Udit Raj Backs Navarro’s Claim on ‘Brahmin Profiteering’
Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj has supported U.S. trade adviser Peter Navarro’s controversial comment that Indian Brahmin elites are “profiteering” from discounted Russian crude oil. Navarro, while defending the Trump administration’s 50% tariff on Indian goods, accused India of acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” by refining cheap Russian oil and reselling it at higher prices.
‘Factually Correct,’ Says Udit Raj
Reacting to Navarro’s statement, Udit Raj said the remarks were “factually correct” and pointed out that corporate houses dominated by upper castes, especially Brahmins, gain disproportionately from such trade deals. He argued that systemic disadvantages mean backward classes and Dalits will take “at least a century” to build similar corporate foundations.
Political Reactions and Debate
The endorsement has triggered sharp reactions, with critics accusing Udit Raj of giving legitimacy to a foreign leader’s divisive remarks. Supporters, however, argue that his statement highlights the persistence of caste-based disparities in India’s economic system, particularly in big business and trade.
