Sadhvi Rithambara, a polarizing figure known for her incendiary speeches targeting Muslims and minorities, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honors. A prominent member of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and founder of its women’s wing, Durga Vahini, Rithambara gained notoriety in the late 1980s and early 1990s for her provocative rhetoric during the Babri Masjid movement. The Liberhan Commission named her among those culpable for inciting communal tensions leading to the mosque’s demolition, though she was acquitted by a CBI court in 2020.

Rithambara’s speeches, widely distributed in the early 1990s, called for a “war” against Muslims, using derogatory analogies and inflammatory language that fueled communal unrest. She played a key role in BJP election campaigns during the same period. Beyond the Babri Masjid controversy, her speeches have targeted other minority groups, including Christian missionaries, sparking riots and widespread criticism. In one instance in 1995, her comments led to her arrest for inciting violence in Indore.

Her recognition with the Padma Bhushan has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and activists who view her past actions as antithetical to national unity and communal harmony. Calls for revocation of the award have intensified, particularly from Indian American groups that previously protested her fundraising events in the United States. Despite the controversies, her supporters hail the award as recognition of her contributions to Hindutva nationalism.