New Delhi: Sadhvi Ritambhara, known for her involvement in the Babri Masjid demolition, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, in the social work category. The decision has ignited debate due to her controversial past.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the award has drawn criticism, highlighting Ritambhara’s history of incendiary rhetoric and participation in several communal disputes. She gained attention in the late 1980s as a prominent speaker for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), where her speeches on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement were widely recognized.

Her speeches were characterized as particularly forceful, broadcast publicly, and she became a notable voice for Hindu nationalism. Political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot has noted that her rhetoric significantly influenced the Hindu nationalist movement’s narrative in India.

In 1991, Ritambhara faced charges from the Delhi Police for speeches that allegedly incited communal tensions, specifically concerning the Babri Masjid. Her name was included in the Liberhan Commission report, which investigated the mosque’s demolition on December 6, 1992.

The report identified her as one of 68 individuals who contributed to the escalation of communal discord in the country. The Central Bureau of Investigation also charged her alongside figures such as LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Uma Bharti. In 2020, she and the other accused were acquitted.