Is Bihar Congress Under Fire for AI Video Mocking PM's Late Mother?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Internal inquiry launched by Bihar Congress over AI video.
- BJP condemns the video as unethical and shameful.
- Congress defends the video as political satire.
- Rising concerns about ethical political behavior.
- Impacts on upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
New Delhi, Sep 12 (NationPress) Amidst a political uproar, the Bihar Congress has commenced an internal investigation to pinpoint and sanction individuals responsible for creating and disseminating an AI-generated video on social media, featuring characters that resemble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his deceased mother, Heeraben. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) representatives have condemned the video as a “new low” in political engagement, arguing it breaches ethical standards by ridiculing a departed parent and undermining the sanctity of motherhood.
“This party has devolved into ‘Gaaliwadi’ rather than ‘Gandhiwadi.’ Instead of feeling remorse, Congress has justified the derogation of the PM’s mother with falsehoods,” asserted BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on X, labeling the video as “disgusting” and “shameful.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju remarked that the Congress’s failure to learn “even after being repudiated by the populace” signifies a lost moral compass, predicting ongoing electoral setbacks for the party.
“The Congress party is afflicted by social bias in politics. Has the infection spread so far that they produced an AI video of the Prime Minister’s deceased mother during Pitru Paksha? Such remarks are an affront to our ancestors. The Congress has reached unprecedented levels of shamelessness,” stated Neeraj Kumar, JD-U MLC and chief spokesperson.
Congress officials contended that the video was meant as satire on campaign strategies rather than a personal attack. They questioned if the BJP was attempting to stifle dissent ahead of elections.
"It is the responsibility of parents to educate their offspring. She (PM Modi's late mother) is merely teaching her child, and if he perceives it as disrespectful, that is his concern," stated Congress leader Pawan Khera.
On Wednesday, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee shared a 36-second clip labeled "AI GENERATED," illustrating a character resembling Prime Minister Modi dreaming of his late mother.
In the video, the mother reprimands the PM for using her name for electoral advantage and ridicules the alleged “vote chori (theft of votes)” tactics.
BJP MP from Hamirpur, Anurag Thakur, characterized the AI video as an “insult” to Bihar’s cultural legacy. He connected this incident to previously reported derogatory slogans aimed at Heeraben Modi during the Congress-RJD “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Darbhanga.
The Bihar Police apprehended Mohammad Rizvi alias Raja in late August for alleged slurs against PM Modi and his late mother.
Thakur reiterated the sentiment of other BJP leaders, asserting that the Bihar electorate would respond aptly through the EVM to such “shameful” behavior.
Meanwhile, despite launching an internal inquiry, the Congress is keen to frame the BJP’s response as opportunistic victimhood, contending that the controversy around the video diverts focus from pressing issues facing Bihar’s rural areas.
Assembly elections are anticipated in Bihar later this year.