Bharat Jodo Yatra: Congress alleges BJP of spreading fake news

The Congress on Saturday hit out at the BJP for allegedly spreading fake news over Rahul Gandhi's photograph with a woman activist of the party's student wing during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kerala.

Sharing the photo in their Twitter handle, some BJP activists alleged that it was of Amulya Leona Noronha, a student from Bengaluru who was arrested in February 2020 for allegedly shouting 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans.

Lashing out at the BJP, the Congress said the girl in the picture was Miva Jolly, an office-bearer of the Congress' student wing in Kerala.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal alleged that it was the work of the saffron party's 'Dirty Tricks Department'.

''Perturbed by the stupendous success of #BharatJodoYatra, BJP's Dirty Tricks Department is working overtime. A video grab of @RahulGandhi with Ms.Miva Jolly, KSU Eranakulam Dist.Secy is the latest fodder for their lie machine. Mitron, how low can you stoop?'' Venugopal tweeted.

Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal said the party will initiate legal steps against Prithi Gandhi, a BJP supporter, who allegedly circulated the fake message.

''Dear @MrsGandhi, please expect legal notice. You are the real vile Bharat thodo team. A vulture which feeds and spreads fake news. #Liar.#FakeNewsPeddler.,'' Ballal tweeted with a news report on a twitter handle, Prithi Gandhi.

However, the Twitter war escalated after Prithi Gandhi, who claims to be a BJP karyakarta, tweeted Rahul's same picture, asking why does the Congress leader ''grab young girls to get pictures''.

''But what is it with Rahul Gandhi? Why does he grab young girls to get pictures? Last time, we were told she is his niece but what's the excuse now? He isn't the father figure types & even if he is, why get so intimate for photos? This excessive display of affection is troubling!'' the handle tweeted, which was receiving huge backlash on social media.

Congress retorted saying the entire IT-cell of the BJP was focused on character assassination of Rahul Gandhi and women.

''Their values and moral compass is dysfunctional,'' Ballal tweeted. She said the BJP's trademark was to spread lies.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)