AI Photo Controversy: Kiren Rijiju Mocks Congress Over Ramlila Maidan Rally Crowd

‘AI Photo Wasn’t Done Properly’: Kiren Rijiju Mocks Congress Over Ramlila Maidan Rally Crowd

The controversy surrounding an AI Photo has sparked a fresh political exchange between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress after the INDIA bloc’s rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1, 2026. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took a sarcastic dig at Congress leaders, accusing them of sharing an AI-generated image to portray a massive crowd at the Opposition gathering. His remarks quickly attracted attention on social media and added another dimension to the political debate over the rally’s actual attendance. Meanwhile, BJP leaders questioned the Congress’s claim of a huge turnout, while the Opposition shared photographs and drone footage to support its version of events.

Kiren Rijiju Takes a Dig at Congress Over AI Photo

The controversy began after several Congress leaders shared an image on social media showing what appeared to be a packed Ramlila Maidan during the INDIA bloc rally.

Reacting to the photograph, Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress of using artificial intelligence to create an exaggerated impression of the crowd.

In his post on X on November 1, Rijiju wrote, “Even the fake AI photo to show that Ramlila ground was full is not done properly by the fake narrative team of Congress Party!”

His comment was accompanied by the disputed image, which had also been shared by Congress MP Vamsi Gaddam and other party leaders.

The post quickly became a talking point, with social media users discussing whether the photograph accurately represented the gathering at the venue.

Why Did the AI-Generated Rally Image Become Controversial?

The image became controversial because several social media users questioned its authenticity and pointed out visual inconsistencies.

According to media reports, the photograph appeared to contain AI-generated visuals of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi on the rally stage. The stage arrangement shown in the image also appeared different from the actual setup at Ramlila Maidan.

Former Congress MP and Congress Working Committee member Jagdish Thakor was also among those who reportedly shared the same visual.

These observations fuelled the debate over whether artificial intelligence had been used to modify the original rally photograph.

However, the allegations about the image’s authenticity should be distinguished from independently established facts. Rijiju’s accusation and the observations made by social media users formed the basis of the controversy.

Congress Had Projected 10 Lakh People at Ramlila Maidan

The AI Photo controversy emerged amid a larger disagreement over the number of people who attended the INDIA bloc rally.

Read more: Delhi Police Security: 250 CCTV Cameras and AI Surveillance for INDIA Bloc Rally at Ramlila Maidan

Ahead of the event, the Congress had projected that approximately 10 lakh people would participate in the gathering at Ramlila Maidan.

The rally, organised by the Opposition INDIA bloc, brought together several prominent political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Thousands of supporters gathered in Delhi for the demonstration, which was organised as part of the Opposition’s campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The rally also included demands concerning the role of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

BJP Questions Congress’s Crowd Claims

Following the rally, BJP leaders challenged the Congress’s projected attendance figure and questioned whether the gathering had reached the expected numbers.

BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra addressed a press conference and claimed that a significant portion of Ramlila Maidan remained vacant during the event.

According to Patra, around 5,000 to 7,000 chairs out of approximately 28,000 arranged at the venue were unoccupied between 3:30 pm and 4 pm.

He further alleged that nearly 40 per cent of the ground was empty.

Patra used photographs and videos showing vacant seating areas to question the Congress’s projection of 10 lakh attendees.

The BJP also criticised the Opposition for bringing several political parties together but allegedly failing to achieve its projected turnout.

These figures and claims were presented by BJP leaders and should be understood as their assessment of the rally’s attendance.

Congress Responds With Drone Footage and Rally Pictures

The Congress also responded to the criticism surrounding the gathering.

To counter the BJP’s claims about vacant spaces, Congress leaders shared photographs and drone footage from the rally venue, arguing that a large number of supporters had participated.

The Opposition maintained that the rally had attracted significant public participation and highlighted the presence of leaders and supporters from different political parties.

The disagreement over the crowd size subsequently became a major topic of discussion, with both political sides presenting different visuals and interpretations of the event.

Why Did the INDIA Bloc Organise the Ramlila Maidan Rally?

Apart from the crowd controversy, the rally was organised to protest against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

Rahul Gandhi addressed the gathering and accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of facilitating what he described as vote theft.

He argued that alleged irregularities in the electoral process threatened democratic representation and demanded accountability from the Election Commission.

The Election Commission has defended the voter-list revision process, maintaining that it is intended to identify duplicate and ineligible entries while allowing wrongly deleted voters to re-enrol.

The rally was part of the Opposition’s continuing campaign over these issues.

Conclusion: AI Photo Controversy Adds Another Twist to Political Debate

The AI Photo controversy involving Kiren Rijiju and the Congress has added another layer to the political debate following the INDIA bloc’s Ramlila Maidan rally.

While Rijiju questioned the authenticity of the photograph, BJP leaders challenged the Opposition’s projected attendance figures. Congress leaders, meanwhile, shared drone footage and photographs to support their claims of significant public participation.

Read more: Delhi Pollution Alert: 50% Work From Home, Construction Ban From November 5 to 20

The incident also highlights how artificial intelligence and social media images can influence public discussions about major political events.

As the BJP and Congress continue to exchange allegations, the debate over the rally’s crowd size and the disputed photograph remains in the spotlight. Stay connected with One World News for more political news, breaking updates and the latest developments from across the country.

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