Congress deletes ‘Gayab’ post targeting PM Modi after severe backlash from BJP

NEW DELHI: Following severe backlash from BJP leaders, the Congress party has deleted its controversial social media post featuring a headless poster with the word ‘GAYAB’ (missing), which targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The move came after the BJP slammed Congress for the post, accusing it of echoing Pakistan’s narrative in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

The post had shown an image of a kurta-pyjama and black sandals with the word ‘GAYAB’ and the caption ‘Jimmedariyo ke samay-Gayab’ (Missing during the time of responsibility). This drew strong criticism from the BJP and its allies.

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar: On Congress’s ‘Gayab’ post targeting PM Modi, BJP MP Sambit Patra says “…This is not INDI alliance, this is the Rawalpindi alliance. From today, we will not call them INDI alliance; we are going to call them ‘Pindi’ alliance. Rahul Gandhi and other leaders… pic.twitter.com/qWm3SxDSd9

— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that the Congress deleted its “Sar Tan Se Juda” imagery tweet due to pressure from the people of India. “Under Pressure from people of India the Congress party deletes it’s ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ imagery tweet! This will not hide the Anti National Pro Pakistan Charactersitic of Congress!,” he said in a post on X.

Under Pressure from people of India the Congress party deletes it’s “Sar Tan Se Juda” imagery tweet!

This will not hide the Anti National Pro Pakistan Charactersitic of Congress!#PehelgamTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/zAgHiIxod1

— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी) (@pradip103) April 29, 2025

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia had also sharply criticised the Congress, accusing it of sending the wrong message to Pakistan. “They are giving signals to Pakistan that in this terrorist attack, the Congress party stands with Pakistan and not with their own nation… This is not an innocent post by the Congress party. It is a sinister, poisonous design trying to weaken the integrity of our nation and target the Prime Minister of the country,” Bhatia said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Congress’s ‘Gayab’ post targeting PM Modi, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia says, “They are giving signals to Pakistan that in this terrorist attack, the Congress party stands with Pakistan and not with their own nation…This is not an innocent post by the Congress… pic.twitter.com/trh2L2FK6Q

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2025

He also said, “There is a national political party that stays among us, but if we call them Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress, it won’t be wrong. The Congress’s social media handle has tweeted an image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A strong message has been given to Pakistan that in India, the supporters of Mir Jafar are present here… ‘Sar tan se juda’ has become the ideology of Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress today.”

#WATCH | Delhi: On Congress’s ‘Gayab’ post targeting PM Modi, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, “It is now clear that the Congress party has become ‘PPP-Pakistan Prasth Party’. Not only do both have the same script, but their work and culture have also become the… pic.twitter.com/eU9VudRBA0

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2025

Union Minister Giriraj Singh defended the Prime Minister, saying he is one of the most active leaders the country has seen. “Hardly any Prime Minister of the country has been in as much active contact as this PM. The people of the North East were cut off, but the Prime Minister visited the North East many times and kept in touch with the people there. PM Mod has been actively interacting with the youth, farmers, and labourers of the country, as no other prime minister has been to date,” Singh said.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also reacted strongly. “When our Prime Minister is leading the fight against terrorism strongly, why does Congress have such a low opinion of him? How low will Congress stoop? I abhor this Congress party’s antics”, Rijiju said on X.

Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said the opposition should support the government at such times. “The PM and the Government of India have taken the right steps in response to the Pahalgam terror attack and will continue to do so. But instead of supporting them, the opposition is sending a pro-Pakistan message. Their statements are condemnable,” he said.

BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the Congress of using religiously charged imagery for political gain. “The Congress leaves little doubt with its use of ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ imagery. 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. It is not the first time Congress has resorted to such tactics. Rahul Gandhi, on multiple occasions, has both instigated and justified violence toward the Prime Minister. Yet the Congress will never succeed, for the Prime Minister enjoys the love and blessings of millions of Indians. On the contrary, proverbially speaking, if anyone’s neck has been slashed, it is the Congress — now reduced to a headless hydra, flailing without direction,” Malviya said on X.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey reacted sharply to the post. “Congress is hand in glove with Pakistani terrorists and their patrons, the killers of Hindus”, Dubey posted on X.

कॉंग्रेस का हाथ पाकिस्तान के आतंकवादी तथा उनके संरक्षक हिंदुओं के हत्यारे के साथ pic.twitter.com/dBEjOe08bE

— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) April 29, 2025

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh had explained the post, saying the Prime Minister skipped the all-party meeting, but had time to campaign.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Congress’s ‘Gayab’ post targeting PM Modi, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, “We hope that our demand for a special session will be fulfilled…PM Modi was not present at the all-party meeting. We demanded on 22nd April that the all-party meeting should be held… pic.twitter.com/Eij4REgYDq

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2025

“PM Modi was not present at the all-party meeting. We demanded on 22nd April that the all-party meeting should be held on this issue. PM did come back, but he went to Bihar to campaign for the election. He has time to address the election campaign, but not the all-party meeting”, Ramesh said. (ANI)