Indian Filmmaker Faces Backlash After Linking Diwali to Israel’s Gaza Genocide
New Delhi (QNN)- Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has come under fire online after comparing Israel’s two-year bombardment and genocide in Gaza to the Hindu festival of Diwali, with social media users calling his remarks “inhumane.”
Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is one of the most significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with lights, sweets, fireworks and prayers for prosperity.
However, Varma wrote on X, “In INDIA only one day is DIWALI and in GAZA, every day is DIWALI.” He likened the celebratory festival to the relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza over the past two years.
Comparing a genocide to a festival is not only insensitive, it's inhumane. Diwali celebrates light and hope. Gaza is a humanitarian crisis where innocent people are killed daily. Mocking that suffering shows a lack of basic humanity. Don’t turn someone’s pain into a punchline. https://t.co/2skFTxtPlJ
— Abdullah (@AbdullahSays99_) October 21, 2025
Varma’s Monday remarks have sparked backlash online.
You will take years to become a human. You dont even know the difference between celebration and devastation.
— Rakhi Tripathi (@rakhitripathi) October 21, 2025
You’re a disgusting human being. If you’re one at all. You deserve nothing but hate. Making fun of genocide doesn’t make you powerful , it shows the world who you are – a repulsive filthy rat.
— Sanjana Rao (@sanjana96206) October 20, 2025
What the actual fuck is wrong with this world??? How do people like this even have a platform??? https://t.co/uDC8iCu5vS
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) October 21, 2025
Honestly, never thought that such horrible monsters live amongst us. He is conflating a rich cultural heritage of Hindu auspiciousness (Diwali) with daily mass murders by the Zionists of helpless children and women (Gaza) via deadly bombs. I cannot understand this depravity. What… pic.twitter.com/GcbLrTIPlF
— Sandeep Manudhane (@sandeep_PT) October 21, 2025
India has been accused of strengthening its ties with Israel, as protests erupted across the country demanding that the government cut relations with Israel. The demonstrations coincide with a global commemoration marking two years since the genocide in Gaza.
Since October 2023, the Indian government has emerged as one of Israel’s staunchest allies.
