Congress deletes 'Gayab' post targeting PM Modi after backlash
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New Delhi: Facing intense criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress party on Tuesday removed a controversial social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The post, which featured an old image of Modi with his face edited out and the caption "In times of need, missing," appeared to be a direct jab at the Prime Minister's absence from an all-party meeting convened to address the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
Uploaded on Monday night, the post quickly drew backlash, particularly after it was re-shared by former Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhry. The re-post by a Pakistani leader added fuel to the controversy, prompting the BJP to strike back with a counter-post labelling Congress MP Rahul Gandhi a "Friend of Pakistan," accompanied by the hashtag "backstabber."
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that the Congress deleted the post due to public pressure. “Under pressure from the people of India, the Congress party deletes its 'Sar Tan Se Juda' imagery tweet! This will not hide the anti-national, pro-Pakistan characteristic of Congress!” he wrote in a post on X.
Despite the backlash, Congress has continued to criticise the Prime Minister for not attending the all-party meet. PM Modi had returned from an overseas trip following the Pahalgam attack and has since been engaged in high-level discussions, including a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting held on Tuesday evening. Nevertheless, his absence from the all-party dialogue has been a central point of attack from the Congress.
The BJP, accusing Congress of vote-bank politics, reiterated its claims that the opposition party is lenient towards Pakistan to maintain its support among Indian Muslims. The allegations resurfaced in the wake of certain Congress leaders’ comments criticising the government’s diplomatic stance towards Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, prompting the BJP to again call the Congress a “friend of Pakistan.”
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia suggested that the Congress post, especially in light of the Pakistani minister’s remarks, was aimed at undermining the Prime Minister while sending favourable signals to Pakistan. Referring to the derogatory language used in the Pakistani leader’s post, he questioned whether Rahul Gandhi was "betraying" the country for external praise.
Echoing similar sentiments, Amit Malviya, in-charge of the BJP’s National Information and Technology Department, condemned the Congress post, stating that it clearly bore the implication of “Sar Tan Se Juda” — a slogan associated with extremist incitement. “This is not merely a political statement; it is a dog whistle aimed at its Muslim vote bank and a veiled incitement against the Prime Minister,” he said, adding that such tactics have been used by the Congress before.
Malviya also accused Rahul Gandhi of indirectly promoting violence against Prime Minister Modi, saying the post left little doubt about the intent behind it.
With IANS inputs
