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Politics
Rijiju mocks Congress, calls Ramlila rally crowd photo 'AI-generated'
✍️ Times of India
🗓 02 Nov 2026, 09:51 AM
👁 1
Union Minister Anurag Thakur's colleague, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyot Singh Rijiju, has dismissed a photograph of a large crowd at a Ramlila rally as 'AI-generated,' criticizing the Congress party for using manipulated images.
New Delhi: A political exchange has intensified over the authenticity of a photograph depicting a massive crowd at a Ramlila rally. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyot Singh Rijiju has publicly questioned the image, labeling it as 'AI-generated.' His comments were directed at the Indian National Congress, which had shared the picture to highlight the turnout of the event.
Rijiju argued that the visual evidence presented by the opposition does not reflect reality and suggested that the image was digitally altered or fabricated using artificial intelligence tools. By characterizing the photo as fake, the minister aimed to undermine the narrative that the rally was a significant show of force for the Congress party.
The remark adds to the ongoing discourse regarding the use of digital media in Indian politics, where both ruling and opposition parties frequently engage in debates over the validity of social media content. While the Congress has not yet issued a detailed technical rebuttal to the specific claim of AI generation, the incident highlights the growing role of digital forensics in political discourse.
The Ramlila rally, a traditional cultural and religious event, has become a focal point for political mobilization. The controversy over the crowd photo underscores the sensitivity surrounding public gatherings and the rapid spread of unverified images on digital platforms.
Rijiju argued that the visual evidence presented by the opposition does not reflect reality and suggested that the image was digitally altered or fabricated using artificial intelligence tools. By characterizing the photo as fake, the minister aimed to undermine the narrative that the rally was a significant show of force for the Congress party.
The remark adds to the ongoing discourse regarding the use of digital media in Indian politics, where both ruling and opposition parties frequently engage in debates over the validity of social media content. While the Congress has not yet issued a detailed technical rebuttal to the specific claim of AI generation, the incident highlights the growing role of digital forensics in political discourse.
The Ramlila rally, a traditional cultural and religious event, has become a focal point for political mobilization. The controversy over the crowd photo underscores the sensitivity surrounding public gatherings and the rapid spread of unverified images on digital platforms.