Rahul Gandhi calls Ramayana's Rama a ‘mythological’ figure at US event; triggers anti-Hundu rhetoric

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has once again found himself at the center of a political firestorm after describing Lord Ram as a "mythological figure" during an interaction at Brown University in the United States.

The comments, made at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, prompted an immediate and fierce backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused Gandhi and the Congress party of perpetuating an "anti-Hindu" and "anti-Ram" narrative.

Responding to a question on how secular politics can thrive in a climate dominated by Hindu nationalism, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha emphasized the distinction between India's pluralistic heritage and the BJP's current ideological thrust.

"All our mythological figures — Lord Ram was one of them — were forgiving and compassionate. I don’t consider what the BJP propagates as the Hindu idea at all. True Hindu thought is pluralistic, affectionate, and tolerant," Gandhi said. He further added, "There are people across communities who lived and died for those values — Gandhiji among them. Hatred and anger stem from fear, and those who are not afraid have no need to hate."

Gandhi also labeled the BJP as a "fringe group" that has "captured political power" but, in his view, fails to represent mainstream Indian thought.

Ramayana Grantha authored by Sage Valmiki is still one of the most popular Hindu epics. It is popular not only in India but also globally.

The BJP, however, interpreted Gandhi’s remarks as yet another slight against Hindu faith and tradition. Several party leaders took to social media to condemn what they called a consistent pattern of disrespect toward Lord Ram and Hindu sentiment.

"Insulting Hindus and Lord Ram has become the Congress party's identity," said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla. He cited past controversies, including the Congress-led UPA government's 2007 Supreme Court affidavit that questioned the historicity of the Ramayana, and the party’s opposition to the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Poonawalla added, "Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi’s refusal to attend the Ram Temple consecration ceremony speaks volumes. They echo the language of Pakistan and weaken the morale of Indian forces. They are anti-Ram, anti-Hindu, and anti-India."

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that the Congress party has repeatedly mocked Hindu traditions. "Calling Shri Ram a mythological figure is just the latest in a long line of slurs. They pretend to embrace Sanatan Dharma during elections, but their record tells another story," Bhandari asserted.

CR Kesavan, another BJP voice, reminded the public of the 2007 affidavit controversy and Congress’s alliance with the DMK — whose leaders have in the past questioned Lord Ram’s historicity with derisive comments.

As the political temperature rises ahead of a crucial electoral season, Gandhi's remarks are expected to dominate discourse in both religious and political spheres, once again exposing the deep ideological rift between India's two main political forces.