Kharge, Siddaramaiah disapprove Cong party’s 'Gayab' post on social media
Bagalkote/Bengaluru, Apr 30 (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday disapproved of his party’s social media pictorial 'X' post titled "Gayab" to portray Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader missing in action during a crisis. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too expressed a similar view.
The Congress had put up a social media post with a headless figurine. The image posted on 'X' without naming Modi showed an old photo of him with his body missing, and his clothes forming the outline.
The image carried the message "Gayab" (missing) on top with a caption in Hindi that read "jimmedari ke samay -- Gayab" (missing at the time of taking responsibility).
When asked by reporters in Bengaluru whether the Congress had to face embarrassment because of its "Gayab" social media post against the prime minister, Kharge said, "I have not seen it, what can I say."
"But, any person, whoever it is, whether prime minister or any person or leader, no attempt should be made to cause any damage to their dignity or image. Whoever does it, whether they (BJP) do it or our people (Congress), it is not right," he said.
Asked about controversial statements being made by party leaders in the wake of the current situation in the country and his instructions to them, Kharge said, "We have already given (instructions). You are aware of it."
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Bagalkote, Siddaramaiah said one should know the limitations attached to freedom of expression.
"I don’t know who does it on social media. It should never be done – either of Narendra Modi or any other person. Just because we have freedom of expression and personal liberty, we cannot do whatever we want. We should not defame others," the CM said.
After the post was removed, BJP's social media head Amit Malviya said on 'X', "Deleting the post won't erase the truth. Your 'Sar Tan Se Juda' mindset stands exposed."
"You are unapologetic Islamists who wouldn't hesitate to target even Prime Minister Modi if it meant clawing back to power. But you never will. The Rahul Gandhi generation is destined for political irrelevance, while India moves forward without you, and far beyond your reach," Malviya said.
On the union government's measures post Pahalgam terror strike that killed 26 people, Siddaramaiah said, "If the war is inevitable, then let the Centre go for it. I don’t object to it, but terrorism should be completely wiped out. That’s what the Centre should do."
Clarifying his previous statement that war should not happen, he said that all that he meant was that the Centre should also ensure the security of people.
"I never said no to war. In 1971, Indira Gandhi waged a war and defeated Pakistan. More than 90,000 soldiers surrendered," he explained.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS, founded in 1925, describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
