioned this system. Yet, the current government is determined to legally perpetuate this injustice," Gandhi said.
This bill is not just an attempt to derail a career; it is an effort to demoralize those who form the country's first line of defense, Gandhi said, adding that when their morale is undermined, the foundation of national security is weakened.
"We honor CAPF personnel not just in words, but in policies. The Congress' clear promise is – as soon as our government comes to power, this discriminatory law will be repealed. Because those who fight for the country must have the right to leadership," the former Congress chief asserted.
Earlier in the day, Congress' whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, said a crucial bill affecting the rights and dignity of our CAPF personnel is being rushed into the Lok Sabha, timed exactly when the Leader of the Opposition is scheduled to be in Assam for pre-planned election rallies.
"Rallies that were announced well in advance. Preparations already completed. Public meetings lined up. And suddenly, the Bill is listed for today. Why this rush? Why avoid a full and fair debate? Why deny the Leader of the Opposition the opportunity to speak on an issue impacting our jawans?" Tagore said.
"This is not a coincidence. This is calculated parliamentary management. A government confident of its decisions does not fear debate. A government committed to justice does not rush legislation in the absence of dissenting voices," he said on X.
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, provides that to appoint officers from the Indian Police Service in CAPFs, 50 per cent of the posts will be filled by deputation in the rank of Inspector General and a minimum of 67 per cent of the posts by deputation in the rank of Additional Director General.
The proposed legislation comes after the Supreme Court in October last year dismissed the Centre's plea seeking a review of its 2025 verdict that directed that IPS officers' deputation in CAPFs up to the level of Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) should be "progressively reduced" and asked for a cadre review to be carried out in six months.
