The Crossbill News Desk
The Press Club of India has initiated a review of its procedures for allowing events on its premises after a programme involving the recitation of a so-called “Modi Chalisa” and an aarti before a cutout of Prime Minister Narendra Modi triggered controversy.
In a video statement issued on Saturday (August 22), PCI president Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty said the club had begun revising its standard operating procedures for events, particularly those booked by outsiders on the recommendation of a club member.
“For any event to take place at the Press Club of India, it has to be recommended by a member and the member has to be present during the event,” Barooah Pisharoty said, detailing the SOPs.
“These SOPs worked until they didn’t,” she added.
The event, held on Thursday, had been organised by Dr Rajan Singh, vice-president of the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board. According to the PCI, a club member had recommended Singh’s request to book a hall, but the member was not present during the programme, contrary to the club’s rules.
Barooah Pisharoty said show-cause notices had been issued to the member concerned as well as others over alleged deviations from the SOPs and the terms under which the venue was booked.
The PCI also objected to the nature of the programme and the activities carried out inside the hall. Singh and his team had booked the venue on the understanding that a press conference would be held, but the space was instead used for what the club described as a pseudo-religious ceremony.
The club took particular exception to the lighting of a “live fire” inside the closed hall.
“This in itself is a huge violation of the terms on which a hall can be booked,” said the PCI president.
According to Barooah Pisharoty, the programme was stopped as soon as the PCI administration became aware that it was being conducted in violation of the permission granted and the club’s rules.
“The secretary-general, who handles the day-to-day functioning, has issued show-cause notices and started a review of the SOPs so that these kinds of incidents don’t recur,” she said.
She stressed that while the Press Club of India would continue to provide a space for discussion and debate, Thursday’s programme had neither been authorised nor approved by the institution.
“The press club has always stood for the rights and freedoms of journalists. I want to assure you that we are committed to carrying forward that legacy,” she said.
The controversy erupted after videos of the programme began circulating on social media. The footage showed participants reciting the “Modi Chalisa” and performing aarti before a cardboard cutout of Modi, apparently portraying him as the Hindu god Lord Rama.
The Press Club of India had said in a post on X soon after the programme was stopped that the terms under which permission had been granted were violated, following which the event was interrupted and could not continue.
In a video statement issued on Saturday (August 22), PCI president Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty said the club had begun revising its standard operating procedures for events, particularly those booked by outsiders on the recommendation of a club member.
“For any event to take place at the Press Club of India, it has to be recommended by a member and the member has to be present during the event,” Barooah Pisharoty said, detailing the SOPs.
“These SOPs worked until they didn’t,” she added.
The event, held on Thursday, had been organised by Dr Rajan Singh, vice-president of the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board. According to the PCI, a club member had recommended Singh’s request to book a hall, but the member was not present during the programme, contrary to the club’s rules.
Barooah Pisharoty said show-cause notices had been issued to the member concerned as well as others over alleged deviations from the SOPs and the terms under which the venue was booked.
The PCI also objected to the nature of the programme and the activities carried out inside the hall. Singh and his team had booked the venue on the understanding that a press conference would be held, but the space was instead used for what the club described as a pseudo-religious ceremony.
The club took particular exception to the lighting of a “live fire” inside the closed hall.
“This in itself is a huge violation of the terms on which a hall can be booked,” said the PCI president.
According to Barooah Pisharoty, the programme was stopped as soon as the PCI administration became aware that it was being conducted in violation of the permission granted and the club’s rules.
“The secretary-general, who handles the day-to-day functioning, has issued show-cause notices and started a review of the SOPs so that these kinds of incidents don’t recur,” she said.
She stressed that while the Press Club of India would continue to provide a space for discussion and debate, Thursday’s programme had neither been authorised nor approved by the institution.
“The press club has always stood for the rights and freedoms of journalists. I want to assure you that we are committed to carrying forward that legacy,” she said.
The controversy erupted after videos of the programme began circulating on social media. The footage showed participants reciting the “Modi Chalisa” and performing aarti before a cardboard cutout of Modi, apparently portraying him as the Hindu god Lord Rama.
The Press Club of India had said in a post on X soon after the programme was stopped that the terms under which permission had been granted were violated, following which the event was interrupted and could not continue.
The Press Club of India has noticed that a photo/video of an event held at its premises earlier today, is circulating on social media.
— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) August 20, 2026
It is hereby #clarified that the Club had not organised the event.
The hall was hired for the purpose of holding a press conference by an…
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