#FactCheck - Viral Video Distorts Rahul Gandhi’s Speech to Push False Religious Claim
Executive Summary
A video of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is being widely shared on social media. In the clip, Gandhi is seen saying that he does not know what “G Gram G” is. Several users are sharing the video with the claim that Rahul Gandhi insulted Lord Ram. However, CyberPeace research found that the claim is misleading. Rahul Gandhi was not referring to Lord Ram in the video. Instead, he was speaking about a newly introduced law titled Viksit Bharat–G RAM G (VB–G RAM G), which has been brought in to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The viral clip has been shared with a false narrative.
Claim
On January 22, 2026, an Instagram user apnisarkar2024 shared the video claiming, “Rahul Gandhi once again insulted Shri Ram.” (Link, archive link, and screenshot available above)
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTzeiy0k3l5
- https://perma.cc/J3A3-NGBM?type=standard
Research
As part of the Research, we first closely examined the viral video. In the clip, Rahul Gandhi is heard saying: “I don’t know what Gram G is. I don’t even know the name of this new law… what is G Gram G…” At no point in the video does Rahul Gandhi mention Lord Ram or make any comment related to religion. To verify the context, we extracted keyframes from the viral clip and conducted a Google Lens search. This led us to a longer version of the same speech uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the Indian National Congress on January 22, 2026. The viral segment appears after the 39:50-minute mark.
The video is from the National MGNREGA Convention held in New Delhi, where Rahul Gandhi criticised the central government over the replacement of MGNREGA with the new VB–G RAM G law. During his speech, he expressed his opposition to the new legislation and stated that he was unfamiliar with its details. Throughout the address, he did not mention or refer to Lord Ram in any manner.
Conclusion
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in the viral video were related to the newly introduced VB–G RAM G law and were part of his criticism of the central government’s policy decisions. He did not insult Lord Ram. The video is being shared on social media with a misleading and false claim.
Related Blogs
The Ghibli trend has been in the news for the past couple of weeks for multiple reasons, be it good or bad. The nostalgia that everyone has for the art form has made people turn a blind eye to what the trend means to the artists who painstakingly create the art. The open-source platforms may be trained on artistic material without the artist's ‘explicit permission’ making it so that the rights of the artists are downgraded. The artistic community has reached a level where they are questioning their ability to create, which can be recreated by this software in a couple of seconds and without any thought as to what it is doing. OpenAI’s update on ChatGPT makes it simple for users to create illustrations that are like the style created by Hayao Miyazaki and made into anything from personal pictures to movie scenes and making them into Ghibli-style art. The updates in AI to generate art, including Ghibli-style, may raise critical questions about artistic integrity, intellectual property, and data privacy risks.
AI and the Democratization of Creativity
AI-powered tools have lowered barriers and enable more people to engage with artistic expression. AI allows people to create appealing content in the form of art regardless of their artistic capabilities. The update of ChatGPT has made it so that art has been democratized, and the abilities of the user don't matter. It makes art accessible, efficient and a creative experiment to many.
Unfortunately, these developments also pose challenges for the original artistry and the labour of human creators. The concern doesn't just stop at AI replacing artists, but also about the potential misuse it can lead to. This includes unauthorized replication of distinct styles or deepfake applications. When it is used ethically, AI can enhance artistic processes. It can assist with repetitive tasks, improving efficiency, and enabling creative experimentation.
However, its ability to mimic existing styles raises concerns. The potential that AI-generated content has could lead to a devaluation of human artists' work, potential copyright issues, and even data privacy risks. Unauthorized training of AI models that create art can be exploited for misinformation and deepfakes, making human oversight essential. Few artists believe that AI artworks are disrupting the accepted norms of the art world. Additionally, AI can misinterpret prompts, producing distorted or unethical imagery that contradicts artistic intent and cultural values, highlighting the critical need for human oversight.
The Ethical and Legal Dilemmas
The main dilemma that surrounds trends such as the Ghibli trend is whether it compromises human efforts by blurring the line between inspiration and infringement of artistic freedom. Further, an issue that is not considered by most users is whether the personal content (personal pictures in this case) uploaded on AI models is posing a risk to their privacy. This leads to the issue where the potential misuse of AI-generated content can be used to spread misinformation through misleading or inappropriate visuals.
The negative effects can only be balanced if a policy framework is created that can ensure the fair use of AI in Art. Further, this should ensure that the training of AI models is done in a manner that is fair to the artists who are the original creators of a style. Human oversight is needed to moderate the AI-generated content. This oversight can be created by creating ethical AI usage guidelines for platforms that host AI-generated art.
Conclusion: What Can Potentially Be Done?
AI is not a replacement for human effort, it is to ease human effort. We need to promote a balanced AI approach that protects the integrity of artists and, at the same time, continues to foster innovation. And finally, strengthening copyright laws to address AI-generated content. Labelling AI content and ensuring that this content is disclosed as AI-generated is the first step. Furthermore, there should be fair compensation made to the human artists based on whose work the AI model is trained. There is an increasing need to create global AI ethics guidelines to ensure that there is transparency, ethical use and human oversight in AI-driven art. The need of the hour is that industries should work collaboratively with regulators to ensure that there is responsible use of AI.
References
- https://medium.com/@haileyq/my-experience-with-studio-ghibli-style-ai-art-ethical-debates-in-the-gpt-4o-era-b84e5a24cb60
- https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241018-ai-art-the-end-of-creativity-or-a-new-movement
Introduction
All citizens are using tech to their advantage, and so we see a lot of upskilling among the population leading to innovation in India. As we go deeper into cyberspace, we must maintain our cyber security efficiently and effectively. When bad actors use technology to their advantage, we often see data loss or financial loss of the victim, In this blog, we will shine light upon two new forms of cyber attacks, causing havoc upon the innocent. The “Daam” Malware and a new malicious app are the two new issues.
Daam Botnet
Since 2021, the DAAM Android botnet has been used to acquire unauthorised access to targeted devices. Cybercriminals use it to carry out different destructive actions. Using the DAAM Android botnet’s APK binding service, threat actors can combine malicious code with a legitimate application. Keylogging, ransomware, VOIP call records, runtime code execution, browser history collecting, incoming call recording, PII data theft, phishing URL opening, photo capture, clipboard data theft, WiFi and data status switching, and browser history gathering are just a few of the functions offered by the DAAM Android botnet. The DAAM botnet tracks user activity using the Accessibility Service and stores keystrokes it has recorded together with the name of the programme package in a database. It also contains a ransomware module that encrypts and decrypts data on the infected device using the AES method.
Additionally, the botnet uses the Accessibility service to monitor the VOIP call-making features of social media apps like WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, and others. When a user engages with these elements, the virus begins audio recording.
The Malware
CERT-IN, the central nodal institution that reacts to computer security-related issues, claims that Daam connects with various Android APK files to access a phone. The files on the phone are encrypted using the AES encryption technique, and it is distributed through third-party websites.
It is claimed that the malware can damage call recordings and contacts, gain access to the camera, change passwords, take screenshots, steal SMS, download/upload files, and perform a variety of other things.
Safeguards and Guidelines by Cert-In
Cert-In has released the guideline for combating malware. These were issued in the public interest. The recommendations by Cert-In are as follows-
Only download from official app stores to limit the risk of potentially harmful apps.
Before downloading an app, always read the details and user reviews; likewise, always give permissions that are related to the program’s purpose.
Install Android updates solely from Android device vendors as they become available.
Avoid visiting untrustworthy websites or clicking on untrustworthy
Install and keep anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date.
Be cautious if you see mobile numbers that appear to be something other than genuine/regular mobile numbers.
Conduct sufficient investigation Before clicking on a link supplied in a communication.
Only click on URLs that clearly display the website domain; avoid abbreviated URLs, particularly those employing bit.ly and tinyurl.
Use secure browsing technologies and filtering tools in antivirus, firewall, and filtering services.
Before providing sensitive information, look for authentic encryption certificates by looking for the green lock in your browser’s URL information, look for authentic encryption certificates by looking for the green lock in your browser’s URL bar.
Any ‘strange’ activity in a user’s bank account must be reported immediately to the appropriate bank.
New Malicious App
From the remote parts of Jharkhand, a new form of malicious application has been circulated among people on the pretext of a bank account closure. The bad actors have always used messaging platforms like Whatsapp and Telegram to circulate malicious links among unaware and uneducated people to dupe them of their hard-earned money.
They send an ordinary-looking message on Whatsapp or Telegram where they mention that the user has a bank account at ICICI bank and, due to irregularity with the credentials, their account is being deactivated. Further, they ask users to update their PAN card to reactivate their account by uploading the PAN card on an application. This app, in turn, is a malicious app that downloads all the user’s personal credentials and shares them with the bad actors via text message, allowing them to bypass banks’ two-factor authentication and drain the money from their accounts. The Jharkhand Police Cyber Cells have registered numerous FIRs pertaining to this type of cybercrime and are conducting full-scale investigations to apprehend the criminals.
Conclusion
Malware and phishing attacks have gained momentum in the previous years and have become a major contributor to the tally of cybercrimes in the country. DaaM malware is one of the examples brought into light due to the timely action by Cert-In, but still, a lot of such malware are deployed by bad actors, and we as netizens need to use our best practices to keep such criminals at bay. Phishing crimes are often substantiated by exploiting vulnerabilities and social engineering. Thus working towards a rise in awareness is the need of the hour to safeguard the population by and large.
Executive Summary
A news graphic is being widely shared on social media claiming that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will resign on July 22. The graphic quotes him as saying, "Respecting the sentiments of the country's youth, I have taken this decision." CyberPeace Research Wing ’s research found the claim to be false. The probe revealed that no official announcement has been made regarding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education Minister. However, demands for his resignation have intensified from opposition parties and student groups over alleged irregularities in NEET and other examinations, leading to protests in Delhi and other places. The research also found that the viral news graphic circulating on social media was likely created using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Claim:
A social media user on Instagram shared the viral news graphic on July 21, 2026, claiming that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is set to resign on July 22. The post also claimed that Pradhan said during a press conference, "Respecting the sentiments of the country's youth, I have taken this decision."
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbEMoRtgLfT/?igsh=c3g3dzZxZ2U3YW01
Fact Check:
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we conducted a Google search using relevant keywords. However, we did not find any credible media reports confirming that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is resigning on July 22.Further, we examined the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. No official announcement or post related to his resignation was found on his account.
https://x.com/dpradhanbjp?lang=en
Upon examining the viral news graphic, we noticed several indicators suggesting that it could be AI-generated. To verify this, we analysed the graphic using the AI detection tool AI or Not. The tool’s analysis indicated a 94% probability that the graphic was generated using AI.
We also scanned the viral graphic through another AI detection tool, WasIt AI. According to the tool’s results, the probability of the graphic being AI-generated was found to be 87%.
Conclusion:
CyberPeace Research Wing ’s fact check found the viral claim to be false. No official announcement has been made regarding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, and reports claiming that he will resign on July 22 are incorrect. The research further revealed that the viral news graphic circulating on social media was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
