Congress Faces Backlash After ‘Gayab’ Poster Against PM Modi Gets Endorsement from Ex-Pakistan Minister
The Congress party has found itself in the center of a fresh controversy after sharing a ‘gayab’ (missing) poster seemingly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing endorsement from a former Pakistan minister and sharp rebukes from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
The poster, featuring a bandhgala kurta, churidar, and black footwear without a visible face, hinted at the government’s alleged inaction following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. Though the Congress did not explicitly name the Prime Minister, social media users quickly linked the attire to PM Modi.
The row escalated when former Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhry reshared the poster with the caption, “Naughty Congress,” mocking the Indian leadership. His endorsement triggered accusations from the BJP and internet users, alleging that the Congress was “taking orders from Pakistan.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of adopting Pakistan-like tactics, stating, “Congress is behaving like Pakistan’s sleeper cells. Sharing a faceless image is akin to promoting the ‘sar tan se juda’ mentality.”
Amit Malviya, BJP IT cell head, criticized the Congress for allegedly endorsing “beheading imagery,” referencing past slogans threatening violence over religious insults. “Congress is now Pakistan’s PR agent,” Malviya alleged.
BJP’s Lakshmi Singh and Pradeep Bhandari further attacked the Congress, with Singh posting a counter-poster declaring that “soon both Congress and Pakistan will go missing,” and Bhandari accusing Congress of participating in a “jugalbandi” with Pakistan’s “deep state.”
The latest controversy comes close on the heels of Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar’s remarks questioning the survivor accounts of the Pahalgam massacre. Facing backlash, the Congress had issued a gag order on its leaders from making independent comments, but the new poster has reignited the outrage.
The Congress also released a video titled “PM Modi, answer for the Pahalgam lapse,” intensifying its attack on the Prime Minister over the handling of the terror strike.
The Indian government has cited “cross-border linkages” in the Pahalgam killings and vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable. Authorities believe Pakistan-based terror outfits orchestrated the assault, prompting security escalations in the Kashmir Valley.
Meanwhile, security forces continue major crackdowns on sleeper cells, amid rising political tensions at home.
