6 months ago
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Maharashtra Congress person Nana Patole connected Thursday (January 1, 2026) drew flak for his connection comparing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi with Lord Ram, saying helium was doing the enactment of Lord Ram, portion the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised him for flattery towards its leader.
“Rahul Gandhi is doing the aforesaid enactment arsenic Lord Ram did, moving for vulnerable, oppressed and marginalised people. He has been travelling crossed the country, trying to recognize radical and doing the enactment of Lord Ram, alternatively of clicking photos and showing off,” said Mr. Patole, responding to a question of wherefore Mr. Gandhi had not visited the Ram Temple successful Ayodhya.
The connection sparked governmental debate, and the BJP labelled him a sycophant. Maharashtra Assembly talker Rahul Narwekar called his remarks “unfortunate”, saying, “No 1 takes him seriously. Shri Ram is our deity; helium cannot beryllium compared with anyone. So the nationalist volition thatch him a acquisition successful the upcoming elections.”
NCP MP Sunil Dattatray Tatkare besides slammed Mr. Patole for making specified statements and called it “irresponsible”, and astir apt the interaction of back-to-back decision successful elections, portion Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya said, “This is sycophancy, that idiosyncratic has nary thought astir Lord Ram, and determination cannot beryllium immoderate examination betwixt Shri Ram and Rahul Gandhi”.
However, this was not the archetypal clip that Mr. Patole made an analogy, comparing Lord Ram and Mr. Gandhi. Three years ago, helium besides made akin remarks. Mr. Patole’s connection besides outraged governmental leaders astatine the Centre and successful different States.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat took a potshot astatine the Congress, and said it was a enactment that had mislaid its identity, and these were the aforesaid radical who filed an affidavit successful the Supreme Court, saying Lord Ram was an imaginary personality. Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) president Tej Pratap Yadav from Bihar said, “There is simply a immense quality betwixt God and human, truthful nary examination tin hap here. Congress thinks they are God, but that cannot happen.”
Meanwhile, Congress leaders came successful support, saying the BJP wants to divert the nationalist from existent issues, truthful they marque a fuss retired of anything. “All they bash is Mandir-Masjid, Hindu-Muslims, pit 1 State against another. Such a mindset of the BJP volition get the close reply from the nationalist successful the elections,” said Congress person Aslam Sheikh. NCP-SP Rajya Sabha subordinate Fauzia Khan said, “Lord Ram was a awesome of justice, and Ram Rajya means treating with equality...and immoderate idiosyncratic successful the country, who is not spreading hatred, giving a connection of emotion and unity, is moving towards Ram Rajya”.
