A political controversy has erupted ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme in Pune after the Gujarat unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that social media influencers were being offered ₹25,000 to create videos around the event.
The programme is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 22, at the SSPMS College ground near RTO Chowk. Police have permitted the event with several conditions, while organisers are expecting a large gathering of students and supporters.
What is the BJP alleging?
The controversy began after the BJP Gujarat unit shared a video on X claiming that influencers were being approached to produce content related to Rahul Gandhi’s programme.
According to the allegation, a person seen in the video discusses making two or three videos covering different aspects of the event. The suggested content reportedly included footage of Rahul Gandhi’s speech, visuals of the crowd and interactions with students attending the programme.
The BJP alleged that the proposed payment of ₹25,000 amounted to paid political promotion and questioned whether such arrangements were being used to create an impression of strong public support.
However, the video and the BJP’s interpretation of it do not by themselves establish who authorised the alleged payment or whether it was officially connected to the Congress or the event organisers.
Why has the controversy become political?
The dispute is essentially about paid influencer content and political messaging.
Political parties increasingly use social media creators to reach younger audiences, particularly during campaigns and public events. Paying creators for producing promotional content is not automatically proof of wrongdoing, but questions can arise when sponsored or paid political material is presented to viewers without clear disclosure.
In this case, the BJP has used the alleged ₹25,000 offer to attack the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, arguing that genuine public support should not need to be manufactured through paid online content.
The Congress or the organisers of the Pune programme have not been quoted in the material provided as confirming the alleged payment arrangement. Therefore, the allegation should be treated as a political claim that requires verification.
Pune police impose 30 conditions
The controversy comes as Pune Police have placed multiple conditions on the event.
The organisers have been asked to arrange adequate security, drinking water, toilets, fire-safety equipment and separate facilities for men and women. Private security guards and volunteers are also required at the venue.
CCTV coverage has been mandated, while emergency routes for police, ambulances and fire services must remain clear. The use of drones for photography has also been prohibited.
Police have further instructed organisers to follow applicable noise-control rules and ensure that no objectionable banners or images are displayed.
Large crowd expected
The event is scheduled from 4.30 pm to 9.30 pm on August 22, with organisers expecting between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
With Rahul Gandhi scheduled to address students and the BJP raising allegations over influencer promotions, the programme has already turned into a political flashpoint even before it begins.
