KOHIMA, Nov 25: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) is facing widespread criticism after uploading an AI-generated promotional video that inaccurately portrayed Naga culture while showcasing the famed Naga Mircha chilli.
Posted on Instagram and X on November 23, the video depicted cartoon-like miniature characters dressed in East Asian–style tunics and pants, even using chopsticks—imagery completely unrelated to authentic Naga traditions. Viewers also pointed out that the chilli shown was not Naga Mircha, despite the caption praising the GI-tagged variety as a “Mirchi Volcano.”
The video quickly triggered outrage online, with users calling it an “embarrassment” and accusing the ministry of distorting the very culture it is mandated to represent. Critics questioned how such a misrepresentation passed through official approval channels—especially since Nagaland’s official accounts were tagged as collaborators.
Following intense backlash, MDoNER removed the video from all platforms by November 24 but offered no apology or clarification, drawing further criticism.
