Congress Deletes 'Gayab' Post Targeting PM Modi After Outrage

New Delhi:

The Congress has taken down the social media post that targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked the latest, day-long political skirmish. The post -- an old photo of PM Modi with his face edited out and a caption that read, "In times of need, missing". -- was apparently a jab at his absence in the all-party meet to discuss the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that cost 26 lives.  

The post -- put up on Monday night - made the BJP see red, especially after Pakistan's former minister Fawad Chaudhry re-posted it.

The BJP retaliated with a 'backstabber' post that seemed to target Congress's Rahul Gandhi, the caption said "Pakistan ka yaar (Friend of Pakistan)".

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed the Congress has deleted the "Gayeb" post "under 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!" read his post on X.

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

.The Prime Minister headed back from a visit abroad after the Pahalgam attack took place and has been holding crucial meetings with the Cabinet Committee for Security - one was held this evening as well  His absence at the all-party meeting has irked the Congress and the party has been highlighting it since. . 

The BJP - which repeatedly accused the Congress of pursuing the politics of appeasement - has alleged that the party is soft on Pakistan to keep its grip on the vote of Indian Muslims. After a section of Congress leaders' controversial comments criticising India's diplomatic moves against Pakistan including the freeze on Indus Water Treaty, the BJP called the party a "friend of Pakistan". 

After the former Pakistan minister's post, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the Congress was trying to target PM Modi and "give signals to Pakistan". Pointing to derogatory comments about PM Modi in the Pak leader's post, he questioned if Rahul Gandhi was "betraying" India to receive praise from Pakistan.