Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi sparked a fresh controversy on Sunday, 2 March 2026, after he drew a symbolic comparison between the two major national parties and Hindu deities at a party event in Anantagiri, Telangana, likening Congress to Lord Shiva and the BJP to Lord Vishnu – remarks that are seemingly divisive and anti-Hindu.
As reported in Samayam Telugu, Gandhi made the remarks while addressing District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents at the conclusion of a 10-day training programme. Describing Lord Shiva as embodying “humility, balance, and restraint,” he suggested Congress should reflect similar values. In contrast, he compared the BJP to Lord Vishnu, alleging the party is centred on “power, grandeur, authority and dominance”.
𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐢 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐰
After his failed attempt in trying to instigate the people of this country against one another – Rahul Gandhi has now decided to target… pic.twitter.com/HQTf4TbbMz
— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) March 3, 2026
Not the First Time
This is not the first instance of Gandhi invoking Hindu symbolism in political messaging. In his debut speech as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament in July 2024, Gandhi held up an image of Lord Shiva and claimed those “who call themselves Hindus only talk about violence, hatred and lies” – remarks that drew demands for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Rahul Gandhi Shows Lord Shiva Poster in Lok Sabha: Lok Sabha Speaker opposed Gandhi’s act of showing Lord Shiva’s picture in the House and said, “Rules don’t allow the display of placards..
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.#rahulgandhi #parliament #parliamentsession #hindu #hinducommunity #narendramodi… pic.twitter.com/9JXDLnNZ1P— Republic (@republic) July 1, 2024
In Hinduism, the Trimurti – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, is considered a unified cosmic triad, with each deity equally revered across traditions. It is noteworthy that there is no hierarchical or ideological distinction between Shaivite and Vaishnavite traditions, which have coexisted for centuries.
Gandhi is seemingly attempting to politicise sacred religious symbols for partisan messaging and create a wedge among Hindu devotees along partisan lines.
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