New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has objected to a performer dressed as Hindu deity Hanuman dancing and waving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) flag, while welcoming BJP party president Nitin Nabin in Lucknow earlier this week.
VHP national general secretary Ambarish Singh, while condemning the incident, demanded that accountability be fixed on those responsible for it.
The VHP leader posted on social media that appearing in public and at public events dressed as a deity was inappropriate.
“Being dressed as Shri Hanuman-ji and dancing in front of the chariot of the national president of Bharatiya Janata Party in Lucknow during his welcome procession is a highly condemnable act. Those who planned this should be identified and punished and the BJP should keep the so-called “event managers” away from planning such events in the future,” he posted on Facebook.
“In the Mahabharata, when Hanuman sat atop Arjuna’s chariot, Dharma triumphed. Always remember this. It is requested that you protect yourself from such unfortunate incidents in the future. Hindu society has great expectations from you, hence your responsibility also increases,” he added. However, the post was later deleted.
ThePrint reached out to Ambarish Singh, who confirmed that he had raised objections, and maintained that the message had reached the people it was meant for.
“The matter should end here. It is a subject linked to faith and respect. I had expressed my feelings; it was the organiser’s mistake—they didn’t give it enough thought,” he told ThePrint.
A video of a dancer dressed as Bal Hanuman performing during Nitin Nabin’s welcome event in Lucknow had gone viral on social media.
“In Lucknow, someone dressed as Lord Hanuman was made to dance to welcome BJP leader Nitin Nabin. Have BJP leaders become so ‘great’ now that deities dance for their welcome? In reality, the so-called custodians of Sanatan—who use religion as a tool for politics—have caused the greatest harm to Sanatan itself.
“Those who shout ‘religion is in danger’ from the stage are the very people insulting religion on the ground,” vice-president of Uttar Pradesh Congress Vishwavijay Singh posted on X.
Leader of Opposition in Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi posed a question to Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta: “Ms @gupta_rekha: BJP National President @NitinNabin considers himself even greater than Lord Hanuman; he makes the deity dance before him alongside the BJP flag—would you like to comment on his arrogance? Or have you been forbidden from speaking about the insult to Lord Hanuman?”
.@gupta_rekha जी: बीजेपी के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष @NitinNabin जी, अपने आप को हनुमान जी से भी बड़ा मानते हैं, भगवान को अपने सामने बीजेपी के झंडे के साथ नचाते हैं – उनके अहंकार पर आप कुछ टिपण्णी करना चाहेंगी? या हनुमान जी के अपमान पर आपको बोलने से मना किया गया है? https://t.co/Fu1QgkgHXn pic.twitter.com/RdWTSpoD5x
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) July 6, 2026
Prashant Kishor-led Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) also criticised the BJP and said Nabin had insulted Hanuman.
“It is to break this very arrogance that one must vote in Bankipur this time,” the party posted on X.
“Still shocked that the BJP can depict Lord Hanuman-ji dancing and welcoming its president. This is rubbing salt on the wounds of all of us, who are anyway aghast at the way the BJP is silent on how trustees appointed by the BJP government have indulged in the loot of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. What a shame! Ab Hindu Maaf Nahi Karega!,” said Aaditya Thackeray.
Still shocked that the bjp can depict Lord Hanuman ji dance and welcome its president.
This is rubbing salt on the wounds of all of us, who are anyway aghast at the way the bjp is quiet on how the trustees appointed by the bjp government have indulged in the loot of the Ram… https://t.co/aNj9dBKXxN
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 7, 2026
ThePrint reached out to Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson Harish Srivastava who said that workers who organise such events must take care that in their excitement they don’t make such mistakes.
“In their excitement to welcome the president they went overboard and should keep in mind that such things are not repeated,” he said.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Why Nitin Nabin needs to chart a different path from his predecessor, Nadda