BJP Alleges Congress Offered Rs 25,000 To Influencers For Rahul Gandhi’s Pune Event
Sneha | August 21, 2026 9:11 PM CST
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress of allegedly offering social media influencers Rs 25,000 to attend Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Gunj’ programme in Pune on August 22.
The BJP shared a purported video on Friday that it claimed showed a phone conversation between a social media influencer and a person identifying himself as a Congress worker. The caller, identified as “Shantanu”, allegedly asked the influencer to attend the event and promote it on her social media account.
According to the BJP, the influencer was allegedly offered Rs 25,000, including travel expenses, to attend the programme.
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
However, the caller does not explicitly mention Rahul Gandhi, the ‘Chhatron Ki Gunj’ programme or Congress. He can reportedly be heard referring to an event scheduled for the “22nd” and telling the influencer that she could upload related content later that day or the following day.
“Even public support has to be bought for Rahul Gandhi,” the BJP said in a post on X while sharing the purported clip.
“Look at this video. Influencers are being offered Rs 25,000 just to attend his Pune event. Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is so weak that even event attendance needs to be paid for. Yet, he questions EVMs whenever he loses,” the party said.
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Gunj’ In Pune
Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide student outreach initiative, ‘Chhatron Ki Gunj’, is scheduled to be held at the SSPMS College Ground in Pune on August 22.
According to ANI, the event, which will focus on providing a platform for young women, is expected to draw between 8,000 and 10,000 attendees. The programme is scheduled from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Police Gives Permission But With Condition
Pune Police has granted permission for the event subject to several conditions aimed at maintaining public order and security.
The organisers have been prohibited from displaying provocative or objectionable images, banners or portraits. Police have also said that the organisers will bear responsibility if any untoward incident leads to a law-and-order situation.
Attendance cannot exceed the venue’s capacity. The organisers have also been directed to provide at least four separate entry and exit gates and separate seating arrangements for men and women.
Entry points must have enclosed areas for frisking female attendees, with only female security personnel permitted to carry out frisking. Organisers have also been asked to deploy a substantial number of female volunteers to assist private security personnel.
The stage and marquee must have certified setups and a mandatory Public Works Department fitness certificate. A “D-cordon” protective barricade is also required in front of the main stage.
The venue must have functional CCTV surveillance operating during both day and night.
Drone cameras for photography or videography have been prohibited, while the use of high-intensity beam lights directed towards the sky is also banned. Organisers must comply with regulations issued by the Airport Authority of India and CISF.
The event must adhere to Supreme Court noise-level guidelines and should not cause inconvenience to nearby residents, senior citizens, schools, hospitals or Pune Railway Station.
Organisers are also required to obtain No Objection Certificates from the Fire and Traffic departments before the event.
Pune City Police has warned that any violation of the conditions or disruption of law and order could result in the immediate cancellation of the permission and possible legal action.
