Congress’s snide X post on PM backfires, BJP says it echoes Lashkar ideology

A controversial post from the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Congress party — depicting a headless figure resembling Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the caption “Jimmendari ke samay gayab” (missing at the time of responsibility) — has ignited a political storm with the opposition party forced to go on the defensive.

The BJP has strongly criticised the post, accusing Congress of playing into Pakistan’s hands at a time when national security is under grave threat, following the massacre of 26 civilians in Pahalgam by Pakistan-trained terrorists.

What has further intensified the backlash is the enthusiastic amplification of the post by several Pakistani X accounts, including some official handles. The BJP claims this reflects Congress’s alignment with anti-India narratives.

The timing of the Congress post, amid national mourning and aggressive posturing from Pakistan, including provocative statements, military mobilisation at the border, and cross-border firing, has, according to many observers, severely misfired.

Public reaction on social media, as well as commentary from analysts and political leaders, suggests the move has put the Congress on the back foot.

On April 29, the BJP had questioned whether Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, had any control over party leaders making statements seen as sympathetic to Pakistan.

At a press conference on Sunday, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Congress of promoting the ideology of “sar tan se juda” (beheading), which he labelled as “Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress.”

“There is a national political party among us that, if called Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress, would not be wrongly named. This image of Prime Minister Modi was tweeted by Congress’s official handle. A strong message has been sent to Pakistan — that Mir Jafar’s supporters are among us,” Bhatia said. “The ideology of sar tan se juda has now become that of the Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress. Posts like these are made at the behest of Rahul Gandhi, bringing shame to the country and weakening it at a critical moment.”

BJP leader Amit Malviya echoed this sentiment on X, claiming Congress’s post was not merely political, but a “dog whistle” aimed at its Muslim vote bank and a veiled incitement against the Prime Minister.

“This is not the first time Congress has resorted to such tactics,” Malviya wrote on X. “Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly instigated and justified violence toward the Prime Minister. Yet Congress will never succeed. The Prime Minister enjoys the love and blessings of millions. If anyone is ‘headless’, proverbially speaking, it is Congress — now a directionless hydra, flailing in confusion.”

On April 28, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad had questioned the Congress leadership: “Do Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have no control over their party? Or have they issued only perfunctory denials while allowing others to speak freely?”

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