Congress on Tuesday removed, hours after it was posted, a contentious X post with an image apparently of Prime Minister Narendra Modi without the head, a post that invited “Lashkar-e-Pakistan” jibe from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP Slams Congress Over ‘Gayab’ Post on Modi
BJP on Tuesday attacked Congress for the tweet with the ‘Gayab’ (missing) message targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the social media tweet of the party sends a message to Pakistan that “Congress party stands with Pakistan”
Congress has been criticizing PM Modi for being missing from the recently convened all-party meeting following the Pahalgam terror attack.
BJP’s ‘Lashkar-e-Pakistan’ Jibe
Coming down heavily, national spokesperson and BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia blamed the Congress for aligning with the Pakistani narrative and diluting the country’s integrity.
“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.”
Taking his criticism further, Gaurav Bhatia referred to the Congress as “Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress,” saying, “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…”
The Congress, however, questioned the Prime Minister for “missing” in the all-party meeting on the Pahalgam attack.
Congress Responds with Clarification on Post featuring Modi
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said, “Although the Prime Minister returned (cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia) on April 24 (when the meeting was held), he left for Bihar to address a rally. He has time for giving election speeches, but doesn’t he have time or interest for the all-party meeting?”
Earlier, the BJP had criticized the Congress over comments by some of their leaders on the Pahalgam attack. The Congress later clarified that the comments were personal opinions of the individuals and not the party line.
The poster was issued a day after Congress stated that the comments made by its leaders on Pahalgam April 22 terrorist attack killing 26 individuals do not represent party’s views, further stating that only comments made by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Opposition leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and views of authorized AICC office-bearers speak the party’s official line.
