Once upon a time, the Congress party boasted a reputation that seemed unassailable. No matter their ideological leanings, even film stars were willing to do their bidding, and there was hardly any opposition to their cause. But now, the situation has evolved into something quite the opposite. Even the biggest stars like Kartik Aaryan prefer to keep a safe distance from this party, and the antics of Congress itself ensure they do just that!
Recently, popular actor Kartik Aaryan found himself unwittingly embroiled in a political brouhaha when he shared a promotional ad for the ICC World Cup, which was being streamed on Disney Hotstar. The ad itself wasn’t particularly iconic or groundbreaking; it simply featured Kartik doing his usual stuff, while promoting the ICC World Cup on Disney+ Hotstar.
However, the controversy began when the National spokesperson of the Indian Youth Congress and in-charge of UT J&K, Aabid Mir Magami, posted a rather misleading message. He claimed, “Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan extended his support for Congress in Madhya Pradesh. Congress is coming to Madhya Pradesh.”
Also read: The Great Congress split of MP that may cost them dear
On the 30th of October, numerous Congress leaders and pro-Congress social media accounts launched a campaign for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. Their claim? Actor Kartik Aaryan had extended his support to the Congress party. The campaign featured a video in which it appeared that Kartik said, “Main bhi to Congressi hun” (I am also a Congress supporter). However, there was a twist in the tale—the video turned out to be a fake.
Kartik, who is actually named Kartik Aaryan Tiwari, and was born and raised in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, took to social media, specifically X (formerly Twitter), to set the record straight. He revealed that the video was originally part of a Disney+ Hotstar campaign for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. It appeared that a Congress supporter or someone affiliated with the party had edited the footage to further their political agenda. Kartik posted the original campaign and wrote, “This is the REAL AD. Rest all is Fake.” He also tagged Disney+ Hotstar in the post. As of now, the channel has not issued any official statement regarding the incident.
This is the REAL AD @DisneyPlusHS
Rest all is Fake 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/jWPTnbgpIK— Kartik Aaryan (@TheAaryanKartik) October 30, 2023
While this incident is certainly eyebrow-raising, it’s not the first time Congress has found itself in hot water due to a blunder. Just a few months ago, in an attempt to paint the government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan as corrupt, the state Congress cell resorted to a rather unconventional tactic. They issued posters featuring Chouhan, complete with logos of PhonePe and QR codes. Ironically, PhonePe was quick to call them out for their bluff and demanded the removal of the posters. They even warned of strict action, including the possibility of a court case.
Also read: The Raza Qadri case that has come back to haunt Congress
The incident involving Kartik Aaryan, while amusing in its own right, serves as another example of how political parties can sometimes overstep the line in their attempts to garner support or create a certain narrative. In an era where misinformation can spread like wildfire, it’s crucial for political actors and the public alike to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of information before jumping to conclusions.
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