Congress Ordered To Remove AI Video Of PM Modi's Mother From Social Media

The Patna High Court on Wednesday directed the Congress party to take down the AI-generated “deepfake" video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s mother from all social media platforms. The order was pronounced by acting Chief Justice PB Bajantari.

On September 10, the Bihar Congress unit posted the 36-second video, marked "AI GENERATED," in which the Prime Minister is seen dreaming about his late mother, who is criticising him over his politics in poll-bound Bihar.

The BJP and NDA allies have condemned the video and accused the Congress of resorting to such "shameful" tactics to target the Prime Minister. The party also suggested that the video was released as a political provocation ahead of the high-stakes Bihar Assembly elections scheduled to take place later this year. Congress, however, has maintained that there has been no disrespect shown towards PM Modi or his late mother.

Based on a complaint filed by Sanket Gupta, convenor of the BJP Delhi Election Cell, Delhi Police on September 13 registered a case against the Congress and its IT cell, in connection with the video.

This is the second time in over a month that the Prime Minister and his late mother have been dragged into political controversy. During the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ led by Congress and RJD in Darbhanga on August 27, slogans with expletives directed at PM Modi and Heeraben Modi were allegedly chanted from the stage.

PM Modi responded sharply, saying the incident was "unimaginable" and "an insult to all mothers, sisters, and daughters of the country". He stressed that his mother had "nothing to do with politics". The complaint, submitted to the North Avenue police station, describes the visuals as defamatory and claims they offend the dignity of PM Modi’s mother, as well as motherhood in general.