Claim
On Rahul Gandhi's birthday, some overenthusiastic party workers portrayed him as the Parashuram avatar.
“राहुल गांधी के जन्मदिवस पर कुछ अति उत्साही कार्यकर्ताओं ने उन्हें परशुराम अवतार में दिखाया”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
On Rahul Gandhi's 56th birthday (19 June 2026), Youth Congress workers in Varanasi unveiled a portrait depicting him as the Parashuram avatar (holding an axe/parashu and the Constitution) and performed rituals on it at the Ganga, sparking a BJP-Congress controversy. Multiple mainstream outlets corroborate the event, and characterizing the workers as 'overenthusiastic' matches Congress's own framing that this was an excess of workers' devotion; the anchor's factual claim is confirmed.
Evidence
- https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india/uttar-pradesh/congress-workers-offer-gangajal-milk-and-rose-petals-to-rahul-gandhis-parshuram-styled-photo-on-latters-birthday-4045993 Deccan Herald reports Congress workers in Varanasi offered Gangajal, milk and rose petals to a Parashuram-styled portrait of Rahul Gandhi on his birthday (19 June 2026). ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-hindu-deity-poster-varanasi-birthday-controversy-1781862756069 WION reports Youth Congress workers depicted Rahul Gandhi in deity-like (Parashuram) attire on his birthday in Varanasi, triggering controversy. ✗ unreachable · HTTP 403
- https://www.aajtak.in/elections/assembly-chunav/story/congress-rahul-gandhi-birthday-poster-lord-parashuram-and-constituent-political-message-ntcpkb-dskc-2582234-2026-06-19 AajTak (19 June 2026) shows the birthday poster depicting Rahul Gandhi as Lord Parashuram holding an axe and the Constitution. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.opindia.com/news-updates/varanasi-congress-workers-depict-rahul-gandhi-as-lord-parashurama-and-pour-milk-on-the-portrait/ Reports Varanasi Congress workers depicted Rahul Gandhi as Lord Parashurama and performed milk abhishek on the portrait. ✗ unreachable · HTTP 403