Claim
The same voices criticizing this had no objections when Rahul Gandhi was given a milk abhishekam depicted as an avatar of Lord Parshuram on his birthday — which was itself sycophancy.
“आइरोनिकली दीज़ आर द सेम वॉइसेस हु हैड नो ऑब्जेक्शंस टू राहुल गांधीस मिल्क अभिषेकम इन लॉर्ड परशुराम अवतार ऑन हिज बर्थडे वाजंट दैट साइकोफेंसी प्रोमैक्स”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
Multiple mainstream Indian outlets (Deccan Herald, AajTak, ETV Bharat, DNA India) confirm that on Rahul Gandhi's 56th birthday (June 19, 2026), Youth Congress workers in Varanasi unveiled a portrait depicting him as Lord Parashurama and performed a milk abhishekam (dugdhabhishek) on it — exactly as the anchor described. The event and its depiction are factually accurate and well-documented. The characterization of it as 'sycophancy' is subjective commentary, not a verifiable fact, but the underlying factual assertion the claim rests on is correct.
Evidence
- https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/congress-workers-offer-gangajal-milk-and-rose-petals-to-rahul-gandhis-parshuram-styled-photo-on-latters-birthday-4045993 Deccan Herald reports Youth Congress workers in Varanasi marked Rahul Gandhi's 56th birthday (June 19, 2026) by performing dugdhabhishek — pouring milk, Gangajal and rose petals over a portrait depicting him as Lord Parashurama holding an axe and the Constitution. ✓ reachable · archived
- 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 (dated 2026-06-19) shows the birthday poster of Rahul Gandhi styled as Lord Parashuram with a parashu (axe) in one hand and the Constitution in the other. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/state/rahul-gandhi-birthday-celebrated-varanasi-congress-leaders-portrayed-him-as-parashuram-ups26061901262 ETV Bharat confirms Congress leaders in Varanasi celebrated Rahul Gandhi's birthday portraying him as Parashuram with milk anointment on the Ganga ghat. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-rahul-gandhi-worshipped-as-lord-parashurama-sparks-row-congress-workers-pour-milk-on-poster-watch-video-3213739 DNA India reports Congress workers pouring milk on a poster depicting Rahul Gandhi as Lord Parashurama, sparking a political row. ✗ unreachable · HTTP 403