Claim
When asked by the channel today, Congress leader Tariq Anwar defended the posters, saying workers of every party glorify their leaders, and asked why the BJP has a stomach ache if Rahul Gandhi was shown as Parshuram and Akhilesh Yadav as Krishna.
“तारिक अनवर से आज हमने पूछा... बोला हर पॉलिटिकल पार्टी के नेता वर्कर अपने नेताओं को बढ़ा चढ़ा कर दिखाते हैं। अगर परशुराम दिखा दिया गया राहुल गांधी को और अखिलेश यादव को श्री कृष्ण दिखा दिया गया तो पेट में दर्द भारतीय जनता पार्टी के क्यों हो रहा है।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
The contextual facts are accurate: the Varanasi posters depicting Rahul Gandhi as Parshuram and Akhilesh Yadav as Krishna (both with the Constitution) are well documented for their respective June/July 2026 birthdays, and the BJP did attack them as insulting Hindu faith. However, the specific statement attributed to Tariq Anwar — his 'every party glorifies its leaders / why does the BJP have a stomach ache' defense — is presented as the channel's own same-day interview ('we asked Tariq Anwar today'). No independent source, wire report, or fact-checker corroborates this exact quote, and nothing contradicts it either. The exact attributed remark is therefore not externally verifiable, though it is consistent with his role and the surrounding events.
Evidence
- 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 Confirms the Varanasi poster showing Rahul Gandhi as Lord Parshuram (axe/farsa in one hand, Constitution in the other) put up by Youth Congress for his June 2026 birthday — the poster the claim refers to. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.thevaranasinews.com/2026/07/rahul-gandhi-ke-baad-ab-akhilesh-yadav-ka-bhagwan-avatar-varanasi-mein-shri-krishna-roop-wale-poster-par-siyasat-tez.html Confirms the follow-up July 2026 poster depicting Akhilesh Yadav as Lord Krishna (Constitution in place of the chakra) in Varanasi, and the political row it triggered. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.deccanherald.com/india/for-congress-gandhi-may-be-god-but-not-for-hindus-bjp-on-rahul-lord-parshuram-portrayal-4044970 Documents the BJP's strong objection to the Parshuram portrayal, calling it an insult to Sanatan Dharma — the 'stomach ache' the quote references. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariq_Anwar_(politician) Confirms Tariq Anwar is a sitting Congress leader/MP who routinely defends the party, making the attributed defense plausible in role. ✓ reachable · archived