BJP claims influencers paid Rs 25,000 to attend Rahul Gandhi's Pune event

The Bharatiya Janata Party circulated a video on X asserting that influencers were being paid Rs 25,000 to attend Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” event in Pune and share footage on their platforms. The recording features a caller named “Shantanu” explaining that payment would be made one or two days after the event via UPI, without any official email confirmation. Attendees are expected to produce multiple short videos, including interviews with students and commentary on the rally, and upload them by the following morning.

The BJP used the clip to criticize Gandhi’s reliance on paid attendance, linking it to his broader public-relations strategy. Rahul Gandhi announced the event earlier, describing it as a gathering for female students who had protested at Jantar Mantar. The party’s statement suggests the event’s support may be manufactured rather than organic.