Prime Minister Narendra Modi was depicted as a Hindu deity in an event organised by a group of transgender community members at the Press Club of India in Delhi on Thursday.

They recited some verses, which they described as the “Modi Chalisa”, showed videos posted on social media. A chalisa is a Hindu hymn to a deity.

The group also shouted “Jai Jai Modi”, or hail Modi, and “Har Har Modi”, or victory to Modi.

After videos of the event were shared widely on social media, the Press Club of India clarified that it had not organised the event. The club said that it stopped the event because the organisers violated the terms under which the hall had been rented.

The venue had been rented for a press conference, it said.

The event was criticised on social media, with users saying that it hurt their religious sentiments.

Written by Tanya Shrivastava. Edited by Nachiket Deuskar.

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