Youth Congress workers in Kashi on Thursday marked the 56th birthday of Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi with a controversial ritual along the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi. They unveiled a large portrait showing Gandhi in the form of Lord Parashurama, the warrior-sage avatar of Lord Vishnu, holding a parashu (axe) in one hand and the Constitution of India in the other.
The workers travelled to the middle of the river on a boat, carrying the portrait of Rahul Gandhi as Lord Parashurama. Amid Vedic chants and prayers, the workers performed dugdhabhishek, pouring milk and scattering rose petals over the portrait directly into the sacred river waters as part of the celebration. An 11-kg laddu cake was also prepared and cut to celebrate his birthday. The event was organised by the Youth Congress and local Congress leaders as part of the birthday celebrations of the Congress prince.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi’s birthday, Youth Congress workers held a unique celebration in Kashi, portraying him as Lord Parashurama, performing a milk abhishek, celebrating in the Ganga, cutting a laddoo cake, and displaying him holding a copy of the… pic.twitter.com/2HWWXZ1wk1
— IANS (@ians_india) June 19, 2026
Youth Congress District President Vikas Singh said that they decided to present Rahul Gandhi as Parashurama because he fights against unjust, corrupt, anti-democratic and anti-constitution forces in power. He said, “Just as Lord Parshuram destroyed demons, oppressors and forces of injustice, Rahul Gandhi will defeat those who do not believe in the Constitution and democratic values.”
Justifying the portraying the Congress leader as a Hindu God, he said, ‘This is a democratic country where everyone has the freedom to express their views. We have portrayed Rahul Gandhi as Lord Parshuram because that reflects our sentiments.’
The act immediately triggered sharp criticism from BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Union Minister Giriraj Singh extended birthday wishes to Rahul Gandhi but made it clear he could not insult Lord Parshuram by comparing the deity with a leader “whose beliefs and actions are still unknown to the country.”
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was even more scathing. Speaking in Lucknow, he said the Congress leadership appeared to have “buddhi par patthar pad gaya” (lost all sense), adding that Lord Parshuram is an avatar of Lord Vishnu and that equating Rahul Gandhi with him “will prove very costly.” He further questioned how anyone opposed to Sanatan Dharma could even think of making such a comparison.
Minister Anil Rajbhar also dismissed Congress the workers as “nothing but fake people” whose religion and caste had never been made clear. While clarifying that no one was questioning anyone’s parentage, he said Congress workers “should have some sense” before indulging in such acts.
Defending the gesture, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai said the workers had simply honoured their leader. “Wherever oppression and injustice are taking place, he is standing there as a servant, as Parashuram, carrying an axe and the Constitution,” Rai stated, adding that every Congress worker stood firmly with Rahul Gandhi in this spirit.
