NEW DELHI: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing them of circulating an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated image to exaggerate the turnout at the Opposition INDIA bloc’s mega-rally held at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. Sharing screenshots of posts made by Congress MP Vamsi Gaddam and other party leaders, Rijiju criticized the Opposition for resorting to fabricated visuals to mask poor attendance. “Even the fake AI photo to show that Ramlila ground was full is not done properly by the fake narrative team of Congress Party!” Rijiju posted on X, attaching the controversial image shared by the Telangana Congress MP. The AI-altered visual was widely circulated by various party supporters online, with former MP and CWC member Jagdish Thakor also posting the same generated crowd graphic. Social media users were quick to point out glaring anomalies in the image, which featured AI-rendered depictions of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi on a stage that starkly differed from the actual venue setup. Meanwhile, the BJP dismissed the protest as a complete flop, claiming actual attendance fell drastically short of Opposition claims. Ruling party leaders shared photographic and video evidence highlighting empty chairs and asserting that at least 40 percent of the venue grounds remained vacant.
In the run-up to the demonstration, Congress leaders had projected a massive turnout of 10 lakh participants to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
“The Congress claimed there will be a crowd of 10 lakh, but 40 per cent of the ground was empty,” BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra stated during a press briefing on Sunday evening. Dismissing the digital visuals as “trick photography,” Patra took a sharp swipe at Rahul Gandhi, remarking that “tricks don’t make one Prime Minister.”
To counter the BJP’s allegations, the Congress released authentic drone footage and ground photographs to prove that lakhs of citizens had participated in the demonstration.
Addressing the gathering at the rally, Rahul Gandhi launched a fierce attack, alleging that the 2024 general elections were compromised due to alleged vote manipulation overseen by Gyanesh Kumar.
“This theft of votes is no ordinary theft. This is the theft of every voice of India. This is called treason,” Gandhi declared. Insisting that Kumar must face accountability, Gandhi asserted, “Without Gyanesh Kumar, neither would Narendra Modi have become Prime Minister nor Amit Shah the Home Minister,” adding that the CEC would eventually “go to jail.”
Hitting back at the Opposition, Patra rejected the claims of electoral rigging, stating that sweeping allegations regarding national democratic processes “don’t happen from Ramlila grounds.”
For more details: Navamalayalam.com