The Bihar Congress unit has sparked a massive political controversy by posting an AI-generated deepfake video showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his deceased mother, Heeraben Modi. The BJP has condemned this as a “shameful new low” and is demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi amid escalating tensions ahead of the Bihar elections.
The Controversial AI-Generated Video
The 36-second AI-generated clip, posted on the Bihar Congress X (Twitter) handle on Wednesday with the caption “Maa appears in sahab’s dreams,” shows a deepfake version of PM Modi going to sleep after declaring his day’s “vote chori” (vote theft) complete. In his dream, an AI version of his late mother, Heeraben, appears and criticizes him.
In the fake video, the AI mother asks: “First, you forced me to stand in long queues during demonetization and made a reel of washing my feet. Now you are doing politics in Bihar in my name. You are getting banners of my ‘insult’ printed. You are again doing drama in Bihar. How low will you stoop?” before PM Modi hurriedly wakes up from the nightmare.
The video was clearly marked “AI GENERATED” but has been widely shared across social media platforms, drawing immediate condemnation from BJP leaders nationwide.
BJP’s Furious Response
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala launched a scathing attack on Congress, writing: “Far from having remorse for abusing PM’s Mother, Congress not only justified and defended the act but has now crossed all limits with a disgusting video. This party has become GAALIWADI instead of Gandhiwadi“.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh directly targeted Rahul Gandhi, questioning: “Rahul doesn’t respect his own mother” and suggesting this reflects the Congress party’s “true face”.
BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal called it a “new low in politics,” stating: “Prime Minister Modi has always kept politics separate from family life. It is painful that the Congress first abused the prime minister’s mother and is now using deepfake technology to mislead the country and insult all mothers”.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that “the people of Bihar will teach them a lesson as PM Modi’s mother is our mother”.
Congress Defends the Video
Despite the massive backlash, Congress leader Pawan Khera defended the AI video, saying: “It is the duty of parents to educate their children. She (PM Modi’s late mother Heeraben Modi) is only educating her child and if the child thinks that it is disrespectful towards him, it is his headache”.
Khera insisted that “nobody had been disrespected” and claimed the video was simply about “a parent educating her child”.
However, facing mounting pressure, the Bihar Congress unit launched an internal inquiry to determine who was responsible for posting the controversial content before taking further action.
Also Read: Woman Loses ₹3.75 Crore to AI-Generated Sadhguru Deepfake Scam in Bengaluru
Political Context and Timing
This controversy comes just days after PM Modi was allegedly abused during a Congress-RJD rally in Bihar, where his mother was mentioned inappropriately. Modi had responded emotionally, calling the remarks an insult not only to him but to “every mother, sister, and daughter of the country”.
The AI video incident occurs amid a heated political climate in Bihar, with assembly elections approaching. The BJP sees this as a calculated attack designed to hurt sentiments and gain political advantage.
Heeraben Modi passed away in December 2022 at the age of 99, making the use of her AI likeness particularly sensitive for many Indians who respect elder family members.
Broader Implications for AI Misuse
This incident highlights the growing dangers of deepfake technology in Indian politics. Political parties are increasingly using AI-generated content for attacks, raising serious questions about electoral integrity and ethical boundaries.
Senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur called the video “disgusting and shameful,” adding: “To indulge in mudslinging and mock someone’s mother, and that too, who has passed away, from the land of Bihar… people of Bihar will never forgive leaders of such parties for this insult”.
The controversy is expected to become a major campaign issue in the upcoming Bihar elections, with the BJP likely to use it to portray Congress as crossing moral boundaries for political gain.
Demands for Action
The BJP has demanded that the Election Commission take action against those responsible for creating and sharing the deepfake video. Party leaders argue that using AI to create fake content involving deceased family members sets a dangerous precedent for Indian politics.
Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore called the video “highly condemnable,” saying those “frustrated in politics often resort to cheap tactics”.
The incident has reignited debates about regulating AI-generated political content and protecting the dignity of political leaders’ families, regardless of party affiliation.
