Congress pulls down post with 'gayab' jibe at PM Modi after row over Pahalgam attack remarks

The Congress party on Tuesday deleted a controversial social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following widespread criticism from the BJP. The now-removed post accused the Prime Minister of failing to take responsibility for what Congress called a "security lapse" that led to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people were killed.

The post featured an image with the word “Gayab” (missing) written over a kurta-pyjama and black footwear, giving the appearance of an invisible person. The imagery sparked a fierce backlash, with BJP leaders accusing Congress of using provocative symbolism.

Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's IT cell, claimed the visual resembled the threatening "Sar Tan Se Juda" (beheading) motif often seen in extremist propaganda. He alleged that the post was a “dog whistle” aimed at appeasing the Congress’s Muslim vote bank and implied it was an indirect threat to the Prime Minister.


“This is not just political messaging; it’s veiled incitement,” Malviya said. He further alleged that Congress, particularly Rahul Gandhi, has a history of encouraging hostility toward Modi.

The BJP responded by sharing an AI-generated image of Rahul Gandhi, calling him “a friend of Pakistan,” further escalating tensions between the two parties.

The row comes just a day after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed Modi for skipping an all-party meeting held in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.

Kharge accused the Prime Minister of prioritizing election campaigning in Bihar over national interest. “When the nation mourns, the Prime Minister was delivering a political speech,” he said. “He must remember: the country comes first—party and religion come later.”

Congress has not issued an official statement explaining the removal of the post.

(With TOI inputs)