Congress deletes ‘gayab’ post on PM Modi after backlash; Venugopal cautions leaders to adhere to party line on Pahalgam

Congress warns leaders to adhere to party line on Pahalgam attack, or face disciplinary action from BJP.

The Congress on Tuesday (April 29, 2025) asked its leaders not to speak out of order and toe the party line on the Pahalgam terror attack or face disciplinary action.

The Congress also deleted a pictorial X post titled "Gayab" to portray Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader missing in action during a crisis, after an offensive by the BJP, which alleged that it was a 'sar tan se juda' imagery and an attempt to weaken India.

The warning comes in the wake of comments made by some party leaders that stirred a controversy and allowed the BJP to attack the Congress, accusing it of speaking on behalf of terrorists and of being pro-Pakistan.

In a letter to all PCC chiefs, CLP leaders, party general secretaries and in-charges, MPs, MLAs/MLCs and heads of various departments and frontal organisations, AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal asked them to exercise utmost discipline and consistency in public communication and not speak out of place on the Pahalgam incident.

"All functionaries are instructed to exercise utmost discipline and consistency in public communication," Mr. Venugopal said, adding that those authorised to speak on behalf of the party must confine themselves to the CWC's stated position in the resolution.

"Any contravention of this directive will invite strict disciplinary action without exception," Mr. Venugopal asserted.

Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed and several were injured when terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 22.