BJP Alleges Congress Paying Influencers and Crowds to Attend Rahul Gandhi’s Programme ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ in Pune, Seeks Probe

Mumbai/Pune, 22nd August 2026: The BJP on Saturday alleged that Congress was paying social media influencers and people to create a crowd and generate publicity for Rahul Gandhi’s programme ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ in Pune, dubbing it a “Paid Political Programme”.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP’s state office in Mumbai, party chief spokesperson Navnath Ban claimed that videos had surfaced showing offers ofRs 30,000-Rs 35,000 per person to attend Gandhi’s programme, cover travel expenses and promote the event on social media.

“Rahul Gandhi’s Pune programme is not ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ but ‘Paison Ki Goonj’. People are not attending his programme spontaneously, which is why Congress is paying money to create a crowd,” Ban alleged.

He claimed that if around 3,000 people were being paid Rs 30,000-Rs 35,000 each, the expenditure could amount to Rs 9 crore-Rs 10 crore. “This raises questions about the source of the money, who is providing it and through whom it is being distributed. What is the official accounting of these funds?” he asked.

Ban demanded a probe into the source of the alleged funds and questioned whether they had any connection with foreign funding or financial transactions, contracts or commissions in Congress-ruled states.

“The government should investigate who is behind this entire arrangement and through which organisations or individuals the money is being distributed,” he said.

Ban also questioned the need to pay students and young people to attend the programme if Gandhi genuinely enjoys their support. “If students and youth believe in Rahul Gandhi’s ideology, why does Congress need to pay them to attend his programme?” he asked.

Taking a swipe at Congress, Ban said, “We knew PPP as Public Private Partnership. But through Rahul Gandhi’s programme, Congress has introduced a new PPP — ‘Paid Political Programme’.”

The BJP demanded that Congress clarify who was offering Rs 30,000-Rs 35,000 per person, the source of the alleged Rs 9 crore-Rs 10 crore expenditure, whether there was any foreign funding involved and the total amount being spent on Gandhi’s “political relaunch”.