Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has taken a dig at the Congress over an alleged AI-generated photograph showing a massive gathering at the INDIA bloc’s rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.

In a post on X on Sunday, Rijiju accused the Congress of sharing an artificially generated image to create the impression that the venue was packed with supporters. Taking a swipe at the party, he suggested that even the purported AI-generated photograph had not been created properly.

“Even the fake AI photo to show that Ramlila ground was full is not done properly by the fake narrative team of Congress Party!” Rijiju wrote.

His remarks came after the INDIA bloc organised a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, bringing together several Opposition leaders to protest against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

BJP questions Congress’s claim of 10 lakh attendees

The controversy over the photograph came amid a political dispute between the BJP and Congress over the number of people who attended the Opposition rally.

Ahead of the gathering, the INDIA bloc had projected an attendance of around 10 lakh people. However, BJP leaders questioned the claim following the event.

BJP MP Sambit Patra alleged that a significant portion of Ramlila Maidan remained vacant during the rally. He claimed that around 5,000 to 7,000 chairs out of the 28,000 at the venue were unoccupied between 3:30 pm and 4 pm.

Patra also claimed that approximately 40 per cent of the ground was empty, questioning the Opposition’s projected attendance figure.

These claims formed part of the BJP’s criticism of the rally’s turnout.

INDIA bloc rally targeted Election Commission

The November 1 gathering was organised by the INDIA bloc to protest against alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.

The Opposition’s demands included accountability over the electoral roll revision process and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Several prominent Opposition leaders attended the gathering, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.

During his address, Rahul Gandhi accused the Chief Election Commissioner of facilitating alleged vote theft and said the Opposition would continue its fight to protect the Constitution through peaceful and democratic means.

The rally and the subsequent exchanges between BJP and Congress leaders brought the dispute over electoral rolls and crowd attendance into sharper political focus.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has married journalist Nidhi Razdan, with the couple announcing the development through social media posts on Saturday. The two also shared photographs from their celebrations, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Omar Abdullah, 56, posted pictures of the couple on X, accompanying them with the caption, “A new journey began yesterday.” He also tagged Nidhi Razdan in his post.

Responding to the announcement, Razdan, 49, shared a message of her own, writing, “It’s done bro @OmarAbdullah”, confirming their marriage.

The wedding was preceded by a small family gathering in Srinagar, where close members of both families came together to celebrate the occasion, according to people familiar with the development.

Family members attend wedding celebrations

The celebrations were attended by Omar Abdullah’s parents, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Mollie Abdullah, along with his three sisters and other close relatives.

Razdan’s parents, veteran journalist MK Razdan and Sarla Razdan, were also present at the celebrations.

The couple shared photographs from the occasion on their respective social media accounts, announcing their marriage publicly.

Omar Abdullah’s previous marriage dissolved by Supreme Court

The marriage comes after the Supreme Court formally dissolved Omar Abdullah’s marriage to Payal Abdullah in July, following a settlement between the estranged couple.

The two, who have two sons, had been involved in matrimonial proceedings spanning several years. They eventually resolved their outstanding disputes through mediation and jointly sought the dissolution of their marriage.

In July, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Omar Abdullah, informed a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe that both sides had reached an agreement and agreed to withdraw the cases filed against each other.

“Both of them have embraced freedom. It’s all settled. Lordships may grant divorce. All other matters will be withdrawn,” Sibal told the court.

The bench accepted the settlement and indicated that it would pass orders in accordance with the terms agreed upon by both parties.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following the Opposition’s symbolic impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, with party MP Sambit Patra suggesting that Gandhi should be made the Prime Minister of the mock Parliament organised by the INDIA bloc.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Patra accused the Congress of attempting to remove the government through protests and political agitation after repeatedly failing to defeat the BJP in elections.

“Make him a mock prime minister in the mock parliament,” Patra said, taking a dig at the Leader of the Opposition.

He also suggested that Gandhi should sit on the treasury benches in a kurta-pyjama, with Opposition members addressing him as “Prime Minister” during the mock proceedings.

Patra further accused the Congress and its allies of attempting to seize power without contesting elections, alleging that their objective was to bring about regime change rather than raise concerns over electoral issues.

BJP accuses Opposition of seeking regime change

Targeting the Congress-led Opposition, Patra alleged that its campaign was not genuinely focused on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls or students’ future.

He claimed that Rahul Gandhi and his associates wanted to change the government and install their own administration without securing an electoral mandate.

The BJP leader also criticised the Opposition’s allegations that recent elections had been stolen and questioned its approach towards the Election Commission.

Patra referred to the protests and political developments in Nepal and Bangladesh, alleging that attempts were being made to create similar situations in India.

He also questioned Opposition leaders over their criticism of the police and armed forces, including their remarks concerning surgical strikes.

Congress holds symbolic impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar

The BJP’s remarks came after the Congress-led INDIA bloc organised what it described as a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday.

The Opposition held a mock sitting of Parliament at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in New Delhi, with former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presiding over the proceedings.

Kharge moved the symbolic motion, while several senior Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, were present.

The proceedings were organised to protest against alleged irregularities in elections and the functioning of the Election Commission.

The Congress has accused the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of benefiting from alleged electoral irregularities and has repeatedly demanded action against Kumar.

One of the key issues raised by the Opposition concerns a newspaper report claiming that several decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls were taken without the knowledge and express approval of the other two Election Commissioners.

The Congress has also questioned the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls and accused the ruling party of benefiting from alleged irregularities.

It is important to distinguish the event from a formal constitutional impeachment process. Saturday’s proceedings were a symbolic exercise organised by the Opposition in a mock Parliament.

BJP targets student activist Neha Bora

Patra also criticised Neha Bora, the chief of the left-leaning student organisation All India Students’ Association (AISA), who had been at the forefront of the Cockroach Janta Party’s agitation demanding Kumar’s resignation.

Bora had recently joined the Congress during its protest march and was seen alongside senior Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

The BJP leader questioned her expression of gratitude towards Bangladesh, where student-led protests led to the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024.

Patra used the reference to reiterate the BJP’s allegation that sections of the Opposition were attempting to create conditions similar to those witnessed in neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc is scheduled to hold a rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, November 1, as part of its continuing protests against the Election Commission and the alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.