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”.
๐๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ
After his failed attempt in trying to instigate the people of this country against one another – Rahul Gandhi has now decided to targetโฆ pic.twitter.com/HQTf4TbbMz
โ 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 #narendramodiโฆ pic.twitter.com/9JXDLnNZ1Pโ 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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