'BJP also issued an awful ad after 26/11': Congress reacts to outrage over 'Gayab' post on PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Amid BJP's criticism of the Congress for its now-deleted "Gayab" (missing) social media post on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress general secretary in-charge for communications, Jairam Ramesh, on Wednesday hit back at the ruling party.

Ramesh reminded BJP that PM Modi, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, spoke to the media outside Mumbai's Taj Hotel even as commandos battled terrorists who were holed up inside the hotel and had taken hostages. The saffron party, he noted, had issued an "awful" ad even as the tragedy was unfolding.

Ramesh wrote on X, "This is a time for unity and solidarity. This is a time for demonstrating a collective resolve to teach Pakistan a lesson it will never forget."


He was referring to last week's terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. On April 22, Pakistan-backed terrorists gunned down 26 men, all tourists vacationing with their families.

The Congress Rajya Sabha MP added, "On the night of April 22 itself, the Indian National Congress had asked for an all-party meeting. The meeting was held two days later but was not attended by the rime minister. The CWC Resolution of April 24th 2025 is absolutely clear. The INC and other opposition parties have also called for a special session of Parliament."

Ramesh then asked the BJP to recall its actions from November 26, 2008, just two days after the deadly 26/11 terrorist attacks began in Mumbai.

He said, "In a brazenly unprecedented move, the-then Gujarat CM went to Mumbai and, in an act of grandstanding, addressed the media. The BJP also issued an awful ad that very day in the newspapers. This is history. Let us now be cohesive at this most sensitive time. The country is waiting."

The ex-Union minister's reminder comes at a time when the Congress has been forced to dissociate itself from remarks by some of its leaders on the Pahalgam attack. The party distanced itself as the statements appeared to be critical of India and favouring Pakistan.

Last night, after much outrage, it deleted the post in which PM Modi was shown headless with the caption "Gayab."