Dhruv Rathee- Gaurav Taneja Disgaree About the New Scheme for Influencers By UP Government

Recently, a Uttar Pradesh government scheme under which influencers will get paid to promote the government has been slammed by Youtuber Dhruv Rathee, whereas Gaurav Taneja, another YouTuber has defended it. This has led to a social media conflict between the two internet personalities.

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Uttar Pradesh Digital Media Policy, 2024, under which few selected influencers will receive state advertisements for promoting UP government schemes on their social media channels. Under this policy, influencers be paid up to Rs.5 lakhs for their accounts on X, Facebook and Instagram.

Dhruv Rathee has slammed this government scheme and called it a misuse of taxpayers’ money. He took to the social media platform X to express his views about the scheme. He wrote, “Uttar Pradesh Govt is saying it will pay up to ₹8 Lakh to Influencers to promote the govt. This is Legalized Bribery. From Tax Payer's Money. Any influencer who does this should be publicly shamed.” The post has now become viral and has received more than 2 million views.

Gaurav Taneja, former pilot and social media creator seems to disagree with Rathee and is in support of the government scheme. He replied to Dhruv’s X post saying, “Should all Newspapers and TV Channels, be also shamed, who show paid ads to promote any govt in power ?”

Should all Newspapers and TV Channels, be also shamed, who show paid ads to promote any govt in power ? https://t.co/SeeuAEB7KU

— Gaurav Taneja (@flyingbeast320) August 28, 2024

This heated exchange has received mixed reactions from the public, where one user said, "There is always a disclaimer that it's a paid advertisement. But the way you are defending, it looks like you are already a paid agent." While another wrote, "A party can pay with Electoral Bond Money if they want to promote their party and their propaganda but they wanted to use hard working taxpayers money for social media inflencers on the name of promoting govt schemes. We are against it."