At a time of heightened tension along the borders and the looming threat of cross-border terrorism, one would expect every political party to speak in one voice, or at the very least, avoid fanning division. But the Congress party, now a shadow of its former self, seems determined to sink deeper into the political muck. In a move that’s not just tone-deaf but borderline incendiary, Congress’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle posted an image suggesting the “Prime Minister is missing”—accompanied by a graphic of a headless figure. Headless. At a time when Islamist terrorists have used the chant “sar tan se juda” to behead innocents in India. Let that sink in. Who exactly is this grotesque symbolism directed at? And how does a post like this go out from the party’s official handle without the knowledge or approval of Rahul Gandhi, the de facto leader of the party? The Congress cannot distance itself from the hate it amplifies. This is not some rogue intern making memes. This is the official messaging from the Congress party—one that has ruled this country for over half a century and now reduced to governing just three states independently (Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka) and clinging to coalition arrangements in two more. Ironically, this post comes just days after the same Congress issued a gag order, instructing its leaders not to comment on ongoing security developments. But hypocrisy isn’t new for the party. One day it demands restraint, the next it amplifies what looks dangerously like a veiled threat. If the BJP were to circulate a similarly disturbing caricature about a Congress leader, we’d never hear the end of it from Lutyens’ echo chambers and the usual suspects in the commentariat.
Make no mistake—this isn’t just crass political mudslinging. It’s demoralising at a time when India faces serious external threats. Even as Pakistan reels from internal instability, its military-intelligence establishment remains focused on creating unrest in India. But rather than closing ranks to present a united national front, the Congress seems to have no qualms about playing into enemy hands, whether intentionally or out of sheer political desperation. This is not the first time such sabotage has come from within. From Digvijaya Singh calling the Pulwama attack “an accident” to Rahul Gandhi questioning the authenticity of the Balakot airstrikes, the Congress has often echoed Pakistan’s talking points. Mahbooba Mufti calling terrorists “militants” and warning the Modi government against “revenge” also follows a disturbing script. These statements, amplified by global outlets like the BBC, are not merely dissent—they’re dangerously close to undermining national security. And let’s be clear: this hostility toward Prime Minister Modi is not about ideology or policy. It’s personal. The Congress simply cannot digest that the man they mocked as a “chaiwala” has led his party to successive national victories and has made deep inroads into state after state. As of April 2025, the BJP or its allies govern 17 of India’s 28 states. The Congress, which once dictated India’s political grammar, now increasingly resembles a Twitter troll with a fading logo. In contrast, the Modi government has shown no signs of being distracted by this political noise. Surgical strikes, air raids deep in Pakistani territory, and relentless targeting of terror networks—these aren’t stunts. They are decisive responses. And they enjoy wide public backing. The larger question before the nation is this: in times of crisis, who is on the side of India, and who is aiding her enemies by spreading internal distrust? The Congress, by indulging in grotesque political symbolism and parroting narratives that echo across Wagah, has made its position clear. India must take note.