Congress workers in Varanasi marked the 56th birthday of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on 19 June 2025 with an elaborate riverside celebration that drew both applause from party ranks and sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Members of the Youth Congress portrayed Gandhi as 'Lord Parashuram', performed a milk abhishek on the banks of the Ganga, cut a laddoo cake, and displayed his image holding a copy of the Constitution.

How the Celebration Unfolded

The event was organised under the banner of the Youth Congress on the ghats of the Ganga in Varanasi. Brahmins chanted Vedic mantras and offered blessings during the ceremony. Youth Congress leader Vikas Singh said the gathering prayed for Gandhi's long life and his continued advocacy for ordinary citizens. 'We gathered today in the lap of Mother Ganga, where Brahmins chanted Vedic mantras and bestowed their blessings. We prayed for Rahul Gandhi's long life and wished that he continues to raise the voice of common people,' Singh said.

BJP's Sharp Criticism

The celebration triggered an immediate political backlash. Uttar Pradesh Minister Anil Rajbhar questioned the sincerity of Congress workers' religious identity, calling them 'fake people' and alleging that the party deploys religious symbolism selectively around elections. 'When elections come, they visit temples, apply tika and wear janeu. Later, they raise questions about the existence of God. This is their mentality,' Rajbhar said. He did not elaborate on specific instances but suggested the country had moved beyond such politics.

Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma also raised objections, arguing that while offering milk was acceptable, likening a human being to a deity crossed a line. 'How can any god be compared to a human being? Politicians should avoid such acts and programmes,' he said.

PM Modi's Birthday Greeting

Earlier on 19 June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday wishes to Gandhi through a post on social media platform X. 'Best wishes to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji on his birthday. Praying for his good health and long life,' Modi wrote, in a gesture that stood in contrast to the political friction the Varanasi event generated.

Rahul Gandhi: Background and Political Journey

Born on 19 June 1970, Rahul Gandhi is the son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. He attended St. Columba's School in New Delhi and later The Doon School in Dehradun. Following the assassination of his father in 1991 and attendant security concerns, he completed his bachelor's degree at Rollins College in Florida in 1994, and subsequently earned an M.Phil. in Development Studies from Trinity College, Cambridge University, in 1995.

Gandhi formally entered electoral politics in 2004, winning the Lok Sabha seat from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh — a constituency previously held by his father. He currently represents Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh and serves as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. His political focus has centred on rural development, education, social welfare, youth participation, and women's empowerment.

What This Signals

The Varanasi celebration is the latest instance of Congress workers invoking religious and mythological imagery around Gandhi — a trend that critics, including the BJP, argue is strategically timed and culturally incongruous. This comes amid an ongoing battle over the politics of religion and identity between the Congress and the ruling BJP ahead of several state elections. How both parties deploy such symbolism will likely remain a flashpoint in the months ahead.