An AI-generated video shared by Congress leader Ragini Nayak sparked an ugly controversy at the beginning of the winter session of Parliament. The footage, which shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi carrying a kettle and glasses at a global event, has sparked a strong backlash, and the reference to his childhood ‘chaiwala’ days does not seem to go down well with the Congress.
The BJP quickly condemned the video and accused the Congress of “abusing” the chief minister.
Even as the Opposition seeks to debate important issues like SIR in Parliament, Congress leader Ragini Nayak posted an AI-generated video with the caption, “Well, who did this?”
“Chai Walla” Jive
The video shows the prime minister, wearing a light blue coat and black trousers, holding a kettle and a tea glass at a red carpet event, with the international flag and tricolor flying in the background. A voice imitating Prime Minister Modi was heard. “Chaibolo, chaie (Everyone wants tea).
Prime Minister Modi often recalls that his father owned a tea shop at Vadnagar railway station in Gujarat, where he used to help as a child. However, past abuses during the chaiwala era backfired on the Congress.
Also read: Only chaiwalas feel people’s pain: PM Modi in Assam’s tea belt
For example, in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar mocked Mr. Modi’s modest chaiwala background and suggested that Mr. Modi would never reach the country’s highest office. However, Mr. Modi led the Bharatiya Janata Party to an overwhelming victory and is currently serving his third consecutive term as prime minister.
Mr. Aiyar then said in his book that he had never literally called Mr. Modi a “chaiwala”. But he acknowledged that Modi’s cynical offer to serve tea even after he lost the election became a huge political liability for the Congress.
PM Modi and his mother
Also, in September this year, ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, an AI-generated video marked ‘AI GENERATED’ released by the Bihar Assembly showed PM Modi dreaming of his deceased mother, slamming his political approach in Bihar.
Also read: BJP condemns AI video of PM Modi’s late mother. Parliament refutes the allegations
The video sparked widespread criticism and controversy, and the Patna High Court ordered its removal from all social media platforms.
Hard workers vs. qualified workers
Senior BJP leader CR Kesavan condemned the recent video posted by Nayak, saying it was a “grave insult” to 140 million Indians and a direct attack on the OBC community. This reveals the “corrupt mindset” of Congress, he added.
He further claimed that the Congress leadership “cannot accept that Mr. Modi rose through dedication and hard work” and contrasted him with Rahul Gandhi, who was “deserving but repeatedly rejected by the people”.
Kesavan also accused the Congress of a pattern of personal attacks, saying the party was “habitually abusing” the Prime Minister and even his late mother. He warned that voters would react strongly to what he called “degenerate politics.”
Also read: Bihar Congress to probe viral AI video of PM Modi’s late mother
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “The Naamdar Congress cannot tolerate a chief minister from the OBC community who comes from a poor background.” The party has previously mocked Mr Modi’s “chaiwala” roots, insulted him many times and claimed that he even targeted his mother.
“People will not tolerate repeated attacks like this,” Poonawalla warned in the X post.
Responding to these pursuits, Prime Minister Modi pointed out that the opposition parties view these professions as degrading. He often mentioned how Congress events had ridiculed him as the chaiwala of Gujarat, but ultimately how voters punished the party for this perceived arrogance.
The center has outlined a wide-ranging legislative agenda for the ongoing winter parliament, which opens on December 1, with opposition parties poised to challenge the government on key issues. But such controversies, such as protests over the presence of dogs in parliament, appear to be gaining traction.
