Congress slams PM Modi for joking about suicide note at media conclave
New Delhi: The Congress party has criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his joke about a "suicide note" at a media conclave, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calling the prime minister "insensitive about suicide."
During the conclave, PM Modi shared a joke about a professor who spotted a spelling mistake in his daughter's suicide note, which prompted reactions from the Congress party, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra calling the prime minister out for his insensitivity.
Vadra said, "Depression and suicide, especially among the youth, is not a laughing matter. This is a tragedy, not a joke." The Congress party also tweeted that the prime minister's joke was insensitive and cited the suicide statistics of the country, with 450 people being forced to commit suicide every day.
Vadra urged the prime minister and his audience to educate themselves better about mental health issues rather than ridiculing them in a morbid and insensitive manner. She said, "The Prime Minister and those laughing heartily at his joke ought to create awareness rather than ridicule mental health issues in this insensitive manner."
हज़ारों परिवार आत्महत्या के कारण अपने बच्चों को खोते हैं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 27, 2023
प्रधानमंत्री को उनका मज़ाक नहीं उड़ाना चाहिए!
Imagine the insensitive disregard for human life by our Prime Minister who needs to crack a joke on suicide!?!?
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) April 27, 2023
Ironically, when this #AnpadhPM makes a sick & cruel joke on a girl's suicide, the nation is expected to laugh! pic.twitter.com/Z3KUurRDTa
Respected PM,
— Priyanka Chaturvedi(@priyankac19) April 27, 2023
I won’t share the triggering video where you cracked a joke on suicide while the audience laughed at the insensitive ‘joke’, however I’d definitely like to remind you that 2021 NCRB data shows that over 1.5 lakh Indians committed suicide, also deaths by suicide… pic.twitter.com/nWysoJSIRL
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
