New Delhi: The Press Club of India (PCI) issued a detailed statement on Saturday (August 22) clarifying events preceding and following the controversy over recitation of the so-called ‘Modi Chalisa’ on the club premises. In a video statement, PCI president Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty said the club was revising its standard operating procedures (SOPs) that have so far allowed outsiders to book a hall and host events.“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 said.While a member did recommend allowing Dr Rajan Singh, vice-president of the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board, to book a hall, he was not present at the event. Accordingly, a show-cause notice has been issued to the member as well as others over deviations from the SOP and agreed terms, said Barooah Pisharoty.The club has also taken serious note of the fact that Singh and his team, who organised the event held Thursday (August 20), lit a “live fire” in a closed hall after booking it under the guise of holding a press conference.“This in itself is a huge violation of the terms on which a hall can be booked,” said the PCI president.Statement of Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, President of the Press Club of India, on the August 20 incident at its premises. pic.twitter.com/bl39hXr8lN— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) August 22, 2026She also clarified that as soon as the PCI administration learned about the event being held, in violation of the rules and permission, it was stopped.“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 said the PCI would remain open for open dialogue, discussion and deliberation, and reiterated that Thursday’s “Modi Chalisa” event neither had permission nor approval of 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.Thursday’s event at the PCI created a controversy as the hall booked by Singh became the venue for a pseudo-religious ceremony in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The PCI wrote on X soon after the event was cancelled that the permission terms had been violated and the ‘event’ was interrupted and could not proceed.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.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…— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) August 20, 2026Videos circulating on social media showed the recitation of “Modi Chalisa” and aarti worship before a cardboard cutout of Modi, seemingly portrayed as the Hindu god Lord Rama.Singh told PTI on Thursday that the board would spend Rs 112 crore to build a temple dedicated to “Lord Shri” Narendra Modi, because he had ensured the transgender community “gets its rights”. It would earmark five acres of land for the “temple”, he said.“What is wrong with it?” Singh told PTI.Singh was referring to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, widely criticised for “dismantling transgender rights“.Singh has been promoting his idea of a temple dedicated to Modi on his social media accounts as well. He demands the Bihar government foot the bill for his pet project, and also grant the land required for it.