India, Sept. 1 -- Even as his party condemns it, Congress leader Udit Raj has backed the caste-centered argument of a top US official who said "Brahmins are profiteering" from India's purchase of oil from Russia despite its war in Ukraine.

"I couldn't agree more [with White House trade adviser Peter Navarro]. Indeed private Indian oil refiners are from upper caste and it may take decades, may be centuries that so called lower castes would reach to the position of oil refiners," Udit Raj, a former MP who belongs to the Dalit community, wrote on X.

"It is true that upper caste corporate houses are buying cheep oil from Russia and after the refining, selling it to other countries. Indian people are not getting any benefits from it," he fur...