India
oi-Swastika Sruti
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the Congress offered ₹25,000 each to the social media influencers to join the program, Chhatron Ki Gunj, of Rahul Gandhi being held in Pune.
Citing a purported audio clip, the BJP alleged the Congress offered ₹25,000 and travel expenses to social media influencers to attend Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Gunj’ student outreach program scheduled for August 22 in Pune.
BJP had uploaded an audio-video on Friday claiming that it was a conversation between a Congress worker and a social media influencer prior to the program scheduled for August 22.
BJP Shares Purported Conversation
BJP shared a clip where a man named Shantanu is heard speaking to a woman described as a social media influencer. He allegedly invites her to attend an event in Pune on August 22 and asks her to post content about it on her social media account.
The caller is heard mentioning a payment of ₹25,000, which he says would also cover her travel expenses.
However, the conversation does not directly name Rahul Gandhi or the ‘Chhatron Ki Gunj’ programme. Sharing the clip on X, the BJP said, “Even public support has to be bought for Rahul Gandhi.” The party alleged that the payment was an attempt to create the impression of greater public support for the Congress leader.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐢. ⚠️
Look at this video. Influencers are being offered ₹25,000 just to attend his Pune event. Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is so weak that even event attendance needs to be paid for.… pic.twitter.com/tCgnb6UmSg
— BJP (@BJP4India) August 21, 2026
The identity of the woman in the purported conversation has not been established, and the authenticity of the clip could not be independently verified from the information available.
Rahul Gandhi’s Pune Student Outreach Event
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Gunj’ programme is scheduled to take place at the SSPMS College Ground in Pune on August 22.
The Congress has positioned the initiative as part of its wider outreach to students and young people. The Pune programme is expected to focus particularly on young women and could draw between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
The event is scheduled between 4:30 pm and 9:30 pm.
Pune Police Set Strict Conditions
Some conditions have been put forward by the Pune police while giving approval for the said program. Mostly these conditions are related to safety aspects and crowd control.
It is mandatory on the part of the organisers to make sure that the venue remains within its approved capacity limits. The venue should also have distinct entrances and exits, and separate ones for males and females.
The organisers are also told to arrange for the frisking of the female participants through the female security guards only. There is also a need for having enough female volunteers for this purpose at the venue.
The stage and marquee should remain safe and have their fitness certificates.
Drones And Noise Restrictions
The police have prohibited the use of drones for photography and videography during the programme. Organisers have also been warned against using high-intensity lights directed towards the sky.
The event must comply with existing noise restrictions and should not cause inconvenience to residents or nearby sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals and Pune Railway Station.
