The Press Club of India has issued a clarification after images and videos of a “Modi Chalisa” event held at its premises in Delhi sparked a row on social media.
The visuals showed participants worshipping a cutout of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They performed an “aarti” in front of the poster and chanted slogans praising the Prime Minister.
The event quickly drew attention online. Several users shared videos and photographs from the programme, leading to questions about the Press Club’s role.
However, the Press Club of India said it did not organise the event. It also stated that the authorities stepped in and stopped the programme when the organisers violated the terms for using the venue.
The incident has now triggered a wider debate over the event and the depiction of the Prime Minister in a god-like manner.
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Press Club Says It Did Not Organise the Event
The Press Club of India responded after photos and videos from the event began circulating widely on social media.
In a post on X, the journalists’ body said it had noticed the visuals from an event held at its premises earlier in the day.
It made it clear that the Club had not organised the programme.
According to the clarification, an organisation had hired the hall to hold a press conference. However, the event did not continue as planned.
The Press Club said the organisers violated the terms under which they had rented the hall.
Club authorities then intervened and stopped the event immediately.
The clarification aimed to distance the Press Club of India from the programme after the visuals triggered criticism and discussion online.
Videos Show Worship of PM Modi Cutout
Videos from the event showed a large cutout image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed before the participants.
The poster depicted Modi in a god-like manner. People at the venue were seen performing an “aarti” in front of the cutout.
Participants also chanted, “Jai Jai Modi, Har Har Modi.”
The visuals spread quickly across social media platforms and became the centre of a political and public debate.
The nature of the programme drew criticism from some people. Others questioned how such an event took place at the Press Club of India.
The Club later clarified that it had only rented out the hall and had not organised or supported the event.
The authorities said they stopped the programme after discovering that the organisers had violated the agreed terms.
‘Immediately Intervened and It Was Stopped’
The Press Club of India explained that an organisation had booked the hall for a press conference.
However, the event took a different form from the stated purpose of the booking.
The Club said the organisers violated the terms for renting the venue.
As soon as the authorities became aware of the violation, they intervened.
The Club stated that the event was immediately stopped.
The clarification is important because the viral visuals created the impression that the Press Club may have been connected to the programme.
The journalists’ body has now clearly denied organising the event.
Its response focuses on the difference between allowing an organisation to rent a hall and taking responsibility for the activities conducted by that organisation.
Rajan Singh Organised the Programme
Rajan Singh, the vice-president of the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board, organised the event.
He has previously spoken about plans to construct a temple dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar.
The event at the Press Club brought those plans and his public support for Modi into focus.
The “Modi Chalisa” programme showed participants expressing their support and admiration for the Prime Minister in a religious-style setting.
The organisers presented the event as a way of showing their appreciation for the work of the Modi government.
However, the use of religious rituals and the god-like depiction of a political leader led to criticism.
The event also became controversial because it took place at the premises of a well-known journalists’ organisation.
The Press Club’s clarification sought to address this part of the controversy.
Organiser Defends the Deification of Modi
Rajan Singh defended the programme when asked about criticism over the deification of Prime Minister Modi.
Speaking to PTI, he said people should not criticise the event.
He praised the Modi government for measures taken for the transgender community.
Singh claimed that the government had provided rights to transgender people and created employment opportunities.
He used these actions to explain why the organisers wanted to express their admiration for the Prime Minister.
His remarks reflect the organisers’ view that the event was meant to show appreciation for government policies and Modi’s leadership.
However, the criticism has focused on the way this support was expressed.
The worship of a political leader and the use of religious rituals have led to debate on social media and in political circles.
Debate Over Transgender Rights Also Emerges
The controversy also brought attention to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act.
Some activists and critics have raised concerns about provisions related to the right to gender self-determination.
When asked about the criticism, Rajan Singh claimed that transgender people were not opposing the Act.
He argued that the Opposition had raised objections rather than the transgender community.
His comments are likely to add another layer to the debate around the event.
Questions about transgender rights, legal protections and government policy have remained important subjects of public discussion.
Different groups have expressed different views on the laws and policies affecting the community.
The organiser’s remarks represented his own support for the Modi government and its work.
However, the wider debate includes a range of voices and opinions.
Why the Event Sparked a Row
The Modi Chalisa event sparked controversy for several reasons.
First, the visuals showed a political leader being depicted and worshipped in a god-like manner.
Second, the event took place at the Press Club of India, which led some social media users to question whether the journalists’ body had any role in organising it.
The viral videos increased the pressure on the Press Club to respond.
The organisation then issued its clarification and stated that it had not organised the event.
It also said the hall had been rented for a press conference.
According to the Club, the organisers violated the agreed terms. The authorities then intervened and stopped the programme.
The clarification has become a key part of the story as the visuals continue to circulate online.
Social Media Amplifies the Controversy
The incident shows how quickly a local event can become a national talking point through social media.
Videos and photographs from the venue reached a large audience within a short period.
The images of the Modi cutout, the “aarti” and the slogans drew strong reactions.
Many people also focused on the location of the event.
The Press Club of India had to publicly explain that it did not organise the programme.
Its statement shows the importance of quick clarification when viral content creates confusion about an organisation’s role.
The Club’s response also underlines the need for organisations to monitor events held on their premises.
Venue authorities may allow outside groups to rent a space for a specific purpose. However, they may intervene if the organisers use the venue in a way that violates the agreed terms.
Looking Ahead
The Modi Chalisa event has sparked a row after videos showed participants worshipping a cutout of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Press Club of India in Delhi.
The Press Club has clearly stated that it did not organise the programme.
It said an organisation had rented the hall for a press conference. However, the organisers violated the terms of the booking.
The Club authorities then stepped in and stopped the event.
Rajan Singh, who organised the programme, defended the event and praised the Modi government’s work for transgender people.
The incident has now led to a wider discussion about the worship of political leaders and the use of religious symbols in political expressions of support.
As the videos continue to circulate, the Press Club’s clarification remains central to the controversy. The organisation has maintained that it had no role in organising the event and acted after learning that the terms for using the venue had been violated.
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