A political controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh after a viral video allegedly showed Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai making objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video, which surfaced on social media, has sparked a massive backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with top leaders including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya condemning Rai's comments.
BJP Leaders Slam Ajay Rai
Yogi Adityanath called the remarks 'shameful' and accused the Congress of resorting to 'cheap politics' ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Amit Malviya shared the video on X, stating that it exposes the Congress party's 'true face' and demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Other BJP leaders also joined the chorus, calling for strict action against Rai under the relevant sections of the law.
Congress Denies Allegations
Ajay Rai, however, has denied the allegations, claiming that the video is 'completely fake' and generated using artificial intelligence. In a statement, Rai said, 'This is a deepfake video created by my political opponents to defame me and the Congress party. I have never made any such remarks against the Prime Minister. I demand a forensic investigation into the video.' The Congress party has also backed Rai, accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in Uttar Pradesh, which is gearing up for the Assembly elections. The Election Commission is yet to comment on the matter, but sources indicate that it may take cognizance of the viral video and seek a report from the state administration.
This is not the first time that a political controversy has erupted over a deepfake video in India. Earlier, several such videos had surfaced during elections, prompting the government to issue advisories to social media platforms to curb the spread of misinformation. The incident highlights the growing challenge of AI-generated content in the political landscape.
