Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi turned 56 on Friday. People from different parts of the country wished him on his birthday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished him good health. While Congress workers across the country are celebrating his birthday, a special function organized by the Youth Congress in Varanasi has sparked a heated debate.
Varanasi Youth Congress workers performed puja on the banks of river Ganga with a special poster of Rahul Gandhi. The poster depicts Rahul Gandhi as Lord Parashuram. The poster shows him holding an ax in one hand and the Constitution of India in the other. Congress workers poured milk on posters of Rahul Gandhi and performed Rudrabhishekam with Vedic mantras. They cut 11 kg laddus and pray for the leader’s longevity and success.
Rahul Gandhi’s comparison with Lord Parashuram has sparked political debate across the country. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticized the Congress’ move, calling it unacceptable and an insult to Lord Parashuram and Hinduism. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said Congress leaders have lost their nerve. He added that Lord Parashuram is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and therefore it is impossible to compare Rahul Gandhi with him. He said, those who oppose Sanatan Dharma cannot even think of comparing themselves with Lord Parashuram.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also alleged that Congress workers insult Sanatan Dharma for 364 days and pretend to remember Lord Parashuram for one day, which people never forget.
On the other hand, the Congress party supported their move. Varanasi Youth Congress president Vikas Singh, who organized the puja on the banks of the Ganges, said it was just an expression of passion for their leader. He said that just as Lord Parasurama destroyed the evil forces from the earth, Rahul Gandhi is fighting against the evil forces. Congress spokesperson Alok Sharma also supported the puja, saying the organizers, who are themselves Brahmins and descendants of Lord Parashuram, were only expressing their feelings. According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Parashuram is the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is known as a heroic warrior sage who destroyed wrongdoing kings to establish righteousness on earth and is one of the seven eternal beings of Hinduism.