A political row erupted on Sunday after All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Ragini Nayak reshared an AI-generated video depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi carrying a kettle, serving tea and selling chai. Nayak posted the video on X with the caption, “ab ye kaun kiya (who did this now?)”, triggering an immediate backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The ruling party accused the Congress of repeatedly targeting Modi’s humble beginnings and using artificial intelligence to fuel political mockery. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla responded sharply on X, stating:
“After Renuka Choudhary insults Parliament and Sena now Ragini Nayak attacks and mocks PM Modi’s Chaiwala background. Naamdar Congress cannot stand a Kamdar PM from OBC community who has come from a poor background. They mocked his Chaiwala background earlier too. They abused him 150 times. They abused his mother in Bihar. People will never forgive them.”
Poonawalla’s reaction also referenced a viral video from the Congress’ ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, where unidentified individuals were allegedly heard directing a Hindi abuse at Modi’s mother during a public event. Although the clip spread widely, its authenticity remains unverified.
Row Resurfaces Amid Bihar Election Outcome
The controversy broke out just days before the BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the Bihar Assembly elections, paving the way for the NDA’s return and Nitish Kumar’s tenth oath as Chief Minister. The Congress and its Mahagathbandhan partners suffered a disappointing performance, prompting renewed political sparring between both camps.
Old Disputes Over Modi’s Background Return to Fore
This latest episode has revived earlier confrontations over Modi’s early life story. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had previously questioned claims about the prime minister’s past as a tea-seller. During a rally in Ahmedabad, Patel had remarked that “tea seller associations have told us that he was never a tea-vendor but he was a canteen contractor”.
He had further dismissed the BJP’s popular ‘Chai pe Charcha’ outreach programme as “natak”, alleging that Modi invokes his past only during election season.
AI-Generated Political Content Under Spotlight
The incident has once again raised questions about the use of AI-generated content in political campaigns, especially during high-voltage election seasons. While Nayak did not create the video herself, her decision to amplify it has added fresh fuel to a long-standing debate over political rhetoric, personal attacks and digital misinformation.
