Controversy Erupts Over Youth Wing Campaign

NEW DELHI — A digital promotional campaign launched by the Indian Youth Congress has triggered a sharp political backlash, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the opposition's youth wing of normalising stalking and compromising women's safety.

The controversy centres around a recently released digital spot promoting an upcoming "Dilli Chalo" march directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, scheduled for November 1 at the Ramleela Maidan. The video, which initially featured an upbeat soundtrack, depicted a young man secretly photographing a group of women from a distance before swiping through the captured images to reveal event details.

Following widespread negative feedback on social media regarding issues of consent and public safety, the Indian Youth Congress promptly deleted the post.

Political Fallout and Accusations

The retraction, however, failed to halt political criticism. Senior BJP leaders seized the opportunity to question the opposition's commitment to women's rights, asserting that political campaigns must maintain ethical standards regarding public dignity.

"What message is the Youth Congress sending to women through this campaigning? Your party speaks about women's dignity, but the youth wing is facing criticism over a campaign normalising stalking and harassment," said BJP leader Vishnu Vardhan. He added that women's dignity should not be treated as a political prop.

Youth Congress Defends and Retaliates

Uday Bhanu Chib, chief of the Indian Youth Congress, initially defended the creative direction of the advertisement, attributing the concept to contemporary cultural norms among younger demographics.

"That is the thought process of Gen Z," Chib argued, though he later clarified the decision to remove the material. "It is not about justifying. I don't feel there was anything wrong, but still, if sentiments are hurt, then we have deleted the video."

The political exchange quickly escalated as the Youth Congress leadership countered by questioning the BJP's credentials on women's safety, citing controversies involving high-profile political appointments in state governance.