Rahul Gandhi Celebrates 56th Birthday Amid Controversy

Rahul Gandhi's 56th birthday was marked by widespread celebrations and a significant controversy stemming from a Youth Congress event in Varanasi. The event featured a poster depicting Gandhi as Lord Parshuram, which drew sharp criticism from the BJP, who deemed it disrespectful. While Congress defended the portrayal as an expression of admiration, the incident has ignited a political debate about respect for religious figures and the appropriateness of such comparisons. This unfolding situation highlights the ongoing tensions between the two major political parties in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 19, 2026, 19:50 IST

Celebrations and Controversy Surround Rahul Gandhi's Birthday

On Friday, Rahul Gandhi marked his 56th birthday, receiving well-wishes from various quarters, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed his hopes for Gandhi's good health in a post on X. While Congress leaders and supporters celebrated across the nation, a particular celebration organized by the Youth Congress in Varanasi sparked controversy.

During the event, Youth Congress members performed a ritual by the banks of the Ganges, displaying a poster of Rahul Gandhi depicted as Lord Parshuram. The poster illustrated him holding an axe in one hand and a copy of the Indian Constitution in the other. Congress workers poured milk over the poster and conducted a Rudrabhishek ceremony with Vedic chants. They also cut an 11-kilogram laddu cake, praying for Gandhi's long, healthy, and successful life. However, portraying Rahul Gandhi as Lord Parshuram led to political backlash, with the BJP criticizing the Congress party.

The BJP condemned the actions of Congress workers as unacceptable and disrespectful to Lord Parshuram. Uttar Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak, remarked that the Congress leaders had lost their sense of judgment. He emphasized that comparing Rahul Gandhi to Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is unfathomable and absurd. He added that those who oppose Sanatan Dharma would never dare to liken themselves to Lord Parshuram.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari stated that Congress workers had insulted Lord Parshuram. He accused Congress leaders of disrespecting Sanatan Dharma for 364 days and pretending to honor Lord Parshuram for just one day, asserting that the public would not forget this. In contrast, Congress defended the portrayal. Vikas Singh, president of the Varanasi Youth Congress, who organized the ritual, stated that it was an expression of their feelings for their leader. He drew parallels between Lord Parshuram's fight against evil and Rahul Gandhi's struggle against negative forces. Congress spokesperson Alok Sharma also defended the event, noting that the organizers were Brahmins and descendants of Lord Parshuram, simply expressing their sentiments.