On 25 July 2025 at the party’s OBC-focused “Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan”, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi shared stage with anti-Hindu bigot Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd.
At the event, Ilaiah not only repeated his venomous attacks on Hindu gods but also anointed Rahul Gandhi as the “liberator” of OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis, comparing him to Martin Luther King while dismissing the BJP-RSS as “oppressors.”
Kancha Ilaiah’s Speech: Glorifying Rahul, Demonizing Hindus
In his speech, Ilaiah painted a dystopian picture of India under BJP rule while hailing Rahul Gandhi as the messiah of OBCs, “Congress liberated us, particularly the OBC, Dalit, Adivasi, from the British – Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Ambedkar liberated us from the oppressive British, but after that there was no leader of national structure, international structure to liberate us from the caste oppression of RSS BJP type and once this RSS BJP have come to power, rule for 11 years, all the OBCs started going into that oppressors fold that oppress more, we will be slaves.”
He then emotionally declared, “I was crying in my bed, listening to Rahul Gandhi speak in 2021… In the 21st century, if there is no leader to liberate us from this bloody caste system, we will remain oppressed. I found Rahul Gandhi is the only leader who can liberate us.”
Rahul Gandhi as the “Modern-Day Ambedkar”
Ilaiah went on to compare Rahul Gandhi to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Martin Luther King, claiming, “His Bharat Jodo Yatra, Nyay Yatra, and caste census are revolutionary… He is the mix of all castes – Baniya (Gandhi), Dalit (Ambedkar), OBC (Patel), and Brahmin (Nehru). That’s why he is our liberator.”
He further urged OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis to rally behind Rahul,
“Once OBCs are liberated from BJP, it will never come to power again… OBC lawyers, Dalit lawyers, and Adivasi lawyers must protect Rahul Gandhi from going to jail.”
Ilaiah, who has repeatedly insulted Hindu gods, described Hindu festivals as “wasteful,” and even justified a civil war against Hindus, was given a prime platform by the Congress, exposing the party’s deep-seated anti-Hindu bias.
Despite claiming to champion social justice, the Congress’s decision to elevate Ilaiah, a figure who has openly advocated for the dismantling of Hindu traditions, raises serious questions about its real agenda. Rahul Gandhi, who has previously endorsed Ilaiah’s books, once again legitimized his hateful rhetoric by sharing the stage with him.
Kancha Ilaiah’s History of Hinduphobia: A Direct Assault on Hindu Deities
Let us take a look at his anti-Hindu statements.
Maa Kali – A Symbol of “Caste Violence”
Ilaiah has repeatedly targeted Goddess Kali, portraying her as a promoter of violence. In a 2019 interview with Scroll.in, he said,
“A violent Kali with her tongue thrust out while crushing a black human being under her feet, while killing him with a trishul, and having a garland of human heads around her neck is made a spiritual symbol. That is also described as beautiful. They never realized how this affects the mind of the children growing around that kind of violent iconography. Later in the process of growth, the children take caste violence as normal and part of Hindu dharma.”
Bhagwan Narasimha – A “Killer God”
Ilaiah has reserved special contempt for Lord Narasimha, one of the ten avatars of Vishnu, calling Him a “killer deity” used for hierarchical oppression. In his essay “From Isaiah to Ilaiah: What is Common between Israel and India,” he wrote, “Recently a Brahmin Governor of Andhra Pradesh visited the Yadagiri Narasimha temple, roamed around it semi-naked and said Narasimha is the greatest god, who incarnated to control people hierarchically… When the Governor of the State hates productive deities and loves killer deities, the culture of humanity begins to crumble.”
He further demonized the name Narasimha itself, “Names like Narsimha Reddy or Narsimha Rao… Such names were never indicative of production and positive human values, but of destruction. When a human being becomes a lion, he will develop tendencies of hunting others.”
Today, Rahul Gandhi invited Kancha Ilaiah as the guest of honour at Congress’s OBC Mahasammelan.
Read what his views are on Hindus and our gods:
– Maa Kali is a symbol of caste violence
– Narasimha is a killer godHe has even gone so far as to justify a civil war against… pic.twitter.com/LafIpifRda
— Political Kida (@PoliticalKida) July 25, 2025
Lord Ram – “Not Our God,” A “Bad Husband”
Ilaiah has dismissed Lord Ram as irrelevant to Dalits and OBCs while mocking Hindu festivals like Diwali.
He writes, “Rama is not our God.”
“Rama was not a good husband or human being.”
“Millions wasted on Diwali fireworks polluting the nation.”
“Children shouldn’t be taught ‘Rama kills Ravana’ or ‘Krishna stole butter’, but how to till land and care for cattle.”
Goddess Durga – Celebrated for “Violence”
Ilaiah has extended his attacks to Goddess Durga, claiming Hindu traditions glorify violence – “Violence of Kali or Durga is celebrated as positive – while ignoring who that violence is directed against.”
Goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi, & Lord Brahma – “Illiterate,” “Snitch,” “Brutal”
In his book Why I Am Not a Hindu, Ilaiah spewed venom against multiple Hindu deities –
“Saraswati is an illiterate goddess.”
“Lakshmi reports Dalit rebellion to Vishnu who exterminates them.”
“Brahma, the god of wisdom, is armed to attack enemies.”
Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati – “Used to Subdue Tribals”
He even twisted the divine imagery of Shiva and Parvati, alleging,
“Images of Shiva and Parvati were used to subdue tribals.”
The intent of Congress’s “Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan” is under the scanner because of who they chose to promote.
Kancha Ilaiah, notorious for his open contempt for Hinduism, its deities, and cultural practices, was given centre stage. His record of insulting Hindu gods and… pic.twitter.com/XIsx9Z87YL
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 26, 2025
Congress’s Hypocrisy: “Nyaya Sammelan” or Anti-Hindu Hate Platform?
By giving Ilaiah a platform, the Congress has once again exposed its anti-Hindu agenda despite claiming to represent backward Hindu communities. It has yet again attempted to divide OBCs/SCs from Hinduism by pushing a narrative that Hindu gods are oppressors and also legitimized hate speech under the guise of “social justice.”
Rahul Gandhi’s association with Ilaiah is not new, he has endorsed his books in the past. Now, by sharing the stage with him, Gandhi has sent a damningly clear message: the Congress stands with those who vilify Hinduism.
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