Political activity intensified across Punjab on Saturday as workers of Aam Aadmi Party staged several protests in mnay parts of the state against an alleged fake video of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann that has been circulating on social media.
AAP leaders and workers held demonstrations outside offices of BJP and Akali Dal at various locations and the party alleged that the video was part of a campaign to spread misinformation and damage the image of the Chief Minister.
In Abohar, AAP activists gathered outside the residence of former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar and his nephew, MLA Sandeep Jakhar, in Subhash Nagar and the protest was attended by Jalalabad MLA Jagdeep Goldy Kamboj, Fazilka MLA Narinderpal Singh Sawna, AAP Abohar constituency in-charge Arun Narang, and other party leaders.
Addressing the gathering, AAP leaders alleged that the BJP was trying to disturb peace and communal harmony in Punjab through divisive politics and they claimed that false narratives were being spread to create political unrest in the state. The leaders said that neither the AAP nor the people of Punjab would allow such politics to succeed and they stated that the party is based on a movement and that its workers would continue to oppose what they described as false propaganda.
The leaders also spoke about the work being carried out by the Punjab government and they also said future elections should be fought on issues related to development and public welfare rather than religious or divisive matters.
Meanwhile, in Jalandhar, AAP workers staged a protest outside BJP and Akali Dal offices near the Sheetla Mata Templ and carrying banners and placards, the protesters raised slogans against both parties and accused them of spreading false information.
The controversy revolves around a video that has gone viral on social media. AAP leaders have claimed that the video is fake and was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the video was not genuine and according to them, the video had been examined by two laboratories outside Punjab, which reportedly found it to be fake.
AAP leaders alleged that the video was created to tarnish the image of the Chief Minister and mislead the public. The party has maintained that the claims made through the video are not true and during the protests, party workers said opposition parties were targeting the AAP government because they lacked issues to raise before the public while they claimed that the allegations being made against the Chief Minister were politically motivated.
AAP workers also said that the protests were not limited to BJP offices alone and that demonstrations were being held outside Akali Dal offices as well. They described the protests as a response to what they called a misinformation campaign against the Chief Minister.
The party demanded strict action against those allegedly involved in creating, posting, and circulating the video on social media while the leaders said that if investigations confirm that the video was generated using AI or other digital manipulation techniques, legal action should be taken against all those responsible. AAP leaders further stated that party workers were participating in the protests to counter what they described as false propaganda. They said they would continue raising the issue until action is taken against those allegedly involved.