Didn’t pay influencers to oppose AI Summit, says Congress

The Congress on Friday (February 27, 2026) dismissed allegations that it had paid Instagram influencers to criticise the recently held AI Summit, calling the charge a “fabricated story” originating from the BJP’s IT Cell.

Addressing a press conference, Congress social media department head Supriya Shrinate said that neither the party nor the Indian Youth Congress had made any payments to influencers to oppose or malign the summit.

“It was falsely alleged that the Congress party and the Indian Youth Congress paid Instagram influencers to oppose the AI Summit. We categorically deny this. No one was paid, and this claim is completely false,” she said.

Ms. Shrinate alleged that a “witch-hunt” had been carried out against the party over the past 48 hours on the basis of misinformation. She said several influencers deleted their videos after facing the “threat of legal action”.

“None of them disclosed the number or identity of those who allegedly contacted them,” she said, adding, “These influencers are part of a pro-Modi, pro-BJP ecosystem and regularly promote BJP narratives.”

Ms. Shrinate said the controversy was an attempt to divert attention from alleged shortcomings at the summit.

“Serious mismanagement, equipment stolen, no stable internet, and a Chinese robot at an Indian innovation event. How did the Chinese robot and the Korean ball enter the summit? Shockingly, no inquiry has been conducted,” she said.