Full Breakdown
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Demands Congress Apology After Army Debunks Two China-Related Fake Videos
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Disputed Videos on Chinese Activity in Arunachal Pradesh
On October 26 2026, Congress spokesperson Ritu Choudhary shared two videos alleging Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Army fact-checked them:
- The first video showed JAC-branded Chinese commercial vehicles at Nathu La Pass, a sanctioned India-China trade point, not an unauthorised military entry.
- The second video was a deep-fake that attached fabricated remarks to Lieutenant General Girish Kalia (then Major General) from a press briefing in Kupwara on October 27 2023, which dealt with Line-of-Control infiltration and made no reference to Arunachal Pradesh.
Following the clarification, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Arunachal Pradesh’s Lok Sabha representative, demanded that the Congress Party apologise for circulating the manipulated content.
Background & Context
Nathu La Pass operates under a bilateral trade agreement that permits routine commercial traffic. The Army’s clarification countered the narrative that the vehicles signified a hostile intrusion. The deep-fake repurposed footage from the 2023 briefing to falsely claim Chinese control over the Asaphila, Longjou and Taksing circles in Arunachal Pradesh.
Official Statements & Responses
- Indian Army – Confirmed the first video misrepresents authorised trade traffic and identified the second as a manipulated deep-fake.
- Kiren Rijiju – Called the videos “fake AI video” intended to tarnish the Army’s image and urged the Congress Party to apologise.
- BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan – Accused the Congress of a pattern of maligning the armed forces and reiterated the demand for an apology.
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (News18) – Condemned the circulation of the doctored videos and called for legal action.
Data & Statistics
- Twelve social-media handles were identified by MeitY as posting the misleading content between 08:26 hrs and 12:56 hrs on October 26 2026.
- The deep-fake used footage from the 2023 briefing, which originally reported ten foiled infiltration attempts, the elimination of 27 terrorists, and the recovery of weapons and narcotics.
What’s Next
MeitY has not announced further actions, but the identification of the twelve handles suggests ongoing monitoring of coordinated misinformation campaigns related to India-China border issues.