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Coronavirus: Video from Indonesia shared as wet food market in China's Wuhan - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
22nd March 2020 / 2:45 pm / Last updated: 22nd March 2020
In the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak in India, one Daya Ram Meena tweeted a 44-second video clip showing a dead python kept out in the open in unhygienic conditions. “*चाईना का वो मार्केट जहां से कोरोना वायरस की शुरुआत हुई। देखिए कि जहां राक्षस भी इनके खानपान मार्केट में घुसने पर घबरा जायें (The market in China from which coronavirus originated. Even a demon will feel nervous getting inside their food market -translated)”, said Meena while posting the video.
*चाईना का वो मार्केट जहां से कोरोना वायरस की शुरुआत हुई। देखिए कि जहां राक्षस भी इनके खानपान मार्केट में घुसने पर घबरा जायें 👇Whuan market, China. The origin of the #Corona virus#…*@DevprakashIRS @RamlalAluda @Poojaaluda @bhagwanmeena53 @HansrajMeena @TribalArmy pic.twitter.com/fQ0FMqLM3a
— Daya Ram Meena (@DayaRamMeena_) March 18, 2020
The video is getting shared on Twitter and Facebook alike since February 2020.
*चाईना का वो मार्केट जहां से कोरोना वायरस की शुरुआत हुई। देखिए कि जहां राक्षस भी इनके खानपान मार्केट में घुसने पर घबरा जायें 👇Whuan market, China. The origin of the #Corona virus#…* pic.twitter.com/ThLBXpqHTq
— Mukesh Kamalkant Choudhary (@KamalkantMukesh) January 31, 2020
With a keyword search on Facebook, we found a longer version of the same video, which is close to five minutes long.
Whuan market. China, place of origin of the #Corona virus..
Posted by Laxman Singh Dev on Friday, 31 January 2020
At the very beginning of this video, one can spot the text – Pasar EXTREAM Langowan. We then performed a keyword search on Google and found a high-resolution YouTube video posted on July 19, 2019.
In one of the frames at around 20 seconds in the above video, we see a board which reads, “Kantor Pasar Langowan”. In Indonesian, it means ‘market office Langowan’. The “Langowan market” is a traditional market where wild animals are sold for consumption. It is located in Minahasa Regency of Indonesia’s North Sulawesi.
We corroborated the location with two more videos (1, 2) of the same market uploaded by the YouTube channel Dog Meat Free Indonesia, a global campaign calling on the Indonesian government to end slaughter, trade and consumption of dog meat.
TRT shares footage from Indonesia market as Wuhan’s
In the course of our research, we also found that Turkish media outlet TRT also used the scenes (at 32 seconds in the video) of the same Indonesian market while saying, “Coronavirus are fairly common in species of animals but this specific virus was traced back to a seafood market in the city of Wuhan where a number of animals are sold illegally”. This video was tweeted on January 30, 2020. The outlet had sourced the visuals from a YouTube clip which identified this market’s location as Wuhan, China. It was uploaded on January 27, 2020.
170 have now died and more than 7,000 people have been infected as the coronavirus has spread to every region in China. Here is what you need to know about the outbreak that began in a seafood market in China and spread to more than a dozen countries across the world pic.twitter.com/Xqez5GeknJ
— TRT World (@trtworld) January 30, 2020
A video of an Indonesian market is being circulated on social media with the claim that it shows the ‘wet market’ of China’s Wuhan province where the coronavirus seems to have originated. It was also picked up by an international Turkish media outlet and broadcasted as “Wuhan’s seafood” market.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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22nd March 2020 / 2:45 pm / Last updated: 22nd March 2020
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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Coronil lacks scientific basis as a cure for COVID-19 based on evidence shared by Patanjali - Alt News
Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
24th June 2020 / 7:25 pm / Last updated: 30th June 2020
Patanjali Ayurved launched an ayurvedic treatment kit called ‘Coronil’ as a ‘cure’ for COVID-19. Indian media outlets ran shows on the kit, referring to it as a ‘breakthrough’ in coronavirus treatment. Ram Kisan Yadav, popularly known as Baba Ramdev, the face of Patanjali, stated that the kit was developed using “clinically controlled trial” and claimed that it was a “100% cure for COVID-19”. Further, Ramdev stated that they had all the required permissions for manufacturing and releasing the drug.
Subsequently, the AYUSH ministry issued a statement that Patanjali Ayurved has been asked not to advertise the drug as a cure for COVID-19 due to the lack of documents (i.e. proof of efficacy). Ramdev claimed in an interview with India Today that by evening, AYUSH will be sent all the documents related to the research that has been used as the basis of the proof of efficacy for Coronil kit.
Patanjali released a set of documents that included:
Thus, apart from the CTRI, only the two research articles were listed as proof of efficacy that the drug provides 100% cure from COVID-19. Further, the license officer of Ayurved Department in Uttarakhand has stated that Patanjali’s application was approved for use as an immunity booster and not a drug for COVID-19.
In this sci-check, we will look at the composition of Coronil kit and the two studies listed in the Patanjali document.
The Coronil kit by Patanjali Ayurved is a 100% cure of COVID-19 and has been scientifically tested with clinical trials.
False
The Coronil Kit contains three bottles of:
Apart from the CTRI which is a registration of the Clinical Trial (not a published RCT study), only the two research studies were listed in the document given to AYUSH as proof of efficacy of the drug. None of these studies was the published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) as stated by Patanjali.
Among the two studies, the first was related to tablet 1 (DRS) in the kit, and the second study was related to only one of the herbs in the Coronil tablet called Giloy. There were no studies in the document provided for Ashwagandha and Tulsi, the other two components of the Coronil tablet. Also, no study was provided for the third drug in the kit Anu Taila (nasal oil drops).
Further, the CTRI document suggested that 120 COVID-19 infected patients received Coronil treatment and Patanjali has claimed that they were successfully cured at the rate of 100%. However, the CTRI document is only proof of registration of the clinical trial and not proof of results found within the trial. Proof of efficacy should be a published, peer-reviewed study by the research standards in a sizable population.
In addition, the following two studies were referenced as the scientific evidence by Patanjali to prove the efficacy of Swasari Ras (1st drug of the kit) and Giloy (a part of Coronil tablet or 2nd drug of the kit) for COVID-19.
Study 1: Balkrishna, A., Solleti, S. K., Singh, H., Tomer, M., Sharma, N., & Varshney, A. (2020). Calcio-herbal formulation, Divya-Swasari-Ras, alleviates chronic inflammation and suppresses airway remodelling in mouse model of allergic asthma by modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine response. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 126, 110063.
This study evaluated the effect of Swasari Ras or Divya Swasari Ras (DSR), in mice (not humans) induced in a lab in an allergic asthma model. The drug DSR has neither been tested on inflammatory lung tissue with coronavirus nor was it tested on humans. Allergic Asthma, on which DSR was tested on as part of this study and the disease due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) are completely different diseases, and the mechanisms of the diseases are different as well. Moreover, since the tests for DSR are conducted in non-human species, the study cannot be used as a 100% proof to claim the efficacy of DSR against COVID-19.
Study 2: Acharya Balkrishna, SUBARNA POKHREL, Anurag Varshney. Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) may curb COVID-19 contagion: Tinocordiside disrupts the electrostatic interactions between ACE2 and RBD. Authorea. April 16, 2020. DOI: 10.22541/au.158707095.53639175
The second study is a preprint (i.e. a non-peer-reviewed article), which hasn’t been reviewed by other scientists to ascertain its scientific validity. During this pandemic, there are many pre-prints available due to the speed of the information necessary to hasten the research process. This particular study released by Patanjali Ayurved as a 100% proof of efficacy for Coronil tablet is a molecular study of Giloy herb (Tinospora Cordifolia) through a computer simulation and is not a study on any living species, mice or humans.
Since the Coronavirus (SARS-COV2) binds to the host cell in humans via its ACE receptor using a spike protein, the study claims that Giloy disrupts this binding by interrupting its electrostatic interactions between the ACE receptor and the receptor-binding protein (RBD) (see image). Both ACE receptors and spike protein RBD are the proteins used by SARS-COV2 to gain entry into the cell.
The study is simply a molecular dynamics (MD) ‘simulation’ which is a computer simulation, and in this case, was conducted using software called Discovery Studio, Biovia.
While the study needs peer-review, it is neither a ‘clinical trial’ as claimed by Ramdev or Patanjali, nor does it explore the interactions between the two proteins in humans or any other living species
Therefore, none of the scientific proofs given by Patanjali suggests that Coronil is an effective treatment for COVID-19 for the following reasons:
In fact, claiming that such untested drugs will cure a 100% of COVID-19 patients amounts to a false assumption of treatment and depletes them of the opportunity to receive proven treatment where necessary, even though they may not always treat every patient. This practice of false drug manufacturing under the garb of ancient ayurveda endangers the lives of people during the times of a global crisis.
Balkrishna, A., Solleti, S. K., Singh, H., Tomer, M., Sharma, N., & Varshney, A. (2020). Calcio-herbal Formulation, Divya-Swasari-Ras, Alleviates Chronic Inflammation and Suppresses Airway Remodelling in Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma by Modulating Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Response. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2020 Jun;126:110063.doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110063
Acharya Balkrishna, SUBARNA POKHREL, Anurag Varshney. Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) may curb COVID-19 contagion: Tinocordiside disrupts the electrostatic interactions between ACE2 and RBD. Authorea. April 16, 2020. DOI: 10.22541/au.158707095.53639175
Alt News Science is no longer edited by Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
From 2017-2021, Dr. Shaikh was the Founding-Editor for Alt News Science. Her main role is as a neuroscientist researching violent extremism and psychiatry.
Follow @Neurophsyik
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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24th June 2020 / 7:25 pm / Last updated: 30th June 2020
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"author": "Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh"
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Correction policy - Alt News
To err is human. Alt News believes in prompt acknowledgement and correction of errors. All articles in which corrections are made are clearly marked with the words ‘Update’ in bold letters at the foot of the articles. Alt News encourages readers to submit potential corrections through the ‘Contact’ page on the website.
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COVID-19 is not a bacterial infection, false claim viral on social media - Alt News
Dr Sharfaroz Satani
18th August 2020 / 9:10 pm / Last updated: 18th August 2020
A viral video accompanied by the following message has been circulating on WhatsApp.
“Finally W.H.O. cheated the world, Corona is not a Virus, but a bacterial infection and patients can cure only in one day. See this video and make it viral send to as many as possible.”
My Goodness is this true? Some1nd2findout. US n mny cointrirs wth strongest Intel agencies cudnt detect d fact? WHO. cheated d world?Is Corona not a Virus but a bacterial infection and patients can cure only in one day? See this video and share it so that d facts can b verified. pic.twitter.com/drXuR8uyd3
— Chowkidar Ravichiruvolu🇮🇳 proudBhaaratheeyan🇮🇳 (@Ravichiruvolu1) June 12, 2020
False
There are huge structural differences between virus, bacteria and human cells as visual observation of bacteria and human cells is possible with a simple microscope, but not of a virus. Typical animal or plant cells are between 10µm to 100µm in size, bacteria are much smaller around 1µm in size, viruses are even smaller between 5nm to 300nm (see picture below). The novel coronavirus is approximately 100nm in size (Bar-On, Y et al. 2020). These structural differences between animal (including human) or plant cells and bacteria can be observed in a basic laboratory of infectious pathogens, while we need specialised equipment to visualise viruses. If the infectious germ of COVID-19 was a bacteria, it would not have remained a matter of controversy for this long.
In patients presenting with an outbreak of viral pneumonia in January 2020, the responsible pathogen (disease-causing microorganism) was initially unknown. The fluid sampled from the lungs (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) of the patients who had been exposed to the seafood market in Wuhan were obtained. They had tested negative for commonly known respiratory tract pathogens.
These samples were cultured, and genome sequencing was done. Genome sequencing is a process of finding out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in all the genes—the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism’s genome. The genome sequences of those samples were remarkably similar (not the same) to a previously identified virus which had caused two outbreaks in the past. This new organism was thus identified as a new coronavirus and named SARS-CoV-2. The same virus (SARS-CoV-2) has since been found during the contact tracing for the infected individuals via RT-PCR test – the COVID-19 test conducted in the hospitals on suspected people.
Later, CDC, USA also released a schematic diagram of the virus structure (see below) to suggest the mechanism by which the virus enters the human cells. A protein on the surface of the virus (s protein) was found to be attached to a specific receptor (ACE2) on the surface of the human cell to gain entry and multiply inside the human cells (Xu, X et al 2020).
Therefore, evidence from tissue samples of patients, epidemiological data, clinical data, genomic data all conclusively establish that the current pandemic named COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus and not by a bacterium.
About 5–15% of patients with COVID-19 infection require intensive care surveillance and ventilatory support (Möhlenkamp, S et al. 2020). This is primarily because of the effects of pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome on the ability of the patient to maintain respiration on their own. Other manifestations of COVID-19 like Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), acute pulmonary embolism, deep-vein thrombosis, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction etc., usually require ICU support (Klok, F.A et al. 2020). Many of the difficulties of thromboembolism (dislodgement of multiple small clots from a more massive lump) or DIC require mechanical ventilation.
Therefore, it is not true that COVID-19 patients never require ventilator and ICU support.
The mean time between the onset of the disease to the recovery of COVID-19 patients is 24.7 days (Verity R et al. 2020), see figure below. Therefore, it is not true that COVID-19 can be cured in a day.
There is an ample amount of evidence that the current pandemic is caused by a novel coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. It is absurd to assert that the nature of the microbe causing the epidemic and its cure, can all be kept hidden from the world. While COVID-19 deniers have various motives to spread conspiracy theories, it is the knowledge and communication gap between experts and the masses, and lack of trust in authorities that allow these theories to thrive despite easily available evidence to the contrary. While a viral video claiming that COVID-19 never requires ventilatory and ICU support and can be cured in a day would sound reassuring to people, this is not true.
Severe COVID-19 cases can only be managed with intensive care like organ support interventions. These conspiracy theories only make the situation worse as they encourage complacency and non-adherence to social distancing, rigorous hand-washing and use of masks.
References
Lu, R., Zhao, X., Li, J., Niu, P., Yang, B., Wu, H., … & Bi, Y. (2020). Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. The Lancet, 395(10224), 565-574.
Möhlenkamp, S., & Thiele, H. (2020). Ventilation of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. Herz, 1.
Verity, R., Okell, L., Dorigatti, I., Winskill, P., Whittaker, C., & Imai, N. et al. (2020). Estimates of the severity of coronavirus disease 2019: a model-based analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(6), 669-677.
Klok, F. A., Kruip, M. J. H. A., Van der Meer, N. J. M., Arbous, M. S., Gommers, D. A. M. P. J., Kant, K. M., … & Endeman, H. (2020). Incidence of thrombotic complications in critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19. Thrombosis research.
Xu, X., Chen, P., Wang, J., Feng, J., Zhou, H., Li, X., … & Hao, P. (2020). Evolution of the novel coronavirus from the ongoing Wuhan outbreak and modelling of its spike protein for risk of human transmission. Science China Life Sciences, 63(3), 457-460.
Dr Sharfaroz Satani is a science writer for Alt News Science and a drug safety physician. He advocates for evidence-based medicine, freethought, and social equality. He also writes satire, poetry and fiction.
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18th August 2020 / 9:10 pm / Last updated: 18th August 2020
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/covid-19-is-not-a-bacterial-infection-false-claim-viral-on-social-media/",
"author": "Dr Sharfaroz Satani"
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COVID-19: Video of Belgian man rubbing saliva-ridden hand on metro train handrail viral in India - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
25th March 2020 / 1:27 pm / Last updated: 25th March 2020
On March 24, Facebook user Haresh Adhikari posted a video of a person licking his hand and rubbing it over a handrail in a subway train. “See this video and forward this as much as possible. If you stay silent today then it will harm us. Because, in six months, it would be of no use to move forward. Turn your fingers and share this forward now,” reads the accompanying message. The message urges people to take action against people who wishfully spread infection in light of the global coronavirus outbreak.
[Translated from: “इस विडियो को देखें और इसे जितना हो सके उतना फॉरवर्ड करें …. अगर आप यू आज चुप रहते हैं तो हमें नुकसान होगा … क्योंकि 6 महीने के बाद इसे आगे बढ़ाने का कोई फायदा नहीं होगा … उँगलियाँ घुमाएँ और इसे आगे बढ़ाएँ अभी.”]
इस विडियो को देखें और इसे जितना हो सके उतना फॉरवर्ड करें …. अगर आप यू आज चुप रहते हैं तो हमें नुकसान होगा … क्योंकि 6 महीने के बाद इसे आगे बढ़ाने का कोई फायदा नहीं होगा … उँगलियाँ घुमाएँ और इसे आगे बढ़ाएँ अभी
Posted by Haresh Adhikari on Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Many users on Facebook and Twitter posted the video with the same message in Hindi.
Alt News had also received a request on its official WhatsApp number to fact-check if the clip is from India.
A Google search revealed that the video is from Belgium. The man was reportedly inebriated and was travelling in the Brussels subway. Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company, the capital’s public transport provider, informed that he was arrested by the police and their security services. The subway train was later taken off service to be disinfected.
The incident had come to light after at least two fellow commuters captured the act on video and posted online, warning other commuters to be careful. Posted below is a video of the same incident from a different angle. It was also reported by Belgian’s daily newspaper The Brussels Times on March 10.
Ce gars là derrière il vient de mettre de la salive sur sa main et puis il a touché le poteau, les gens faites attention à vous c’est n’importe quoi pic.twitter.com/wyW7FT7kS9
— Yuv (@SwengoM) March 9, 2020
A video of a passenger carelessly rubbing his saliva-ridden hand on a handrail in a subway in Belgium is circulating on the Indian social ecosystem with an appeal to take action against people who recklessly put others in danger.
Note: The number of positive cases of the novel coronavirus in India has exceeded 500. This has caused the government to impose a complete restriction on movement apart from essential services. Globally, more than 4 lakh confirmed cases and close to 19,000 deaths have been reported. There is a growing sense of panic among citizens, causing them to fall for a variety of online misinformation – misleading images and videos rousing fear or medical misinformation promoting pseudoscience and invalid treatments. While your intentions may be pure, misinformation, spread especially during a global pandemic, can take lives. We request our readers to practice caution and not forward unverified messages on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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25th March 2020 / 1:27 pm / Last updated: 25th March 2020
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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COVID-19: Viral video of patient gasping for breath is NOT from India - Alt News
Jignesh Patel & Mohammed Zubair
26th March 2020 / 12:24 pm
A video where a person lying on a gurney is gasping for breath is doing the rounds on WhatsApp. In the backdrop of coronavirus outbreak in India, the video is being circulated with the claim that it’s from Karnataka’s Mangalore city. The claim further adds that the clip shows a COVID-19 patient in the isolation ward of Wenlock Hospital.
@BSYBJP Isolation ward of Wenlock hospital Mangalore,How criminal waste of tax payers money.?! Hw Hospital silently spreading COVID 19 to other Causalities patients..?! @narendramodi Pic of Isolation ward shown in Hosadiganta daily .but .COVID 19 Patient from Bhatkal. 1/2 https://t.co/pTOOqyaEIo pic.twitter.com/jjt7UQDWEm
— paanchajanya (@tatpurush11) March 24, 2020
On WhatsApp, it is being shared as the first nCoV case in Mangalore.
Alt News has also received multiple requests on its official Android application to verify this video.
Another claim
The same video was shared by a Facebook user with the claim that the person is a coronavirus patient admitted at a hospital in Banaras. “बनारस में भर्ती कोरोना वायरस के मरीज का यह वीडियो देखकर आप लोग समझे की कितनी गंभीर स्थिति है सिर्फ बचाओ ही इसका उपाय है कहीं भी भीड़ ना मचाए 1 मीटर की दूरी अवश्य बनाए रहे घड़ी घंटा बजाने वालों से भी अनुरोध है कि जुलूस के रूप में ना निकले गंभीरता से लें”, reads the claim.
We got requests for fact-check on our application with the same claim.
Alt News performed a reverse search on one of the keyframes extracted from the video and found that it’s from Ecuador. On March 18, a Twitter user from Ecuador posted several videos of a patient, who, according to her, was suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome. The video was shot at a hospital centre in Valencia city of Ecuador’s Los Rios province. Her Twitter bio, says, “Ecuadorian from Guayaquil. Doctor. Researcher”.
#COVID19 🇪🇨 ECUADOR. Parroquia El Vergel.Valencia. Provincia de Los Ríos. Un joven con Sindrome de Dificultad Respiratoria Aguda llega al centro de Salud y es atendido por el personal médico que no ha sido dispuesto de protección más que la mascarilla. pic.twitter.com/sXVmL7OQgI
— Amanda (@amandaasubiar) March 18, 2020
According to her tweets, the medical personnel attending the patient didn’t have personal protection equipment (PPE) except for a mask. She posted one more video of the patient receiving ‘artificial hydration’ with the caption, “this video shows the intercostal circulation, a sign of reduced air pressure inside the chest. (-translated)” In the tweet, she informs that the patient might be transferred to a hospital in Quevedo city. In the video, people can be heard speaking Spanish. While the audio is not clear, a person says, “do you see how it moves”, while pulling the patient’s shirt up. Later in the video, we hear someone say, “Is that enough?”
Ya canalizado, graban este vídeo evidenciando el tiraje intercostal, signo de reducción de la presión de aire dentro del tórax. Para así poder pedir ambulancia y traslado al hospital de Quevedo. pic.twitter.com/hSggVGX6sJ
— Amanda (@amandaasubiar) March 18, 2020
She tweeted a third video and informed that the patient is waiting for transfer to a makeshift isolation room “without oxygen cannula, without a ventilator, without being able to breathe.”
Pero hay que esperar por un traslado que no autorizan, una ambulancia que no llega. Se queda sólo en una sala de aislamiento improvisada. Sin una canula con oxígeno, sin un ventilador y sin poder respirar. pic.twitter.com/bAUHrzPzxx
— Amanda (@amandaasubiar) March 18, 2020
The thread ends with a criticism for the Ecuadorian government that hospitals in her country do not have the means to help a sick person with respiratory infections. It may be noted that except for the hashtag (#COVID19) in her first tweet, she doesn’t refer to the coronavirus.
Moreover, we also found a Facebook post by a page named, C6 Televisión Babahoyo. Babahoyo is the capital of Los Rios province. According to the ‘about us’ section of the Facebook page, it’s based in Babahoyo, the capital of Los Rios province. On the same day, the page had posted this video with a message that clarifies that the patient was suffering from respiratory issues and NOT coronavirus.
#ATENCIÓN | El caso de la joven que se presenta en el vídeo, corresponde a una paciente con “Síndrome de abstinencia respiratoria” y no de afectación de coronavirus.
Posted by C6 Televisión Babahoyo on Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Alt News was unable to independently ascertain specific details about the video. Albeit, it can be said with certainty that the video was first circulated in Ecuador with the claim that the patient was suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome. In the background, people can also be heard talking in Spanish which hints that the clip was not shot in India. The social media claim that it shows a patient from Mangalore who was infected with the coronavirus is false.
A complaint has been filed with Mangalore police by the Medical superintendent of District Government Wenlock Hospital seeking action against those who have circulated the videos as of their hospital. “The video surfaced on social media platforms soon after the first COVID-19 positive case was reported on Sunday,” stated an article published by Times of India on March 22, 2020. “Two video clips, which are being shared on social media, purportedly of a patient struggling in Wenlock Hospital. It is not from Wenlock Hospital. Moreover, Wenlock Hospital does not use blue beds,” stated the superintendent while rubbishing the videos.
Note: The number of positive cases of the novel coronavirus in India is close to 700. This has caused the government to impose a complete restriction on movement apart from essential services. Globally, more than 4 lakh confirmed cases and over 21,000 deaths have been reported. There is a growing sense of panic among citizens, causing them to fall for a variety of online misinformation – misleading images and videos rousing fear or medical misinformation promoting pseudoscience and invalid treatments. While your intentions may be pure, misinformation, spread especially during a global pandemic, can take lives. We request our readers to practice caution and not forward unverified messages on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
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In the wake of the alleged murder of Shraddha Walkar by his partner Aftab Amin…
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Last week during the G20 summit in Bali, world leaders were informed of a missile…
Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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26th March 2020 / 12:24 pm
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'COVID toolkit' attributed to Congress created on forged letterhead - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri & Pratik Sinha
19th May 2021 / 5:11 pm / Last updated: 19th May 2021
An alleged document prepared by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to “corner the Modi government and various BJP governments in the country” through social media and on-ground strategies was extensively shared by top BJP leaders on May 18. The hashtag #CongressToolKitExposed soon began trending.
The document has been shared in two parts – four pages of a COVID-19 ‘toolkit’ and four pages of research on the issues with the Central Vista project.
The alleged toolkit urges Congress workers, volunteers and supporters to use the term ‘super spreader Kumbh’, ‘not comment on Eid gatherings’, respond to COVID SOS messages ‘only if a person tags the IYC handle’, ‘use dramatic pictures of funerals and dead bodies which is already being done by foreign media’, etc. It also advises social media volunteers to use the term ‘Modi strain’ for the new variant of COVID originating in India, etc.
BIG EXPOSE: CONGRESS TOOLKIT
The real face of the congress party stands exposed. #CongressToolkitExposed pic.twitter.com/rA4IgWgunf
— TEAM BHARAT (@TeamBharat_) May 18, 2021
Part II of the document analyses PM Modi’s dream project of redeveloping Central Vista. This section lays down the opportunity cost of the project, including COVID vaccines, oxygen cylinders and monetary relief to victims. The document also lists the project’s adverse impact on the environment and architecture.
Toolkit Part 2: INC wanted to sabotage Grand project for the nation #CongressToolkitExposed pic.twitter.com/AGWDSGA1r8
— TEAM BHARAT (@TeamBharat_) May 18, 2021
“It’s deplorable on their part to attempt to spread misinformation during this global catastrophe,” wrote health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.
LIE, DECEIVE & DIVIDE !
That’s all @INCIndia has ever known!
It’s deplorable on their part to attempt to spread misinformation during this global catastrophe just to swell their dwindling political fortunes at the expense of people’s suffering. #CongressToolkitExposed
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) May 18, 2021
Among the other top BJP leaders who amplified #CongressToolKitExposed were Smriti Irani, Tirath Singh Rawat, Piyush Goyal, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Tejasvi Surya, Kiren Rijiju, Anurag Thakur, P C Mohan, Hardeep Singh Puri, Shobha Karandlaje, Biren Singh, Pralhad Joshi, Rahul Kaswan, Manoj Kotak and Dr. VINAY Sahasrabuddhe.
The official Twitter account of ABVP also shared the alleged document. Amit Malviya, Sambit Patra, B L Santhosh, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, Sunil Deodhar, Priti Gandhi, Suresh Nakhua, Sanju Verma, Om Prakash Dhankar, Charu Pragya, Y Satya Kumar, C T Ravi, C T R Nirmal Kumar, Ashish Chauhan and Anoop A J were among the BJP officer bearers and representatives who amplified the claim.
BJP supporters – Anand Ranganathan, Prashant Patel Umrao, Ankit Jain, Pradeep Bhandari, Shefali Vaidya, Shehzad, Vivek Agnihotri and Akhilesh Mishra – too jumped on the bandwagon. OpIndia and its editor Nupur Sharma and Swarajya did not stay behind as well.
Nearly every media outlet reported on the alleged ‘toolkit’ created by Congress.
Watch me on @ZeeNews at 5pm on #CongressToolkitExposed with @AmanChopra_ https://t.co/Hq5fettdlG
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) May 18, 2021
AICC Research Department chairman Rajeev Gowda told Alt News that the part of the document recommending social media and on-ground strategies (titled ‘Cornering Narendra Modi and BJP on COVID-19 mismanagement’) has not been prepared by his party. The section addressing the issues with the Central Vista project (titled ‘Central Vista Redevelopment: Vanity Project Amidst the Pandemic’) was made by the AICC’s Research Department, he informed.
“This (pages of the Central Vista document viral on social media) is part of a larger 6-page document which is a background note on policy and issues facing the nation. They seem to have obtained it illegally, and used it as a model to create a fake document, with forged letterhead,” Gowda furthered.
“The Research Department’s mandate is threefold – one, to support Congress MPs in their parliamentary work; two, to expose the failures of non-Congress governments; and three is to ideate about the future,” he said adding that what should or should not be said on social media is not the mandate for the AICC Research Department. “We tend to focus on factual/ fact-checked information that is the basis for arguments, speeches.”
Gowda had also tweeted that the document on “COVID-19 mismanagement” is fake.
BJP is propagating a fake “toolkit” on “COVID-19 mismanagement” & attributing it to AICC Research Department. We are filing an FIR for forgery against @jpnadda & @sambitswaraj
When our country is devastated by COVID, instead of providing relief, BJP shamelessly concocts forgeries
— Rajeev Gowda (@rajeevgowda) May 18, 2021
(Note: This article refers to the four pages of the COVID-19 mismanagement document as COVID-19 toolkit or toolkit, whereas the document on Central Vista has been referred to as the name suggests.)
The letterhead on the Central Vista document does not match the one on the COVID-19 toolkit. The Central Vista document was first made on Microsoft Word and a PDF version was internally circulated, as per Gowda. While there can be differences in style and format on the body of a document, depending on the author, the header and footer on Word remain intact.
As clearly evident, a leaner font has been used on the COVID-19 toolkit. The page numbering doesn’t match either. The number ‘one’ has been written as ‘I’ on the Central Vista document while the other document reads ‘1’.
Gowda also shared an older document with Alt News, prepared by the AICC Research Department. The fonts and style match the legitimate (Central Vista) research but are distinct from the toolkit document. This further indicates that the toolkit is morphed. “I challenge them to produce the original document, and we will get it investigated forensically to expose their lies,” said Gowda.
The difference in the font used can also be spotted on the header. The top left corner of all pages say ‘May 2021’ but the ‘M’ in both documents are noticeably different.
The alignment on the footer is also distorted on the COVID-10 toolkit while letterhead, links and margins are perfectly aligned on the genuine document.
After Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi, termed the COVID-19 toolkit ‘fake’, several BJP workers and supporters shared what they claim is the properties of the toolkit. Patra also shared a screenshot of the LinkedIn profile of the author of the document, Saumya Varma, who works with Rajeev Gowda.
Friends yesterday Congress wanted to know who’s the Author of the toolkit.
Pls check the properties of the Paper.
Author: Saumya Varma
Who’s Saumya Varma …
The Evidences speak for themselves:
Will Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi reply? pic.twitter.com/hMtwcuRVLW
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) May 19, 2021
This prompted Gowda to post another tweet clarifying that AICC indeed prepared a document on Central Vista but the COVID-19 toolkit was “forged and made by the BJP”.
Let’s be clear We made a research note on Central Vista for the party It’s genuine & fact-based. I tweeted yesterday that “COVID19 toolkit” is FORGED & is a MADE in BJP product. Patra is showing metadata/author of a real document & attributing it to a FAKEhttps://t.co/qHc52C8DWw
— Rajeev Gowda (@rajeevgowda) May 19, 2021
He further said that Sambit Patra is showing the metadata/ author of the real document and attributing it to the fake.
Gowda shared the complete AICC 6-page research on Central Vista with Alt News (view PDF). We also looked at the properties and it is identical to the one shared by BJP members.
It is noteworthy that the Central Vista document has six pages, which is what the screenshot shared by Patra also says. But a total of 8 pages have been shared on social media, this includes four pages of the Central Vista research and four pages of the COVID-19 toolkit. It is clear that the two documents are distinct and the digital footprint shared by Patra is of the document Congress has vouched to be authentic. BJP has failed to provide the digital footprint of the COVID-19 toolkit. As one can clearly spot in both screenshots provided above, Patra has shared metadata of the document ‘Central Vista Vanity Project AICC’.
What is a toolkit? It’s a document that lays down strategies for future course of action – what needs to be done and how. The COVID-19 toolkit defines what should be the messaging on social media and the actions that need to be taken on-ground.
However, most of the directions of the toolkit refer to events that have already taken place. A document meant for suggesting courses of action for May 2021 and beyond, has several events which have already occurred in the month of April.
“International media coverage by foreign correspondents in India can be tailored to exclusively focus on Modi and his mismanagement,” says the document prepared in May, whereas international media has been critical of the Modi government since April.
Akhilesh Mishra, former director of the BJP government’s online citizen engagement initiative ‘MyGov India’, shared Rahul Gandhi’s Instagram post depicting mass funerals of COVID victims. Mishra juxtaposed this with an article in The New York Times that also depicts mass funerals. Gandhi’s post is from April 29 and The New York Times article is from April 25, yet Mishra alleged that the ‘toolkit’ is responsible for the report even though the so-called document was prepared a few weeks later.
Tool: Collaborate with foreign media to magnify distress with dramatic images
Action: Again @RahulGandhi leading from the front. What purpose does it serve to magnify personal moments of grief ?
Others fed into this gory politics of Congress to demean even the dead. 3/10 pic.twitter.com/25T6aWEidK
— Akhilesh Mishra (@amishra77) May 18, 2021
Mishra is connected with numerous pro-BJP propaganda pages. Alt News’s elaborate report on his ‘BJP connection’ can be read here.
The toolkit also instructs the repeated use of certain words and phrases to create a narrative on social media. To gauge its authenticity, Alt News checked if Congress members and volunteers were using these phrases in an organised manner or whether multiple individuals were using the terminologies. We found this wasn’t the case, and most of the limited usage was by people not associated with Congress.
Rajeev Gowda informed us that the Central Vista research was circulated internally on May 7. The COVID-19 toolkit also says ‘May 2021’ on the top left corner of each page. But in the almost three weeks of this month, none of the ‘strategies’ have been applied.
If ‘super spreader kumbh’ is searched on Twitter, all the recent posts are made by pro-BJP or BJP handles in reference to the Congress toolkit. So we truncated our search till May 17, before the alleged document surfaced. The number of tweets posted with that phrase, having at least one retweet, is countable – 15. Readers can check for themselves here. None of these seem to have been posted by Congress workers.
At another point, the toolkit asks Congress workers to use the phrase ‘Indian strain’ whenever talking about the new mutant coronavirus. It also says that social media volunteers may call it ‘Modi strain’. The term ‘Indian strain’ has mostly been used by the media, both international and domestic. Between May 1 to May 17, there are five handles with at least one retweet that have used the term ‘Modi strain’. Five tweets don’t make a campaign. Social media propaganda demands hundreds of tweets of the same narrative being put out.
BJP members widely shared a tweet by London-based author Sonia Faleiro to support their claim. However, neither has Faleiro used the word ‘strain’ (her tweet says ‘variant’) nor is she associated with Congress.
Sonia Faleiro daughter of Cong MP Eduardo Falerio labels variant as “Indian Variant & Modi variant” #CongressToolkitExposed pic.twitter.com/6I3EnKCK57
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) May 18, 2021
We found a few more tweets with at least one retweet where ‘Modi variant’ or #ModiVariant has been used. The most prominent among these are by Aparna Jain and Seema Chishti, none of whom are Congress workers.
The ‘toolkit’ then advises the use of specific adjectives for senior BJP leaders. For instance, ‘missing’ Amit Shah, ‘quarantined’ Jaishankar, ‘sidelined’ Rajnath Singh, ‘insensitive’ Nirmala Sitharaman.
That the home minister is ‘missing’ had become a talking point on Twitter after Nagesh Kariyappa, general secretary of the NSUI, filed a missing person’s report with the Delhi police claiming that Shah has disappeared when the country is facing a crisis. Most tweets are regarding his complaint.
‘Quarantined’ Jaishankar does not throw any tweet where the word has been used as an adjective for the foreign minister. An advanced search of ‘sidelined’ Rajnath Singh and ‘insensitive’ Nirmala Sitharaman also do throw any results. A term has to be used again and again to leave an imprint on people’s mind. Propaganda is not built by scattered use (or in this case, no use at all) but repetition.
The document further advises Congress workers to not respond to COVID SOS messages unless Indian Youth Congress (IYC) is tagged. Below is a screenshot that shows IYC national president Srinivas B V responding journalist Aditya Raj Kaul who has neither tagged him nor his organisation.
There are many such examples, including Srinivas’s response to BJP MP Hans Raj Hans who had used the hashtags #SOS and #SOSDelhi.
Mam, Please check with @hansrajhansHRH once.
Then use the toolkit created by BJP to copy-paste tweets. https://t.co/dvBkmIp87O pic.twitter.com/pvVk3JLpPi
— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) May 18, 2021
Srinivas had also tweeted photos of oxygen cylinders supplied to a person after anchor Rubika Liyaquat’s tweet. She had also not tagged IYC.
दीपक के पास अस्पताल में #SOSIYC टीम द्वारा सिलिंडर पहुंचा दिया गया है @RubikaLiyaquat जी,
हम उनके शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करते है 🙏 pic.twitter.com/0Ac0oDKfaX
— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) April 30, 2021
Rajeev Gowda and Congress social media department chairman Rohan Gupta have filed a complaint with the Delhi police commissioner against BJP leaders JP Nadda, Sambit Patra, Smriti Irani, BL Santhosh, among others for “forging the letterhead of AICC Research Department and thereafter printing false and fabricated content on the same”.
An analysis by Alt News has revealed that the AICC Research Department letterhead has been tampered with in the toolkit document, raising questions about its authenticity. An examination of the content of the document, meant to strategise a future course of action, reveals that it refers to events that have already taken place in the past. BJP till now has only shared screenshots of the alleged toolkit and has failed to produce the original – either the PDF version or the Microsoft Word version. Without the original document, BJP’s claims come across as inauthentic, especially because the ‘toolkit’ is made on a poor copy of the original letterhead used by the AICC’s research wing.
[Update: An SOS appeal made by one ‘Sakshi’ has been replaced with Aditya Raj Kaul’s tweet as an example to show IYC taking heed of messages where the organisation hasn’t been tagged.]
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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19th May 2021 / 5:11 pm / Last updated: 19th May 2021
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Crazy sex run by Irish sheep after consuming Viagra? Indian media falls for satire - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
11th December 2019 / 8:36 pm / Last updated: 12th December 2019
If an IANS ‘news’ feed republished by multiple media outlets was to be believed, hundreds of sheep in Ireland went on a “week-long uncontrollable sex drive” after they drank water from Ringaskiddy harbour where drug manufacturer Pfizer had “accidentally spilled tonnes of Viagra.”
Apart from Outlook, other media outlets that republished the bizarre story were – The Times of India, Times Now, News18, The Quint, Newsd and Gulf News. The Times of India and Times Now later took down their reports.
Marathi media outlet Lokmat and right-wing website The Frustrated Indian also carried the story.
The purported news found its way to micro-news app Inshorts as well.
Furthermore, the story was published in the December 12 print edition of Mumbai Mirror.
The IANS feed credits the story to a website called worldnewsdailyreport. “To the surprise of hundreds of shepherds, the animals behaved very strangely and were sexually overactive, according to a worldnewsdailyreport,” reads the report.
The website in question however publishes satire and this is mentioned at the bottom of every report.
In fact the logo of the website reads “where facts don’t matter.”
News agency IANS therefore fell for satire and several other media outlets followed suit. But this was not an isolated incident where India media outlets published satire from the same outlet. In 2017, Gujarati newspaper Sandesh and Hindi media organisation Oneindia published a satire story of a man sentenced to death in Pakistan for farting inside a mosque as real news.
[Update: The satirical story published as genuine news in the December 12 print edition of Mumbai Mirror has been added to this report.]
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
In the wake of the alleged murder of Shraddha Walkar by his partner Aftab Amin…
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Last week during the G20 summit in Bali, world leaders were informed of a missile…
Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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11th December 2019 / 8:36 pm / Last updated: 12th December 2019
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Crocodile rescued in Ratnagiri viral as Mumbai - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
31st July 2019 / 10:57 am
A 54 second video of a crocodile being rescued from a drain has gone viral on social media platforms with the claim that this crocodile was rescued from Dadar area of Mumbai.
#Crocodile found in a gutter in Dadar #India ! #MumbaiRains #CrocodileHunter @WWFINDIA @RobertIrwin pic.twitter.com/kyzPf5B6Ia
— Ravi Karan Malhotra 🕉️ 🇮🇳 (@BeingRKM) July 29, 2019
Apart from Twitter, several individual users have posted the video on their timelines on Facebook.
Alt News found that this incident has been reported in the Marathi media, stating that the crocodile was found and rescued at Chiplun.
चिपळूण: पुराच्या पाण्यातून गटारात आलेली मगर विभागाच्या कर्मचाऱ्यांनी पिंजऱ्यात जेरबंद केली.
चिपळूण: दादर मोहल्ला परिसरात पुराच्या पाण्यातून गटारात आलेली मगर विभागाच्या कर्मचाऱ्यांनी पिंजऱ्यात जेरबंद केली. (कालची घटना)
#chiplun #crocodile
Posted by Maharashtra Times on Sunday, July 28, 2019
Alt News found that the video is indeed from Chiplun in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. It is not from Dadar, Mumbai as claimed. We spoke to Vijayraj Surve, Divisional Forest Officer, Ratnagiri who confirmed that the crocodile was captured in Chiplun. “There is an area called Dadar in Chiplun, which is probably why the confusion arose in the first place. The crocodile was rescued on July 26 after the Forest Department received information that a crocodile was spotted inside a drain.” Chiplun is roughly 320 kilometres south of Mumbai.
It may be reiterated that the video of the crocodile being rescued from a drain is from Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra and not from Dadar, Mumbai.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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Last week during the G20 summit in Bali, world leaders were informed of a missile…
Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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31st July 2019 / 10:57 am
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From their crop to their huts, how much do the poor need to forgo to accommodate PM Modi's rallies? - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
28th February 2017 / 5:50 pm / Last updated: 28th February 2017
In the last two weeks, at least two instances of poor suffering to accommodate PM Modi’s expansive election rallies have come forth. For PM Modi’s 27th February rally in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, wheat farmers lost many acres of their crop as they had to prematurely harvest their crop. This issue was covered by ABP News, a video of which can be seen below.
Farmers were forced harvest their premature wheat crop due to Narendra Modi's rally in Mau, Uttar Pradesh on 27th Feb, 2017.
Posted by Alt News on Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Yet another video of the poorest of poorest losing their hutments was also circulated on social media a couple of weeks ago. In the video below, one can see how people are complaining about how their hutments, specifically those of the Muslim families, were demolished in order to accommodate PM Modi’s rallies.
People complain about huts being demolished due to a Narendra Modi rally (undated video)
Posted by Alt News on Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Back in Feb 2016, for a PM Modi rally in Madhya Pradesh, a farmer was forced to cut down 15 acres of his standing wheat crop thus leading to losses.
In December 2016, several school children had to miss school because their school buses had to get busy for political duties of PM Modi’s rally.
A man who came to power with the slogan of ‘Achhe Din’ is bringing ‘Bure Din’ for the poor, farmers and students who live in the vicinity of his rallies, the very rallies in which he appeals to people to vote again for BJP for more ‘Achhe Din’.
Co-Founder Alt News, I can be reached via E-mail at [email protected] and on Facebook at https://fb.com/freethinker.
Follow @free_thinker
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
In the wake of the alleged murder of Shraddha Walkar by his partner Aftab Amin…
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Last week during the G20 summit in Bali, world leaders were informed of a missile…
Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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28th February 2017 / 5:50 pm / Last updated: 28th February 2017
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CT scan of lungs of COVID patient viral with misleading vaccine claim - Alt News
Archit
24th May 2021 / 1:24 pm
Several people have shared juxtaposed images of 3D CT scans of the lungs and claimed that the image on the right shows the lungs of a COVID positive patient who is vaccinated, while the one on the left is of a COVID infected person who is yet to be vaccinated.
Registrar and Head International Inoculation Centre at New Delhi Municipal Council Dr Sumit K Dubey tweeted the viral image and wrote, “Encourage everyone to get the vaccination done”. His tweet gained 2,000 retweets as of this writing. BJP supporter @RenukaJain6 also made the claim.
BJP Andhra state general secretary S Vishnu Vardhan Reddy tweeted as well.
Several Facebook pages and users shared the post, including ‘Sri Babu Singh Jai Singh Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital‘.
There are multiple iterations of this claim. A video is also circulated on social media where a man points to a similar x-ray. CEO of Pakistan-based Positive Media Communications Omar R Quraishi also tweeted the video.
Lungs of those infected with Covid
One was vaccinated and didn’t need hospitalisation
The other was not vaccinated and died pic.twitter.com/BWQMt5jYjw
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) April 30, 2021
Twitter user Shazia Shafi promoted the claim using a different set of scans. This tweet was retweeted by Radio Mirchi RJ Mehek.
Alt News has received multiple verification requests on its WhatsApp helpline (76000 11160) and mobile application. Download our mobile application to send such forwards for verification. (Android, iOS)
The juxtaposed image shows a CT scan of the lungs. However, only one of them shows the image of a COVID-19 positive patient. The lungs on left are healthy while the ones on right are of a COVID-19 patient.
This image was published in 2020 by Canadian news outlet Richmond News. The article’s headline reads, “New research aims to use CT scans to better diagnose COVID-19”.
As per the report researchers and radiologists at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) are at the helm of an international study that aims to better predict the presence of COVID-19 using CT scans.
Director, Emergency and Trauma Radiology, at VGH Dr Savvas Nicolaou, told Richmond News that the lungs of COVID-19 patients are white and hazy. “Currently, we can’t predict disease severity and its clinical impact in different patient populations. We’re confident this new tool will help us do that,” he said.
In February, Dr Vin Gupta, professor at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, tweeted the viral image and said lungs on left are normal while the one on right needs life support. He had shared this image to communicate that people should get vaccinated. For further details read CNBC report.
Since many have asked today, all approved covid vaccinations are VERY effective in preventing normal lungs (on the L) from looking like ones that need life support (on the R)
Please pass it on: the brand doesn’t matter, as all will prevent severe illness from occurring. pic.twitter.com/kWT6qvXNac
— Dr. Vin Gupta (@VinGuptaMD) February 22, 2021
The image in question was also used UBC and VCHRI.
Founding editor of Alt News Science Dr Sumaiya Shaikh has opined, “COVID-19 vaccine will save people from symptoms and prevent mortality. While the claim promoted through the CT scans is false, it is indeed true that taking the vaccine will prevent your lungs’ health to deteriorate as shown in the picture.”
The viral image, therefore, isn’t a comparison of the lungs of two COVID-19 patients — one vaccinated and the other yet to receive the jab. The image compares a healthy pair of lungs with the lungs of a COVID-19 patient.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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24th May 2021 / 1:24 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/ct-scan-of-lungs-of-covid-patient-viral-with-misleading-vaccine-claim/",
"author": "Archit"
}
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The curious case of S Gurumurthy and Hoaxes - Alt News
Alt News Desk
4th November 2017 / 9:46 pm / Last updated: 16th April 2019
Almost everyone on social media has fallen for hoaxes and fake news at some time or the other and ended up sharing it further. There are some who fall more often than others. Alt News brings you the interesting case of S. Gurumurthy, co-convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch.
Mr. Gurumurthy has repeatedly fallen for misinformation. Here are a few examples:
1. Sharing the news that Angola has become the first country to ban Islam, Gurumurthy wondered about how liberals will react. Little did he realize that he was sharing a hoax. You can read more about it in this BBC article.
Now the liberals will cry religious freedom is gone. But who will protect non Muslims from Muslims is the question. https://t.co/KZwWHz83fR
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) November 2, 2017
2. Gurumurthy played the classic “If true” trick while sharing an edited video of Rahul Gandhi. “Listen and think for yourself”, he tweeted Gurumurthy while sharing a video of the Congress President. The video was clearly doctored.
If this video is true this man will play havoc with the Congress which is an important part of two party democracy in India. Listen and think for yourself. pic.twitter.com/VDZYBKOHpx
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) November 2, 2017
The video was originally shared by @superlonday as a joke.
This is how it’s done, pure Mazak no propaganda:)@AllIndiaBakchod 😁 pic.twitter.com/dwB7fH3rys
— Super Londay (@SuperLonday) October 30, 2017
3. Gurumurthy was among those who fell for the ‘nano chip in the 2000 rupee note’ hoax.
Interesting. https://t.co/cnBUu7bINr
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) November 12, 2016
The present 2 k notes do not have that feature. This interesting feature will be in future notes https://t.co/ER9frBzPlm
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) November 12, 2016
4. Gurumurthy has even shared misinformation about music composer AR Rahman. “Just read and share” he tweeted, along with a poster which had a photo of AR Rahman and a fake quotation. The fact that the poster was shared by Postcard News, a known peddler of fake news escaped his notice.
No comments needed…Just read and share pic.twitter.com/wch1MQy42U
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) June 10, 2017
You can read the fact-check by SMHoaxSlayer on this fake news here
5. The Onion is a satirical news website, but Gurumurthy probably took it in all seriousness when he tweeted a link to an article which was titled “Historians Admit To Inventing Ancient Greeks.”
Historians Admit To Inventing Ancient Greeks http://t.co/P5RMfbuSW6 via @theonion. Now read T McEvilleys shape of ancient thought.
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) October 13, 2015
From GPS chip in Rs 2000 note to Postcard News memes, it is ironical that one of the most regarded right-wing ideologues and prolific political and economic commentators repeatedly falls for the most obvious hoaxes.
Follow @free_thinker
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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4th November 2017 / 9:46 pm / Last updated: 16th April 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/curious-case-s-gurumurthy-hoaxes/",
"author": "Alt News Desk"
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Cyclone Fani: Old video of a ship caught in a storm shared as impact of cyclone - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
3rd May 2019 / 4:09 pm
A video of a ship battling a storm in the sea is being circulated with the claim that it represents ongoing Cyclone Fani, which has recently hit Odisha, causing major destruction in the coastal areas. One Facebook user who goes by the name of Abhijit has captioned this video, “Cyclone Fani continues to strengthen as it tracks over the Bay of Bengal”. It has been shared close to 2,700 times and viewed over 57,000 times.
Cyclone Fani continues to strengthen as it tracks over the Bay of Bengal….
Posted by Abhijit Das Roy on Thursday, 2 May 2019
Few more individual users along with a Facebook page, Bong Savage, have shared the video with a similar text.
Using Invid, an image and video verification tool, Alt News found that the video of the ship caught up in the middle of a storm is at least two-years-old. We found an extended version of the same video uploaded, on Odnoklassniki, a Russian social media site, on November 17. 2016. The caption attached with the video reads, “Storm 12 points on the Beaufort scale (-Google translated)”. Moreover, Alt News found that the same video was uploaded on YouTube at least since December 2016. Suffice to Say, the video cannot be representative of a present event.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFpLiLW8IKQ?start=123]
In conclusion, an old video of an oceanic storm in Russia was falsely shared as the impact of Cyclone Fani. We urge social media users to not post or forward videos/images related to Cyclone Fani that have yet not been authenticated as this can lead to unnecessary panic. Please be a responsible netizen.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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3rd May 2019 / 4:09 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/cyclone-fani-old-video-of-a-ship-caught-in-a-storm-shared-as-impact-of-cyclone/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Dainik Bhaskar falsely reports pro-Pak chant raised in Bhilwara based on old video - Alt News
Archit
19th May 2022 / 5:57 pm / Last updated: 20th May 2022
On May 19, Dainik Bhaskar published a report with the headline, “Slogans of Pakistan in Bhilwara: Video of Pakistan slogans in Sanganer area surfaces, case registered in Subhash Nagar police station”. The report includes a 40-second clip of a political rally by members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). It is worth noting that police officers can be spotted in the video.
(Translated from Hindi: “भीलवाड़ा में लगे पाकिस्तान के नारे: सांगानेर इलाके में पाकिस्तान नारों का वीडियो आया सामने, सुभाष नगर थाने में मामला दर्ज.”)
BJP leader Sagar Pande shared the same video and claimed that pro-Pakistan slogans were raised on Eid (May 3). The audio in Pande’s video is slowed drastically to a point where the slogans can no longer be understood.
भीलवाड़ा के सुभाष नगर थाना क्षेत्र सांगानेर ग्राम में ईद के मौके पर पाकिस्तान जिंदाबाद के नारे लगाए ….
कितने देशद्रोहियों पर मुकदमा दर्ज कर कार्यवाही की गई ….?@DmBhilwara@PoliceRajasthan @RajPoliceHelp @Bhilwara_Police @BJP4Rajasthan@baheriasc @ladulaltelibjp pic.twitter.com/bwPdVuz6Xs
— Sagar Pande (@MspandePande) May 12, 2022
Other outlets that published similar reports are ABP Live, Aap Ka Rajasthan and Bhilwara Halchal.
On May 12, BJP Bhilwara MLA Vitthal Shankar Avasthi referred to the viral claim. He said, “Why not arrest those who raised pro-Pakistan slogans in the Sanganer area?”. The remark can be heard around the 1:20 mark on a video uploaded by his son on Facebook.
Upon listening to the video embedded in Dainik Bhaskar’s article, viewers can determine that no pro-Pakistan slogans were raised in the video. But the chant ‘SDPI Zindabad’ can be heard clearly.
Rajasthan-based lawyer Imran Rangrej pointed out the same and said the viral video is 17 months old. He tagged various police handles, including that of Rajasthan, Ajmer and Bhilwara.
@RajPoliceHelp@AltNews@IgpAjmer@Bhilwara_Police
सांगानेर (भीलवाड़ा) फरवरी 2021 SDPI पार्षद विजेता रैली में लगे SDPI जिन्दाबाद के नारे को पाकिस्तान जिन्दाबाद का नारा बताकर 17 महीने बाद झुठी,मनगढंत,FIR दर्ज करवाई गई जबकि इस वीडियो में थानाधिकारी सुभाष नगर स्वयं मौजूद है pic.twitter.com/QLBc3GDzJu
— Imran Rangrej (@imran_rangr) May 17, 2022
Dainik Bhaskar’s report states that the viral video is old. However, no further context has been given. In order to find more context about the video, Rangrej connected Alt News with SDPI member Abdul Salam Ansari who led the rally.
“I cannot be seen in the viral video because I was in the front, leading the rally,” Ansari told Alt News over a telephonic call. He added, “The viral video is from February 7, 2021, after the local election. The video shows a segment of the rally after SDPI’s Nathulal Rao won in Ward 57. The claim that pro-Pakistan slogans were chanted is false.” Zee News’s report on local elections confirms Rao’s victory.
The video below is a statement by Ansari about the controversy.
Alt News also spoke with counsellor Rao. He said, “We won by a large margin. Thus, a victory procession was organised. I was present in the rally and no anti-India slogans were raised.” Facebook page SDPI Bhilwara has posted a video of the celebrations on February 7.
It must be noted that SHO Pushpha Kasotiya and Bhilwara SP Office did not respond to our questions. Deputy SP Bhilwara Ram Chandra Choudhary said that the video is being inspected by the forensics team and can take up to two months to investigate.
The claim that pro-Pakistan slogans were raised in the video is false. The chant that can be heard is “SDPI Zindabad”.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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19th May 2022 / 5:57 pm / Last updated: 20th May 2022
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"author": "Archit"
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Dainik Bhaskar misquotes Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia as supporting Citizenship Amendment Bill - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
12th December 2019 / 8:52 pm
On December 11, Dainik Bhaskar published a story titled, “नागरिकता बिल / ज्योतिरादित्य सिंधिया ने समर्थन किया; बोले- यह संविधान के विपरीत, लेकिन भारतीय संस्कृति के अनुरूप (Citizenship Bill / Jyotiraditya Scindia supports; says-this is against the constitution but in accordance with the Indian culture -translated)”. It initially reported, “कांग्रेस नेता ज्योतिरादित्य सिंधिया ने नागरिकता संशाेधन बिल का समर्थन किया है। इंदौर में बुधवार को सिंधिया ने कहा- यह बिल संविधान के विपरीत होना अलग बात है, लेकिन यह भारत की सभ्यता और वसुधैव कुटुंबकम् की विचारधारा के अनुरूप है। (Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has supported the Citizenship Amendment Bill. In Indore, he said -It is a different matter the bill against the constitution but this is in line with the India culture and ideology of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -translated)”
The article was updated after a report by fact-checking outlet BoomLive. Now, the headline of the significantly updated article reads, “ज्योतिरादित्य सिंधिया का ट्वीट: नागरिकता संशोधन बिल संस्कृति और संविधान के विपरीत (Jyotiraditya Scindia’s tweet: Citizenship Amendment Bill is against the constitution and culture -translated)” It states that Jyotiraditya Scindia has kept his opinion on the bill.
However, interestingly, the initial report is available on the English news website of the Dainik Bhaskar group without the changes that were made to the Hindi report. The report published by DBPost reads, “Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has supported the Citizenship Amendment Bill. In Indore on Wednesday, Scindia said- This bill is against Constitution, it is a different thing to be contrary to the constitution, but it is in accordance with the civilization of India and the ideology of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.”
Right-leaning website Swarajya published an article while citing the Dainik Bhaskar report and said, “In a major embarrassment for the Congress party, its senior party leader and former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has supported the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), Dainik Bhaskar has reported.”
Hindi Newspaper Amar Ujala also published a report with the headline, “सिंधिया ने फिर की ‘बगावत’, 370 के बाद नागरिकता विधेयक का किया समर्थन (Scindia rebels again, after [article] 370, supports Citizenship Amendment -translated)”.
With a keyword search on YouTube, Alt News found the video footage of Scindia’s statement on December 11, 2019. Here, it is evident that contrary to the aforementioned media reports, Scindia was actually opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
At 44 seconds in the above video, when asked about his opinion CAB, he can be heard saying, “Not only Congress, many other parties are opposing. See the situation on the ground in North-eastern states, you see the situation in several other states. The founder of our constitution Babasaheb Ambedkar had always said while writing the constitution that no one will be seen with the prism that is based on their caste, creed or religion. People will be seen as an Indian citizen. Always in history, don’t only talk about democracy, from 3000-4000 years this land of ‘Bharat Mata’ has always accepted everyone. (translated)”
He then goes on to say, “‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family)- this is India’s speciality. And the bill that has been brought today and which was put forward yesterday. I believe India’s ideology and civilization is to take everyone along. It’s in the bill that is on the basis of religion and state. It has happened before on the basis of the country but it has never happened on the basis of religion before. I think that it’s a different matter that it’s against the constitution but it’s not also on the basis of our Indian culture. (-translated)”
His verbatim statement in Hindi can be read here:“केवल कांग्रेस नहीं, बहुत सारी पार्टियां विरोध कर रही है और सड़क पे उत्तर पूर्वी राज्यों में आप स्थिति देखिये, देश के अनेक राज्यों में आप स्थिति देखिये | हमारे संविधान के निर्माता बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर ने सदैव कहा था…संविधान लिखने के समय में की न जात, पात और न धर्म के आधार पर किसी को उस दृष्टिकोण से देखा जाएगा | भारतीय नागरिक के रूप में देखा जाएगा | सदैव इतिहास में, केवल प्रजातंत्र की बात मत करो आप, 3,000-4,000 सालों से इस भारत माता की माटी में सभी को अपनाया है | वसुधैव कुटुंबकम – यही भारत की विशेषता रही है पूरे विश्व में और जो अध्यादेश आज लाया जा रहा है, कल लाया गया था, मैं मानता हूँ की जो भारत की विचारधारा है, जो सभ्यता है, की सभी को साथ में लेक चलना है | जो अध्यादेश में भी है की धर्म और राज्य के आधार पर… देशों के आधार पर पूर्व भी हुआ है पर धर्म के आधार पर कभी भी पूर्व में नहीं हुआ | मैं मानता हूँ की संविधान के विपरीत बात अलग है पर हमारी भारतीय संस्कृति जो है इसके आधार पर नहीं है।”
Scindia had tweeted along similar lines while opposing the bill on December 11, 2019.
#CAB2019 संविधान की मूल भावना के ख़िलाफ़ है,भारतीय संस्कृति के विपरीत भी है। अंबेडकर जी ने संविधान लिखते समय किसी को धर्म, जात के दृष्टिकोण से नहीं देखा था।भारत का इतिहास रहा है कि हमने सभी को अपनाया है- वासुदेव कुटुंबकम भारत की विशेषता है।धर्म के आधार पर पहले कभी ऐसा नहीं हुआ।
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) December 11, 2019
It may be noted that Swarjaya has not updated its report despite its source updating the article. The Amar Ujala report is also unchanged.
In conclusion, media outlets misquoted Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia’s statement and claimed that he rebelled against his party and supported the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which was passed by both houses of the Parliament. The Congress voted against CAB. In the recent past, Scindia has taken contrarian positions to that of the official line of the Congress party. Recently, he welcomed the encounter of alleged rapists in the Hyderabad gang-rape and murder case and later deleted his tweet. Earlier, Scindia had backed the government’s move on repealing the provisions of article 370 while questioning the constitutional process that was followed.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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12th December 2019 / 8:52 pm
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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Dainik Bhaskar misreports CBI chief Alok Verma as holding domestic help captive at his residence - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
2nd November 2018 / 9:16 pm / Last updated: 19th March 2019
On October 25, Dainik Bhaskar reported an alleged case of human smuggling where a 20-year-old woman from Jharkhand, Sunita Toppo, was sold to a family in Delhi under false pretences of a job. She was the third such victim from Ranchi’s Mandar, per Dainik Bhaskar.
In its subsequent reportage (1, 2, 3), the Hindi media outlet raised speculations of Sunita being held hostage at the residence of CBI chief Alok Verma.
As it turned out, Dainik Bhaskar’s reportage was premature. Investigations were underway and Sunita was yet to give her statement on the identity of her alleged perpetrators. Dainik Bhaskar carried out several reports based on mere speculations because the man involved in the case bore the same name as the CBI chief Alok Verma. Alt News confirmed with the Delhi police that Verma had no links whatsoever with this case.
Here is how Dainik Bhaskar misreported the incident and gave it a fictitious angle.
According to a report published by Dainik Bhaskar on October 25, a woman named Nisha Devi from Jharkhand’s Tangar Basli sold Sunita to a placement agency in Delhi, run by duo Yamuna and Ashok. Sunita was made to work for Amiya Verma who resides in Vasant Vihar. Dainik Bhaskar added that Sunita was held captive in the house and not paid for the work. Her dues were directly transferred to Yamuna and Ashok.
This report ended with Sunita’s family members pleading the police for their daughter’s safety. All subsequent reporting by the Hindi media outlet brought in the ‘CBI chief Alok Verma’ angle.
This was the first instance of the news organisation raising speculations about the accused’s identity. The October 26 report by Dainik Bhaskar suggested that Sunita was rescued from the residence of CBI chief Alok Verma, where she had been held captive for the last three months. Verma has been at the centre of controversies surrounding the top investigation agency.
“वर्मा सीबीआई निदेशक हैं या कोई और…इस पर सभी खामोश हैं। दिल्ली पुलिस ने इसका खंडन किया है। (Everyone is silent on whether this Verma is the CBI chief or not. Delhi police has denied the allegation),” reported Dainik Bhaskar.
However, this was immediately followed with – “महिला आयोग की मदद से सुनीता का रेस्क्यू किया गया, लेकिन वर्मा के सीबीआई निदेशक होने की चर्चा चलते ही आयोग के सभी सदस्यों के फोन बंद हो गए। (Sunita was rescued with the help of women’s commission. But after speculations that this Verma might be the CBI chief, all phone lines of the commission have been unresponsive.)”
Despite adding in this report that the Delhi police have denied rumours that Sunita was held hostage by CBI chief Alok Verma, Dainika Bhaskar published another report a few days later, furthering its speculations.
In the report published on October 31, the Hindi media outlet said that Ranchi police was taking Sunita home on Monday after her rescue.
“हालांकि, अभी तक यह स्पष्ट नहीं है कि ये आलोक वर्मा विवादों में फंसे सीबीआई निदेशक हैं या कोई और, इस मुद्दे पर दिल्ली महिला आयोग से लेकर रांची पुलिस तक चुप है। (However, it is still not clear whether the Alok Verma involved in this case is the controversial CBI chief. Both Delhi Women’s Commission and Ranchi police are mum on the issue.),” reported Dainik Bhaskar.
The news organisation claimed that its reporters attempted to speak with Sunita when her train arrived at Bokaro station. However, police officials, including SSP Yogendra Kumar took the woman away. The title of Dainik Bhaskar’s story was based on this incident – “Bhaskar asked Sunita who was Alok Verma, police stopped the train and left (translated).”
In the latter part of this article, Dainik Bhaskar included Sunita’s statement to the police – “सुनीता ने बयान में बताया कि वह आलोक वर्मा के यहां काम करती थी, मगर काम के पैसे नहीं दिए जाते थे..आलोक वर्मा कौन हैं पूछताछ के बाद ही यह साफ हो सकेगा। (Sunita said in her statement that she used to work for Alok Verma but was unpaid for her labour…The identity of Alok Verma will only be revealed after interrogation is completed.)”
In the follow-up article published on November 1, Dainik Bhaskar reported, “झारखंड महिला आयोग की अध्यक्ष कल्याणी शरण ने बताया कि पीड़ित सुनीता ने सीबीआई निदेशक आलोक वर्मा की फोटो देखकर उनकी पहचान की। Jharkhand women’s commission chief Kalyani Sharan said that Sunita recognised CBI chief Alok Verma through his photograph.” Thus declaring that the head of India’s top investigating agency was involved the domestic help captive at his residence.
Dainik Jagran conducted its own investigation of the case and published a report on November 2. “सीबीआइ निदेशक नहीं, कंसल्टेंट आलोक वर्मा के घर बंधक थी पीडि़ता| (Sunita was held hostage at the residence of consultant Alok Verma and not the CBI chief),” is the first sentence of the report.
The news outlet found that Sunita was made to work at two households, including the residence of financial officer Alok Verma’s parents. Sunita carried out chores for Verma’s elderly father as well. All discussions vis-a-vis Sunita’s recruitment took place between Govind Sharma (one of the accused) and Alok Verma’s wife, Amiya.
1. Statement of Delhi and Ranchi police: Alt News contacted senior officials in Delhi police who, after verifying facts with SSP Ranchi, said that Sunita was rescued from the residence of one Alok Verma who works as a financial assistant at a private firm. The police said that a confusion regarding the man’s identity was created because his name matched that of the CBI chief.
Alt News accessed the FIR filed by Sunita, which named three people – Nishya, Alok Verma and Govind Sharma – as accused.
In the FIR, Sunita has not referred to Alok Verma as the CBI chief.
2. Address of the accused does not match the address of CBI chief Alok Verma: Recently, four officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) were detained for ‘snooping’ outside CBI chief Alok Verma’s residence. According to media reports, this was at 2 Janpath, which is the official residence of the director of CBI. The FIR mentions the accused Alok Verma’s address as 7/2, Block B, Vasant Vihar, which is approximately 10 km away from 2 Janpath.
3. Statement of the chairperson of Jharkhand women’s commission: Alt News contacted the Jharkhand Commission for Women chairperson Kalyani Sharan who was quoted by Dainik Bhaskar as saying that Sunita identified the man who held her captive as CBI chief Alok Verma.
Claiming that she was misquoted in the media, Sharan added, “Sunita has not confided in me that the man was, in fact, the CBI chief. There are thousands of Alok Verma in this country and it is only for the police to investigate the identity of the accused.”
The statements of Delhi police and the report by Dainik Jagran point to a glaring case of misreporting by Dainik Bhaskar. A case unconnected to CBI chief Alok Verma was misreported by one of the most widely read mainstream media outlets, which is yet to publish any clarification on the same. In the recent past, there have been other cases of misreporting by Dainik Bhaskar, which includes giving a ‘fanatic evangelism’ angle to the Delhi shooting case and communalising the murder of Delhi resident Ankit Garg.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2nd November 2018 / 9:16 pm / Last updated: 19th March 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Dainik Bhaskar publishes old photo of baby elephant rescue from Ooty, Tamil Nadu as Kerala - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
24th August 2018 / 5:33 pm / Last updated: 24th August 2018
An article published by Dainik Bhaskar New Delhi Edition on August 23, 2018 carried a photo of a baby elephant with a caption “सेना केरल में बाढ़ में फंसे लोगों के साथ जानवरों की भी मदद कर रही है। जवान ने हाथी के बच्चे को रेस्क्यू किया।” (Army is helping animals along with the people stranded in the floods in Kerala. A jawan rescued an elephant’s baby -translated). The caption purports that a baby elephant was rescued by the army during Kerala floods.
Gujarati edition of the same newspaper Divya Bhaskar had also published the image on August 23, 2018.
Individual users have circulated the image as well, one Facebook user John Morris posted the same image on August 20, 2018. It has been shared more than 3000 times at the time of writing this article.
PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR
KERALA, FLOODS.
Posted by John Morris on Monday, 20 August 2018
Palanichamy Sarathkumar, 28, a forest guard stationed near Mettupalayam, Coimbatore recieved a call on December 12, 2017 when he was heading home after a night shift. An article published by the BBC on December 29, 2017 quoted Sarathkumar saying, “The caller informed me that a female elephant was blocking the road near the Vanabhadra Kaliamman temple.” The BBC report further states that Sarathkumar and his colleagues managed to drive the elephant back in to the jungle using fire crackers. Scouting for other elephants in the area, the team came across a calf stuck inside a small ditch. They realised the calf was the reason for the female elephant’s distress. However, the calf was too weak to walk.
Sarathkumar was further quoted saying, “We wanted to take it to the other side of the road to reunite it with its mother. But there was a danger of being attacked as she was still nearby. So, instead of all four of us being put at risk, I decided to carry the calf by myself across the road.”
The faux pas by Dainik Bhaskar was first discovered by Twitter user Sneh Bhavsar.
A baby elephant was rescued near Athirapally, Thrissur in Kerala on August 13, 2018. However, this was not the same one as reported by Dainik Bhaskar. In an article published by The News Minute on August 16, 2018, an image of the rescued elephant is provided. “In a heartwarming rescue operation, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) officials closed down the shutters of a dam to save a baby elephant from drowning in the overflowing river,” stated the report.
We have observed a lack of due diligence from many reputed media organisation while reporting Kerala floods. Ascribing photos and videos to a location unrelated to the incident has been repeated multiple times.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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24th August 2018 / 5:33 pm / Last updated: 24th August 2018
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Bijapur Maoist attack: Dainik Bhaskar publishes images of film set as Naxal camp - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
7th April 2021 / 4:24 pm
On April 3, 22 security personnel were killed in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur. Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar published an article on April 5 with the headline, “Video of Bijapur encounter viral!: Naxalites seen fighting with soldiers, pictures viral; press note issued urging soldiers to join the mass movement.”
The aforementioned story had been deleted at the time of writing. An archived version can be accessed here.
The story was based on photos and videos viral on social media. “Women are seen carrying food and water with Naxalites. There is also a photo of them cooking. A woman was seen making the Naxalite victory sign. In one image, the Naxalites are lounging in chairs, and another shows their loot of stolen weapons. There is also a picture of members of the Jan Natya Manch with the Naxalites. Dainik Bhaskar does not take responsibility for the authenticity of these images and videos,” read the report.
Several social media users pointed out that Dainik Bhaskar published a photo from a film shoot in Bastar as images of a Naxalite commander.
ये नए दौर की पत्रकारिता है..बस्तर में चल रही फ़िल्म की शूटिंग इन्हें नक्सली वीडियो नजर आ रहा हैं..महिला एक्टर इन्हें नक्सली कमांडर दिख रही है..वो भी विक्ट्री साइन दिखाती..भाई रिसर्च नही कर सकते तो पीछे लगे कैमरे या कुर्सी पर बैठे लोग ही देख लेते.. @rahulpandita @free_thinker pic.twitter.com/BXXDyNHyrl
— संजय ठाकुर (@sanjaythakur6) April 5, 2021
In fact, in the picture with the woman making a victory sign, camera equipment can be seen in the background.
Alt News spoke with Bastar-based `journalist Ashu Tiwari who was present on set during the shoot. “These photos should not have been made public. I don’t know who uploaded them. And they went viral with a false claim. In December 2020, the crew was shooting in the jungles of Jagdalpur, which the police and local administration knew about. We cannot make film’s name and other details public, but I want to make it clear that these pictures are from a film set, and I was also present there. The director of this film is Sampat Jha,” he said.
Tiwari also shared a few pictures of the shoot with Alt News that confirmed this was a film set.
Dainik Bhaskar published the report after the recent Naxal encounter where 22 security personnel were killed. While the story was later taken down, the outlet should have verified the images before publishing.
She specializes in information verification, examining mis/disinformation, social media monitoring and platform accountability. Her aim is to make the internet a safer place and enable people to become informed social media users. She has been a part of Alt News since 2018.
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In a now-deleted article titled “दीप प्रज्ज्वलन के वैज्ञानिक और आध्यात्मिक पक्ष, जानें ये है…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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7th April 2021 / 4:24 pm
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"author": "Priyanka Jha"
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Tweet by parody account believed to be Dainik Bhaskar's statement on IT raids - Alt News
Abhishek Kumar
29th July 2021 / 1:03 pm
On July 22, the Income Tax Department raided several offices of the Dainik Bhaskar Group, a leading Hindi daily in India. In its response to the raid, the media outlet said, “Government scared of honest journalism: Government raids Bhaskar Group, which exposed the real death figures of COVID-19 corpses in the Ganga.”
It is noteworthy that there was a lot of uproar in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over the raids, with sessions in both houses getting stalled. Following this, a screenshot of a tweet by a handle that used Dainik Bhaskar in its username was widely shared on social media. It read, “I will not get scared because I’m no Veer Savarkar. I am free because I am Dainik Bhaskar.”
Numerous users shared the screenshot while fiercely criticising Dainik Bhaskar. Many of these posts were accompanied by an appeal to boycott the Hindi daily. At the same time, several others were circulating the image as proof of the strength and independence of the media outlet.
Another user posted the viral picture along with a screengrab which showed he has deleted the Dainik Bhaskar app.
Suresh Joshi of the BJP also shared the screenshot while targeting the newspaper.
Abhishek Kumar of the RJD targeted Dainik Bhaskar too. His tweet amassed over 4,000 likes and over 250 shares as of this writing.
Sharing the screenshot, Facebook page ‘हमारा हिंदुस्तान प्यारा सा हिन्दुस्तान‘ (Our Lovely India) wrote, “This tweet is like a tight slap to the face.” The post racked up over 1,000 likes and was shared by over 200 times users. The image was extremely widespread on Facebook.
It is clear that the Twitter account associated with the viral screenshot is fake because the official Twitter handle of Dainik Bhaskar is @DainikBhaskar. Alt News performed a Twitter search using ‘@DainkBhaskar1’ to find out more about this account. We can confirm that at present, no account with this username exists.
We discovered that the username of the Twitter handle has been changed. But this username still appears in replies to tweets posted by this account.
Alt News found some old tweets from the account on Internet Archive. When we clicked on one of the archived tweets, we were redirected to the updated @DainikBhaskara (archive link) account. This tweet was liked more than 27,000 times and garnered over 6,000 retweets.
The bio of the account with the new username clearly states that it is a parody account. In addition to this, the display picture also reads ‘parody’.
A parody account was therefore believed to be the genuine Dainik Bhaskar account.
Abhishek is a senior fact-checking journalist and researcher at Alt News. He has a keen interest in information verification and technology. He is always eager to learn new skills, explore new OSINT tools and techniques. Prior to joining Alt News, he worked in the field of content development and analysis with a major focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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29th July 2021 / 1:03 pm
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"author": "Abhishek Kumar"
}
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Dainik Jagran and Amar Ujala portrayed J&K civilian as slain terrorist - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
7th December 2017 / 5:40 pm
It has been observed that mainstream media at times has succumbed to disseminating false information either unwittingly or otherwise. Recently in November, there was a report of television actress Sulagna Chatterjee who had put out on Instagram a screenshot of a chat she had with a casting agent wherein the latter talked of a ‘compromise’. Dainik Jagran through its twitter account put the story out with the picture of some other Sulagna Chatterjee. The person whose picture was wrongly used threatened the media house with a lawsuit following which the tweet was deleted and a clarification was issued.
Okay Twitter, help me here. Can any legal expert help me take action against @Dainik_Jagaran‘s INext Publication?
They’ve used my picture in the PAN India story of an actress with my name. Please help. https://t.co/BUodbjncE6 pic.twitter.com/72KQDng6wb
— Sulagna Chatterjee (@BeingChatterjee) December 1, 2017
A far more serious blooper was made by Dainik Jagran and Amar Ujala. On November 18, the Indian Army gunned down six terrorists in an encounter in the Bandipora district of North Kashmir. Next day on November 19, these dailies carried the news on the front page wherein they had published photographs of the slain terrorists.
Dainik Jagran also carried the pictures of the terrorists
As can be seen in the image above, the slain terrorists have been identified as Osama Jungi, Abu Jargam and Mohammad Bhai.
The story took an interesting twist, however, when it was revealed that the picture used for one of the terrorists was actually that of a citizen of Jammu & Kashmir. The terrorist who has been identified in the picture above as Abu Jargam is actually a resident of Jammu. His name is Abdul Majid and he runs a meat business. Majid got the shock of his life when he saw his picture on the front page of the newspapers portrayed as a terrorist. He spoke to the channel A2ZNews about his harrowing experience.
https://www.facebook.com/181150329123148/videos/192998151271699/
In both the cases cited in this article, a wrong image was used due to mistaken identity. Callousness on the part of these media houses by attributing false pictures could have the effect of marring reputations and careers, not to mention the trauma associated with it. In the case of celebrities, the media is prompt in correcting their mistake as we saw in the case of confusion over Shashi Kapoor and Shashi Tharoor, but when it comes to common people at the receiving end of their negligence, a similar enthusiam is usually missing. Ordinary citizens often have to run from pillar to post and even contemplate legal action, eventually forcing media houses to retract. To err is human, but it is incumbent upon mainstream media to avoid such slip-ups so that the story can be reported with accuracy after due checks.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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7th December 2017 / 5:40 pm
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Dainik Jagran's misleading reports portray mass burials in Prayagraj haven't risen due to COVID - Alt News
Archit & Prashant Singh
30th May 2021 / 5:16 am / Last updated: 2nd June 2021
The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India did not only overwhelm an unprepared healthcare system but also choked crematoriums unaccustomed to performing mass funerals. Many of those unable to afford crematoriums performed water burials in the Ganges or buried their loved ones on the river’s banks. In the second week of May, Dainik Bhaskar reported that over 2,000 bodies were found along a 1,140 km stretch of the banks of Ganga across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Multiple other media outlets – Reuters, Hindustan Times, India Today, Mojo Story and BBC – have also reported about the river and its banks swollen with corpses.
But Dainik Jagran, over the last few days, has published a series of reports attempting to portray that mass burials have always happened along the banks of Ganga and online media is misleading its readers through sensational coverage of the issue.
On May 26, the Hindi daily published an image of mass burials and claimed it was taken three years ago. Based on this photograph, the outlet asserted that most pictures of mass graves at Shringverpur ghat in Prayagraj were taken in 2018. It then attempted to normalise the deaths by portraying there has been no increase due to the pandemic and such mass burials have always been taking place.
That same day, Jagran published another report on its print edition headlined, ‘There was no corona three years ago, but pictures of the banks of Ganga from three years ago were the same.’ The outlet said, “Those who are creating a ruckus on social media and posting images of dead bodies on the banks of Ganga in Sangamnagri (Prayagraj) as recent, must look at this image carefully. This picture (image on left) is from March 18, 2018, when Shringverpur ghat was being renovated prior to Kumbh 2019.” The report also said, “There has been an age-old tradition of burying bodies at Shringverpur and Phaphamau ghats in Prayagraj.”
According to the report, Dainik Jagran’s five-man team covered about a dozen villages along a stretch of 70 km including, Shringverpur ghat and Phaphamau ghat. This report, also published in Jagran’s New Delhi edition, highlighted three points (marked in red) – 1) Several Hindu communities practise cremation by burial; 2) Internet media sensationalised the issue; 3) People who have died due to leprosy and snake bites were buried on the ghat. A similar report was published in Jagran’s Prayagraj edition on May 28.
The report was tweeted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on May 26. It gained over 11,000 retweets and 35,000 likes. Other prominent BJP leaders who tweeted the report include BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, BJP spokesperson Neetu Dabas and BJP leader Ravinder Gupta. Malviya and Gupta stated that the people criticising the government are only trying to defame Hindus by politicising COVID.
It is noteworthy that Indo-Asian News Service had reported in 2019 that Dainik Jagran received government ads worth over Rs 100 crore in 2014-15 to 2018-19 period. As per IANS, Dainik Jagran was the highest recipient of government ad revenues. More recently in February 2021, Newslaundry reported how the Jagran group ran a disingenuous PR campaign for the UP government’s farm policies and enriched itself in the process.
Alt News collaborated with independent journalist Prashant Singh who visited the ghats mentioned in the Dainik Jagran reports and two other ghats. Based on media reports, interactions with priests and locals and statements from journalists, it is clear that the volume of burials post-pandemic at Shringverpur and Phaphamau area is unprecedented.
ANALYSIS: DAINIK JAGRAN’S REPORTS
Alt News studied the image comparison of Shringverpur ghat posted by Jagran. The background scenery in both images is different. The image on left, one that Jagran claims is from 2018, has a river bed while the other has hills and trees. This raises an important question – why didn’t Jagran, in order for an accurate comparison, click the photograph in 2021 at the same place where the 2018 image was shot?
The mosque seen on the hilltop in the image on the right is Manari Shah Baba Srigror. Higher resolution versions of both images are accessible on a May 26 article by Jagran.
We reached out to two employees at Dainik Jagran Prayagraj but they did not comment on the stories. However, both of them confirmed on a telephonic call that the number of burials in 2021 is unprecedented.
Strangely enough on May 15, about 10 days before these reports were published, Jagran published an image of dead bodies buried at Shringverpur ghat and reported that 100 corpses were cremated every day since the last week of April. On a usual day, 20-25 bodies are cremated, the outlet said.
Alt News spoke with independent photojournalist Prabhat Kumar Verma. He has been reporting from Prayagraj since 2009. “Like many journalists, I was reporting about mass burials and dead bodies floating on Ganga. Based on my past experience and spot reporting during the pandemic, I can confidently state that the number of burials in April-May 2021 was the most I’ve seen, not just at Shringverpur ghat but other ghats as well,” he said.
Verma added, “As a journalist, I follow the news, especially of my city. This is not the first time Jagran has carried reports critical of the government, then a few days later published another report which not only supports the government but also contradicts their own reportage.”
MEDIA REPORTS: RECENT BURIALS IN PRAYAGRAJ
Alt News performed a keyword search on Twitter (1, 2) and Google (1, 2) restricting the results between March 2018 to December 2018 and found that no national media outlet had reported about mass burials on the banks of Ganga during the said time period.
But in 2021, multiple media outlets and the Ministry of Jal Shakti reported about the extraordinary number of burials during the second wave of the pandemic. Dainik Bhaskar had sent 30 reporters for spot reporting from 27 districts in Uttar Pradesh. According to the May 14 report, over 2,000 dead bodies were found in a stretch of 1,140 km. Bhaskar reported that 13 dead bodies were evacuated from Sangam, Prayagraj and that police identified that three of them were caused by suicide. There is no clarity about the remaining ten.
Amaj Ujala published two reports on May 15 and May 16 that stated that hundreds of dead bodies were buried along the banks of the Ganges near Chhatnag ghat, Jhunsi.
ANI reported that dead bodies laid uncovered in the Sangam area. A local, Kunwar Jeet Tivar, was quoted by the news agency saying, “At least 400-500 bodies have been buried here. This is a sacred place where people used to come to take holy baths. People no longer like to come here. The government should ensure that this matter is taken care of.” This report was carried by The New Indian Express on May 16.
On May 16, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said in a statement, “The country is facing an extraordinary situation wherein a number of COVID-19 cases and consequential deaths have been on the rise in many States and UTs in the recent past. Dumping of dead bodies/ partially burnt or decomposed corpses in the river Ganga and its tributaries have recently been reported. This is most undesirable and alarming.” No such statement was released in 2018, the year that witnessed similar mass burials per Jagran
The next day Hindustan Times reported, “Over the past week, close to 1,000 bodies were either fished out of the Ganga or found in shallow graves on river banks in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.” The report added that dead bodies were visible at the following ghats – Shringverpur, Arail, Jhunsi, Phaphamau, Sangam – and at the area near Phaphamau Bridge. Inspector general of police, Prayagraj range, K P Singh told HT that the police are no longer allowing burials on the riverfront.
Shivbaran Tiwari, a priest at Shringverpur ghat, told Dainik Bhaskar that prior to the pandemic, typically only 8-10 dead bodies used to arrive. Post-COVID, 60 to 70 dead bodies are being brought to Shringverpur alone. Sometimes this number even crosses 100. This report was also published on May 17.
On May 20, Aaj Tak aired a broadcast from Phaphamau bridge. It was shot from the NH-30 bridge. The report was about the increased number of burials at Phaphamau. Aaj Tak reporter Shivendra Srivastav said during the broadcast, “The sight under Phaphamau bridge is heart-wrenching. People come here for last rites. Only dead bodies can be spotted in this area and some of them are not even cremated but buried just a few feet underground. The bright cloth (ramnami) indicates the burial site… If I’m to take an estimate there have been least 1,000 burials here.”
Alt News spoke with Srivastav and he said, “I stand by my report. I can confirm that there were at least 1,000 burials near the Phaphamau bridge area. Based on my research, I feel this kind of mass burial didn’t take place in the past.”
There are multiple images of mass burials at Shringverpur ghat on Getty Images. One of them was clicked by Ritesh Shukla on May 20 and has been captioned as, “Bodies, some of which are believed to be Covid-19 victims, are seen partially exposed in shallow sand graves after rains washed away the top layer of sand at a cremation ground on the banks of the Ganges River on May 20, 2021, in Shringverpur, northwest of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Gravediggers at the site said that there was a threefold increase in the number of bodies arriving for burials and cremations since April.”
On May 24, 50-year-old priest Jairam told India Today that burial of dead bodies in the sand along the banks of river Ganga is an old custom but the rise in the number of burials is certainly a sign of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, multiple national media outlets reported that well over 1,000 dead bodies were found on the banks of Ganga in UP and Bihar. Jagran blamed international media, without naming any outlet, for ‘tarnishing’ Prayagraj’s image. Readers should note that reports by BBC and The Washington Post include statements of government officials and Jagran’s reportage claiming images on the internet and reports by ‘international media’ are creating a misleading image of burials doesn’t hold water.
GANGA VICHAR MANCH OFFICIALS’ STATEMENTS
Alt News spoke with officials of Ganga Vichar Manch, a volunteer organisation listed on the National Mission For Clean Ganga. BJP state minister and UP coordinator Anamika Chaudhary and UP co-coordinator Sunil Nishad confirmed to Alt News over a telephonic conversation that burials at Shringverpur ghat and Phaphamau ghat have increased amidst the pandemic.
“The number of burials at Phaphamau and Shringverpur ghat was never as high as we have witnessed in May 2021. However, with the cooperation of the administration, the situation at the river banks is improving now and the bodies are not being buried,” Chaudhary told Alt News.
Nishad informed, “Prior to the pandemic, bodies were seldom buried at Arail ghat, but this time the number of dead bodies has increased. This pattern can be observed at Phaphamau ghat as well. During my visit to Shringverpur ghat in September-October 2019, I noticed 20-25 buried bodies. But this time the number of bodies is around 400 to 500 – I cannot deny this.”
GROUND REPORTING BY JOURNALIST PRASHANT SINGH
Prashant Singh visited Shringverpur ghat and Phaphamau bridge in order to verify Dainik Jagran’s claim that a similar dead body count was observed in 2018. Singh asked locals to compare the burials in the pre-COVID era with the number of burials in the first three weeks of May 2021.
INTERVIEWS AT SHRINGVERPUR GHAT
Singh spoke with Kedarnath Tiwari (62) and Manoj Tiwari (42) on May 26. The former is a pandit (priest) and the other is a panda (household priest). Both have been performing last rites at this ghat for decades.
Kedarnath said, “When the number of burials recently increased, we stopped coming. It was an alarming situation. Our family members didn’t allow us to visit the ghat. Right from the morning, the burials would begin… since the last 15 days the situation is slightly different. We have never seen anything like this. Four to six dead bodies were coming from each district. There is a dire need for a crematorium.”
On May 27, The Indian Express, ABP News and Jagran reported that government officer Anil Kumar Patel submitted a proposal for an electric crematorium near Shringverpur ghat due to a large number of dead bodies buried on the banks of the Ganges. This indicates that the government has acknowledged the increase in the number of deaths amidst the second wave.
Singh asked another priest Manoj Tiwari if he has seen mass cremations to such a large extent in the past, to which he promptly replied “never” and continued, “About a decade ago during extreme summer (due to loos) burials would increase. But what we are seeing in 2021 is unprecedented. Our elders shared that the last time such a large number of deaths took place was during the cholera epidemic.”
Manoj confirmed that at least 1,000 bodies were buried at the Shringverpur ghat. When Singh asked how many burials took place prior to the pandemic, he replied, “Burials ranged from 10, 20 to 50 per day.” Singh questioned that this number seems to be on the lower side, to which Manoj said, “Well, that is the deal. Today the number of burials per day is about 100 to 125. No one could keep a track of how many dead bodies were being brought here. In fact, we stopped performing last rites and requested families to cremate themselves.”
“People who came to cremate their family members were scared of getting COVID-19. They wrapped up the process as quickly as possible and left. Those who were strong-willed did the last rites as usual,” he added.
When Singh enquired if there was an intervention by the government, Manoj said, “The government acted only after media reports. Now the burial process has stopped and only cremations take place.”
INTERVIEWS AT PHAPHAMAU BRIDGE
On May 29, Singh visited the Phaphamau area and spoke with pandas Devi Prasad Mishra and Durga Prasad Mishra. Both of them have been associated with the ghats for decades.
Devi said, “I’m 55 years old and in my time, I have never seen such mass burials at Phaphamau.” When Singh asked him if the same number of burials were taking place in 2018 prior to the 2019 Kumbh, he responded, “No, this has happened after the pandemic when daily 100-125 dead bodies were brought.” Devi also revealed that the area near the Phaphamau bridge had such mass burials for the first time. He told Singh that the holy cloth used to cover the grave (ramnami) were recently being removed.
Furthermore, the other panda Durga said, “Cremations and burials used to happen. But not at the scale we are witnessing after the second wave.”
Singh also spoke with Ramji who regularly visits Phaphamau to bathe in the Ganges. “I have been visiting Phaphamau each month for the past 32 years. I have never seen the burials I witnessed during COVID-19,” he said.
In a series of reports, Dainik Jagran claimed that images on the internet and international media reports on mass burial at the banks of Ganga are mere sensationalism. The outlet claimed that mass burials after the second wave of COVID-19 is not a new phenomenon and a similar number of burials happened in 2018.
While burials along the banks of Ganga is not a new phenomenon in Prayagraj, the scale significantly increased in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. This was confirmed by –
The reports by Dainik Jagran do not corroborate with ground reality and in fact, are an attempt to normalise the recent deaths caused due to mismanagement and government apathy. It must be pointed out Vishvas News that comes under the digital wing of Jagran Prakashan Limited is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). Bharat Gupta, CEO of Jagran New Media, is an IFCN board member. The latest reports, unfortunately, only add to the list of misleading reports published by Jagran. In 2018, when an 8-year-old nomadic girl was brutally gang-raped and murdered in Kathua, the outlet claimed no rape had taken place. Last year, when a Dalit woman was gang-raped in Hathras, Jagran claimed that she was murdered by her brother and mother.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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30th May 2021 / 5:16 am / Last updated: 2nd June 2021
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Dalit man allegedly murdered for his "crime" of being romantically involved with a higher caste woman - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
1st April 2017 / 11:48 am / Last updated: 1st April 2017
In a ghastly incident, a 25-year-old man, Manthani Madhukar, from Khanapur village in Peddapalli Lok Sabha constituency of Telangana was allegedly murdered for being romantically involved with a girl from a higher caste. The incident happened on 13th March but came to light only two days ago. According to reports, the boy was a farmhand working with a family of a girl who he got romantically involved with and was murdered for the same reason. The images of the dead body show several injuries including severely mutilated genitals. The local circle inspector had initially termed this as a case of a suicide stating that no injuries were found.
A video of the victim’s mother and brother is now available in which they talk about the day when Manthani was not to be found and his body was discovered in a canal many hours later.
According to the victim’s mother, on Monday morning (13th March), Manthani Madhukar’s family members, left for work while he was still at home. The last person who saw Madhukar leaving home was the neighbour. According to the neighbour, Madhukar took bath, ate food left the house at around 11 am. By the time, his mother and sister returned home, it was 6 pm and Madhukar’s elder brother was waiting for them to enquire about his whereabouts. None of them – including the neighbour – knew where he had gone. All that they knew was that Madhukar had left home by 11 am. After asking around for a while, Madhukar’s elder brother went on to the main road and asked the villagers if they anyone had Madhukar since morning. Simultaneously, the family was also trying to reach out to Madhukar on his mobile. Even though the call went through, Madhukar didn’t answer the phone. After 10:00 pm on Monday, the phone was switched off. The family then frantically called the relatives, but Madhukar wasn’t found anywhere. By 8:00 am on Tuesday, the elder brother and a cousin again started searching for Madhukar in Venkatapuram village but returned by 09:30 am without any information. Then around 20 people gathered and took auto, bikes and went out in search of Madhukar, but he was not found anywhere.
At 11.52am on Tuesday, the elder brother received a call and a girl informed him that her family had thrown Madhukar’s body in the canal near his home. The call was disconnected abruptly after the girl’s mother intervened, and the Madhukar’s elder brother along with others went to Venkatapuram to check in the canal there. At around 05.30pm on Tuesday, someone called the youngest brother and told that they had seen Madhukar’s body and everyone rushed to the spot immediately.
According to a clipping from Andhra Jyothy newspaper dated 16th March 2017, the family of the victim protested out in the open with the victim’s body in the ambulance. The family insisted that it is not a suicide and demanded a thorough enquiry into the issue. According to this report, the local inspectors assured the family that a thorough enquiry will be done.
Some people from the activist fraternity who are in the victim’s village today informed us that the victim’s family is currently visiting the collectorate regarding the case.
Co-Founder Alt News, I can be reached via E-mail at [email protected] and on Facebook at https://fb.com/freethinker.
Follow @free_thinker
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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1st April 2017 / 11:48 am / Last updated: 1st April 2017
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
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Dalit man thrashed by mob inside a mosque? Viral video, false claim - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
12th July 2019 / 4:56 pm / Last updated: 12th July 2019
A video is viral on social media with the claim that it depicts a Dalit man being mercilessly thrashed by a mob of Muslim men in Uttar Pradesh. The man was beaten up for entering a mosque, the claim furthers. A Twitter user @shailen_pratap shared the video saying, “उत्तर प्रदेश में एक दलित को मस्जिद के अंदर खींच कर ले गए और मार-मार कर अधमरा कर दिया। #MobLynching (A Dalit was dragged into a mosque in Uttar Pradesh and brutally thrashed. #MobLynching.)”
उत्तर प्रदेश में एक दलित को मस्जिद के अंदर खींच कर ले गए और मार-मार कर अधमरा कर दिया।#MobLynching @SudarshanNewsTV @SureshChavhanke @ZeeNewsHindi @sardanarohit @madhukishwar @abpnewstv pic.twitter.com/OrKc7WmD4L
— शैलेंद्र Shailen🇮🇳 (@shailen_pratap) July 11, 2019
@shailen_pratap is followed by the top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party – union home minister Amit Shah and union commerce and railway minister Piyush Goyal’s office. He is also followed by Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga. His tweet drew nearly 2,000 retweets and was viewed over 16,000 times. His tweet was quote-tweeted by journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra.
There has been a steady stream of Muslim on Dalit violence for two years running. Why no coverage of this ? https://t.co/kAHETeDBaU
— Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval) July 11, 2019
A Twitter user @RituRathaur also quote-tweeted @shailen_pratap’s tweet and wrote, “Mob Drags one dalit Hindu insidea mosque & almost lynch him to death”. She is also followed by top BJP leaders – union ministers Giriraj Singh and Piyush Goyal’s office.
Barbaric!#DaraHuaMusalman Mob Drags one dalit Hindu insidea mosque & almost lynch him to death!
All SC/ST activists will turn their ugly faces the other way now that criminals r jihadis & no Media will outrage on this cruelty!
Does SC/ST act not apply on peacefuls?#SabkaVishwas https://t.co/cVdutUZdka
— Ritu (सत्यसाधक) #EqualRightsToHindus (@RituRathaur) July 11, 2019
The video is also circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp.
A keyword search redirected Alt News to news reports by Dainik Bhaskar, Punjab Kesari and Patrika which said that the man was beaten up by a mob on the allegation of stealing a mobile phone. The incident had occurred in UP’s Harpur district. According to Dainik Bhaskar, he was taken hostage by a mob when he had gone to pray namaz and beaten for more than an hour. A complaint was filed by his brother Akhlaq.
If one carefully listens, at about 17 seconds into the video someone can be heard saying, “Do mobile nikal liya tha (He had stolen two mobile phones.)”
Harpur police had tweeted that the incident had taken place on May 29 and a case was registered in Harpur Nagar police station against those who were beating up the man. An English translation of the police statement says – “The above case is of May 29, 2019 where the Harpur Nagar police station has started proceedings against three accused under Section 151 of CrPC act, NCR no. 278/19 section:323/504 on the basis of the written complaint filed by the victim’s brother on 02.06.2019. Legal proceedings have started.”
उक्त प्रकरण 29 मई 2019 का है, जिसमें पीड़ित के भाई द्वारा दिनाँक: 02.06.2019 को दी गयी तहरीर के आधार पर थाना हापुड़ नगर पर एनसीआर संख्या: 278/19 धारा: 323/504 भादवि पंजीकृत कर 03 अभियुक्तों का धारा 151 Crpc में चालान किया गया। अग्रिम विधिक कार्यवाही की जा रही है।
— HAPUR POLICE (@hapurpolice) July 1, 2019
Alt News contacted Harpur Nagar police station and were informed by the SHO that both the victim and the perpetrators hailed from the same community. “He was beaten on the suspicion of mobile theft. Three people were arrested,” SHO Mahavir Singh told Alt News.
In conclusion, a mob of Muslim men did brutally thrash a man inside a mosque. However, the claims that the victim was a Dalit and that he was beaten up for entering the place of worship are false. As clarified by the police both the victim and the perpetrators are of the same community and the victim was thrashed on the suspicion of mobile theft.
Recently, several incidents were found to be shared on social media with a communal narrative. Stone-pelting at a mosque in Jaipur was falsely circulated as members of the Muslim community attacking a temple in Haryana. A video of sexual molestation in UP was also falsely ascribed to members of the Muslim community. An assault on a tribal woman from MP was shared on social media with multiple false, communal narratives.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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12th July 2019 / 4:56 pm / Last updated: 12th July 2019
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Dalit, Muslim families claim entire families struck off voters list - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
11th February 2017 / 7:53 pm
The five phase election in Uttar Pradesh started today with voters in 73 seats of western UP casting today. While many on social media posted selfies with their inked fingers, there was also a section of voters which returned home frustrated as their name could not be found on the voter list. In a video made by a person named Abhishek Arora, residents from Hapur, UP, complained that a majority of members of some Dalit, Muslim families in about 15 districts could not cast their vote as their names were not to be found on the voter list. They demanded that re-polling be done on those seats.
Dalits, Muslims in Hapur, UP, complain of entire families having been struck off from voters list and demand for re-election in these seats.
Posted by Pratik Sinha on Saturday, February 11, 2017
A freelance journalist Neha Dixit who writes for various publications such as Outlook and Caravan also reported on Twitter that Dalits were being withheld from voting in Eta Constituency and appealed to the Election Commission to act as soon as possible.
A Facebook user called Gaurav Pant also wrote about how he could not find either his or his family members’ name in the voter list in Nodia.
We will follow this issue closely and report other instances of such discrepancies and the Election Commission’s response if any.
Co-Founder Alt News, I can be reached via E-mail at [email protected] and on Facebook at https://fb.com/freethinker.
Follow @free_thinker
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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11th February 2017 / 7:53 pm
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
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Teacher trashes student for 'loitering', Sudarshan News injects false communal spin - Alt News
Kinjal
21st October 2021 / 2:12 pm
Sudarshan News tweeted a video on October 16 that shows a teacher beating a pupil in class. The channel claimed that a Christian teacher in Tamil Nadu brutally beat up a Hindu student for wearing a rudraksha (prayer beads used by Hindus, especially devotees of Shiva). The post amassed over 3,500 retweets as of this writing. (Archive link)
तमिलनाडु के सरकारी स्कूल में इस हिंदू छात्र को इसलिए पीटा जा रहा है क्योंकि वह रुद्राक्ष पहने हुए था..!!
ईसाई शिक्षक ने छात्र की क्रूरता से पिटाई की तथा स्कूल से भी भगा दिया..!!@mkstalin यही है आपकी सरकार का सेक्यूलरिज्म ?@BJP4TamilNadu @annamalai_k @Narayanan3 pic.twitter.com/KsZTq6Skto
— Sudarshan News (@SudarshanNewsTV) October 16, 2021
Suresh Chavhanke, editor-in-chief of Sudarshan News, also tweeted the visuals with the same claim, which garnered more than 3,700 retweets. (Archive link)
This Hindu student is being beaten up in a government school in Tamil Nadu because he was wearing “Rudraksha”..!!
Christian teacher brutally beat up the student and also banished him from school..!!@mkstalin @PTI_News @BJP4TamilNadu @CMOTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/ao0nabdQTb
— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) October 17, 2021
The video is widespread on Facebook and Twitter.
Sudarshan News has shared the video with distorted context. The incident occurred in Tamil Nadu’s Chidambaram village where a Dalit student of Nandanar Government Boys Higher Secondary School was beaten up by a teacher. The matter came to light after the other students in the classroom took a recording on their mobile phones and shared it online.
An October 15 report by The Hindu quoted a police official as saying that the headmaster was taking rounds of the school when he noticed the student in question was not attending class. He took the boy to the classroom and complained to his physics teacher Subramanian, who thrashed the 17-year-old boy as a punishment. The teen sustained injuries on his thigh as a result of the beating and had to be admitted to the hospital. The police arrested the teacher after the student filed a complaint. He was booked under relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and the SC/ST Act.
News agency ANI along with The Free Press Journal also identified the teacher who beat up the student as Subramanian.
The Hindu Tamil reported on October 16 that a teacher in Kancheepuram allegedly disallowed a student to enter the classroom as he was wearing a rudraksha. The report also mentioned that the teacher allegedly hit the student on the head. According to ABP Tamil, teachers from the school stated that students were prohibited from wearing neck jewellery or earrings. The principal of the school said that a proper investigation will be carried out in the matter. In the complaint filed with the police, the parents of the student said that both their sons attend Anderson High School in Kanchipuram and one of them was not allowed to enter the classroom as he was wearing a rudraksha. The letter also claimed that the student was beaten by the teacher, Joyson. AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathya tweeted a picture of the complaint letter.
வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கிறேன்.
சமூகநீதி, சமத்துவம் விடியல் எனும் பெயரில் பல்லிளித்த நேரம். இதற்கு நடவடிக்கை உண்டா இல்லை வழக்கம் போல் திசை திருப்பும் நாடகம்தானா மரியாதைக்குரிய முதல்வர் #ஸ்டாலின் அவர்களே. @mkstalin#CMOTamilnadu #ஸ்டாலின் #SocialJustice pic.twitter.com/n0hZzEywDf
— Kovai Sathyan (@KovaiSathyan) October 13, 2021
ETV Bharat also published a report identifying the teacher as Joyson.
Sudarshan News, therefore, took bits from an actual incident and injected a false communal spin to a separate incident depicted in the viral video.
Kinjal Parmar holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. However, her keen interest in journalism, drove her to pursue journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. At Alt News since 2019, she focuses on authentication of information which includes visual verification, media misreports, examining mis/disinformation across social media. She is the lead video producer at Alt News and manages social media accounts for the organization.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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21st October 2021 / 2:12 pm
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Dam on China's Yellow river shared as Pawna dam in Pune - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
6th August 2019 / 7:46 pm / Last updated: 3rd August 2021
A video of an overflowing reservoir has been shared on social media with the claim that it represents the Pawna dam in Pune.
India 🇮🇳 Konya Dam… nothing to see here. ☕️ pic.twitter.com/zOan9jDftw
— RealEyes1776 (@RE_1776) July 25, 2021
🇮🇳 India: Koyna dam of Maharashtra… pic.twitter.com/olyKr15aF8
— 404_Not_Found (@4_04_Not_Found) July 26, 2021
The same video was shared in August 2019 when Pune witnessed heavy rainfall. “Opened floodgates of one of the four reservoirs in Pune, India,” reads the message along with the 14-second video clip.
Opened floodgates of one of the four reservoirs in Pune, India. pic.twitter.com/MrYeSNddzu
— Swaminathan P (@swami2005) August 5, 2019
Alt News found one more tweet with a similar claim saying – “Paunadharam dam near to Pune.”
We ad received several requests to fact-check this claim on our Android Alt News App.
Alt News used InVid to break down the video into multiple frames. Upon reverse searching one of the frames, we found the same video posted in April 2019. According to this post, the video is of a dam on the Yellow River in China.
Yellow River – druga najdłuższa rzeka w Chinach
Yellow River – druga najdłuższa rzeka w Chinach 🇨🇳 😮😮😮
___________________________
Dziękujemy za dotychczasowe polubienia naszego fanpage i prosimy o kolejne. Naszą prace wykonujemy z pasji, nie mając za to żadnego wynagrodzenia. Dziękujemy, że jesteście z nami ❤❤❤
Nasz fanpage 👉 www.facebook.com/sjpiekny/
Nasza grupa 👉www.facebook.com/groups/swiat.jest.piekny/
Posted by Świat jest piękny – magiczne miejsca on Friday, 26 April 2019
Upon further searching with the keywords ‘Yellow River dam’, we came across the same video on YouTube published in November 2018 with the description, “The huge and amazing Water flow of Yellow river discharged from Xiaolangdi Dam in China”. Xiaolangdi Dam is in Jiyuan, in the Henan province of China.
We also found a tweet by the Chinese news agency Xinhua, which had posted a video of the dam in July 2018.
“Water from the sky”: China discharges water from Xiaolangdi Dam in an annual cleansing effort to prevent #flooding along #YellowRiver pic.twitter.com/9HQnL5aP7C
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) July 26, 2018
Alt News juxtaposed a frame from the viral video with a video of the Xiaolangdi Dam to ascertain that the two are indeed the same. The juxtaposed image is posted below. Moreover, the colour of the water seen in both the videos is brown. This is due to siltation.
In conclusion, the video in question represents not the Pawna Dam in Pune but the Xiaolangdi Dam on the yellow river in the Henan province of China.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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6th August 2019 / 7:46 pm / Last updated: 3rd August 2021
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Why is it dangerous for AYUSH practitioners to prescribe modern medicine? - Alt News
Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
13th January 2018 / 10:01 pm / Last updated: 25th January 2018
On October 25th, 2017, a pair of quacks running a hospital were held on charges of medical negligence after a woman died in their facility. Later, on November 15th, 2017, a 16 year old girl died following an injection administered by alleged quack in HD Kote Taluka in Karnataka. As of now, this practice of quackery, where non-medically trained practitioners, practicing modern medicine- is illegitimate and a punishable offence. However, with the introduction of the National Medical Commission Bill (NMC, 2017), practitioners from Homeopathy and Indian medical systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Yoga and Unani (AYUSH practitioners) could gain such legitimacy via new policies proposed through the NMC. 2017 NMC bill has a provision for a bridge course to enable AYUSH practitioners to practise modern allopathic medicine in a limited way specifically in rural areas, where there are reduced number of medical practitioners. This article explores how this provision in the 2017 NMC bill not only puts a large majority of rural India at health risk but also provides an opportunity to AYUSH practitioners to become a modern medicine practitioner using a ‘short cut’.
AltNews studied the NMC, 2017 bill to access the implications of the clause 49 that actualised a crossover between modern medicine practices and practices such as homeopathy and Ayurveda conducted by an “AYUSH Practitioner”.
The clause 49 provides for joint sittings of the Commission, Central Councils of Homeopathy and Indian Medicine to enhance interface between their respective systems of medicine. Such meeting shall be held at least once a year. The joint sitting may reside on approving educational modules to develop bridges across the various systems of medicine and promote medical pluralism. – NMC, 2017
In particular clause 49 (4) suggests …a joint sitting… to decide on approving specific bridge course that may be introduced for the practitioners of Homeopathy and of Indian systems of Medicine to enable them to prescribe such modern medicines at such level as may be prescribed.
Under the National Rural Health Commission (NRHM), AYUSH practitioners provide services for essential family planning counselling, post-partum, paediatric and obstetric services such as Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA).
However, if clause 49 of the NMC bill were to be ratified by the Parliament, such “AYUSH Practitioners” will be able to prescribe modern medicine of the allopathic category by studying a short bridging course following their homeopathy or an Indian medical degree. Despite the fact that the specific details of this bridge course haven’t been provided in the current bill, discussion on the development of such a course have been on the table since 2007 as per a press release by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and; later, envisaged in a 2015 meeting convened by the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
National Senior Vice President IMA Dr Rajendra Airan, raised concerns over this bill that is seeking to replace MCI (Medical Council of India) with a new body to ostensibly benefit the medical profession. While Dr Airan suggests it is making way for diminished state regulation of private medical colleges, decreased representation of all 29 states and of universities and medical education in the NMC, allowing foreign graduates to practice in India without sufficient screening tests while introducing a licentiate exam for domestic medical graduates, reduced democracy in NMC memberships with the inclusion of bureaucrats and non-medical government administrators as non-elected members.
More importantly, as an immediate health concern, Dr. Airan also considered crosspathy as a problematic clause in the bill.
Alt News spoke with a number of modern medical doctors in India, specialising in the areas most responsible for mortality and serious illnesses such as endocrinology, cardiovascular diseases and infectious ailments to get their opinions on the provision of crosspathy.
While speaking to Dr. Om Lakhani, an endocrinologist in Zydus hospital, Ahmedabad, he suggested how the government is trying to bandage the problem of shortage of rural doctors and not finding a solution to the problem. Moreover, he suggested how a democratic and equal representation of modern medicine doctors in the new medical association is required so such non-scientifically validated practices of ‘crosspathy’ are not actualised.
While, Dr. Anand Ahuja, a cardiovascular specialist perceived it as discriminatory towards those living in the rural areas, where to overcome the increased demand of doctors against its ameliorated supply, these anti-rural methods are being pushed. Moreover, Dr. Ahuja raised concerns about those seeking AYUSH treatments that may not be eligible for insurance claims. As discussed, medical insurance providers only provide claim to those seeking treatments from an evidence based practice. Even stem cell therapy, which is based on a scientific principle but not always a guaranteed success is excluded from such claims. Thirdly, Dr. Ahuja perceived that passing such bills can dilute the reputation of Indian doctors overseas. Since a large majority of doctors practicing modern medicine are based in the western countries, diluting the standard of medical practitioners by introducing a crossover of AYUSH and modern medicines can be detrimental for Indian doctors in the West and also for those seeking overseas medical experience.
While Dr. Ahuja didn’t comment on the extent of competency of homeopathic or Ayurveda principles of treatment, he stated, “The bridge course won’t be good enough to bridge the gap between the principles of modern medicine and other therapies, which is so wide apart. No course can possibly be sufficient to make anyone trained in one stream good enough to practise the other.” Furthermore, he claimed that the AYUSH practitioners are trained completely differently when it comes to pharmacology and can make life threatening mistakes if allowed to prescribe medications. Certain health risks highlighted during our conversation were the prescription of Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, some of the most common prescription in the cardiovascular area- overdose or underdose of which, can cause serious problems affecting blood pressure and heart health.
As infectious diseases such as TB are one of the major causes of mortality in India, we discussed with Dr. Hiten Kareliya, an infectious disease specialist at Prime Infection Care, Vadodara, to discuss the implications of these practitioners prescribing anti-biotics. He raised concerns about over or under treatment with antibiotics that can introduce anti-biotic resistant strains of bacteria in the communities and hospital settings that will then fail to respond of other forms of antibiotic treatments. He also raised similar issues around training of AYUSH practitioners and modern doctors that apply completely different methods to check, diagnose and investigate patients.
Important issues can arise especially during infectious complications such as cerebral malaria, meningitis, HIV, pneumonia and sepsis where doctors decide on which tertiary care is required at its earliest- something that the AYUSH practitioners would not be able to refer to.
Also, Dr. Kareliya was concerned about their lack of knowledge in modern pharmacology and its implications on dosage and side effects. “AYUSH therapies such as homeopathy is symptom based diagnosis while modern medicine is evidence based”. If poorly treated, such patients could be carriers of diseases such as typhoid and ameobiosis that could infect the larger population.
Lastly, in cases such as TB, HIV and malignant tumours, prognosis and counselling is crucial. If these practitioners are not aware of drug pharmacodynamics and drug adherence, they will not be able to provide proper prognosis. In his opinion, Dr. Kareliya suggested the bridge course should be 2-3 years with internship in a public or corporate hospital to be eligible for prescribing modern medicine.
One particular department of AYUSH which is discussed below, i.e. homeopathy, which is, in some cases, successfully used to treat diseases and a comparison against the modern medical practices evidently suggests how different its principles and mechanism of action can be.
In the 17th century, Samuel Christian Hahnemann, a German physician unable to find answers with the limited understanding of modern medicine as it existed then, invented Homeopathy. This invention was before the systematic pharmacological study of drug safety and efficacy existed, before the knowledge of anatomy and physiology in its present form, microbiology and the germ theory of disease, before the invention of general anaesthesia (chloroform was discovered in 1831) or aseptic techniques and their uses in surgery.
After multiple failed experiments, he stumbled upon quinine containing cinchona tree bark discovered before 1570s as a muscle relaxant. He later used it to treat malaria and developed malaria like symptoms, oblivious to the other side effects and contraindications of this drug he developed the first law of homeopathy.
Also called the Law of Similitude: drugs causing symptoms that mimic a specific disease can be used to treat diseases that causes the same symptoms.
2. The Law of Single Remedy states that a prescription shouldn’t be given of more than one remedy at one point of time. If that doesn’t work, one should move on to the next remedy. If multiple treatments are given at the same time, it becomes difficult to conclude which one treated the condition.
3. The Law of Minimum Dose states that one should take the smallest dose to nudge one’s vital force to start the healing process. Hahnemann believed that healing should be “rapid, gently and permanent.” To use too much of a remedy frequently causes an aggravation of symptoms before any improvement is seen, thereby putting the individual off the modality
4. The Law of Direction of Cure states that If a disease is left untreated it moves in the opposite direction
5. The Law of Infinitesimal Doses
Under this law, homeopathy claims that when drugs such as an extract from the chinchona tree bark is diluted in water or alcohol, they increase their therapeutic potential. This is conducted by a serial dilution process such that a 1:100 dilution, i.e. one mL of drug per 100 mL of water or alcohol is repeated from 6 to 30 times to produce the most potent drug. In between each such dilution process, the liquid is agitated violently- a process that claims to activate the drug properties.
By this law, the minimum amount of potent homeopathy drug in the diluted liquid will be 1:100 ration repeated 6 times that will yield a maximum drug content with the ratio of 1:1000000000000
This means that a batch of 10,00,00,00,00 Litres of drug will contain only 1 mL of the actual drug compound, while the rest will be either water or alcohol.
This diluted liquid, mostly water or alcohol is poured over small glucose balls that are to be consumed several times a day. A practice of validation through repetition of 4-5 doses a day, that may induce a placebo like effect- something that may be holding the value of homeopathy till this date. Several highly reputable scientific journals such as the list below have published studies that confirm time and again that the homeopathy method of treatment may work as placebo and there may not be any scientific basis for it.
Conclusion: Biases are present in placebo-controlled trials of both homeopathy and conventional medicine. When account was taken for these biases in the analysis, there was weak evidence for a specific effect of homoeopathic remedies, but strong evidence for specific effects of conventional interventions. This finding is compatible with the notion that the clinical effects of homeopathy are placebo effects.
Conclusion: Placebo effects in RCTs on classical homeopathy did not appear to be larger than placebo effects in conventional medicine.
Also, the Australian NHMRC, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, after analysing over 1800 scientific papers has concluded that homeopathy “relies on super-diluted substances” and has given the final verdict on the ineffectiveness of homeopathy as a treatment based on evidence based practice in a variety of clinical conditions. In essence, it concluded that there is no scientific basis for homeopathy and no quality evidence of its efficacy.
Also, Homeopathy also has the theory of disease with three miasms, which are responsible for all human diseases and the treatments should be directed at treating these problematic miasms as a root cause:
Hence, each symptom is addressed instead of looking at the root cause of treatment- which the homeopaths claim to treat. e.g. Pain is a symptom of many disorders from cancer, diabetes and musculoskeletal disorders to injury and trauma. Treating the pain will not address the diabetes in a diabetic neuropathy patient.
Conclusion
Understanding the basic principles of homeopathy in particular, the law of infinitesimal doses, it is clear that the medicine does not contain enough drug to treat any disorder, i.e. it either consists largely of water or alcohol poured over sugar balls. While thoroughly researched evidence based pharmacology suggests the optimum drug dosage in the body is a major contributing factor for drug efficacy. Therefore, according to the modern scientific explanation, these homeopathic drugs simply should not work based on a mechanism. Also, the inconsistent homeopathic efficacy in some ailments, as we observe in some patients, can only be attributed to its placebo effect.
In India, the Ministry of AYUSH has a Central council for research in homeopathy (CCRH), a fully funded government body to conduct research in homeopathy- a research area that has been increasingly pushed into mainstream medical science since the ministry was formed in 2014.
While, we are not suggesting that all practices of AYUSH are quackery and that there is little scientific evidence associated with them; but, as a matter of fact, they are completely different to the modern medical practices and hence cannot be mixed together. Most importantly, these practices may work in instances where modern medicine do not have all the answers but they have to be looked as a complementary treatment, in addition to allopathy, and not in place of it.
Alt News Science is no longer edited by Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
From 2017-2021, Dr. Shaikh was the Founding-Editor for Alt News Science. Her main role is as a neuroscientist researching violent extremism and psychiatry.
Follow @Neurophsyik
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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13th January 2018 / 10:01 pm / Last updated: 25th January 2018
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Dangerous child-abduction rumour frenzy continues, now spreads to Maharashtra - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
5th June 2018 / 7:36 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
“कृपया। तुमच्याकडे जेवढे ग्रुप आणि कॉन्टॅक्ट नंबर असेल त्यांना हि बातमी पटकन पाठवा लगेच ताबडतोब. आत्ताच अक्कलकोट मध्ये लहान मुलांना घेऊन जाणारे चोर पकडले आहे, मिरजगी ता.अक्कलकोट. लहान मुलांना पळविणे व किडणी, लिव्हर, हार्ट कडून मारून टाकने यांची टोळी 3000 हुन जास्त आहे तरी आपल्या मुलांन वर लक्ष ठेवा नवीन मानुस दिसला की लगेच पोलिसांना कळवा. लहान पोर उचलणारे सोलापुरात दाखल झाले आहेत” (Request! Immediately forward this to all your contacts and groups. Just now, in Mirajgaon, Akkalkot district, they have caught thieves who kidnapped young kids. Kidnapping kids and then killing them by removing their kidneys, livers, hearts – this gang has more than 3000 members. Therefore, keep a watch on your kids and if you see a new person inform the police immediately. Those who kidnap young kids have entered Solapur- translated)
This message is being forwarded across Whatsapp groups, urging people to protect their children from kidnappers in Maharashtra’s Mirajgaon, Akkalkot and Solapur district. The message has also been shared with identical text by some users on Facebook.
The last few days have witnessed a spate of rumours that child abduction gangs are active across the country, wreaking havoc and resulting in mob violence. The fear-mongering recently caused lynchings in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, among other states. Police has also arrested some people for spreading rumours and creating a fear psychosis. In most or all of these cases, the same set of photographs has been circulated to instill fear and suspicion.
This set of photographs was used to spread the rumour that kidnappers across Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha are abducting children to harvest their organs.
Alt News had debunked these viral claims using the Google reverse image search option. Even though the origin of some of the images could not be ascertained, we found that one of them was of an unrelated incident from 2017. This is an image which shows five arrested men. Some messages claimed they are child abductors from Tamil Nadu while others claimed they are from Karnataka. A report by The News Minute had dispelled these rumours, reporting that Bengaluru police has clarified via Twitter that these pictures are fake.
Fake one
— BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) May 3, 2018
Another video which was earlier attributed to child abduction in Tamil Nadu is now being shared with a Marathi caption, urging people to spread the message that children are in danger.
To establish the origin of the video, Alt News broke it up into individual frames with InVid software for videos, and reverse searched the image via Google. A video demonstration of the fact-check can be seen below.
Alt News found that this is an old video from 2016 made for awareness purposes by an organisation named Roshni Helpline. The video ends with the text: “Every year, over 3000 children go missing in Karachi, Pakistan. Keep an eye on your child.” The abduction was staged to educate people about rampant child abduction in Karachi. The original video is posted below.
The hysteria began with WhatsApp rumours of child tracking and abduction in May 2017 which resulted in the lynching of seven people in Jharkhand. It has spilled over into 2018 as well. Earlier this month, a football vandalism video from Switzerland was used to claim that Muslims attacked cars in U.K. The same video was again used with a different narrative to show Muslims attacking tourists in Kashmir.
A similar pattern has now been observed, wherein a set of disparate images has been put together and circulated widely, intensifying rumours of child abduction gangs on the prowl and consequently creating a fear psychosis. Readers are advised to exercise caution and refrain from forwarding such messages if received.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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5th June 2018 / 7:36 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
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Dangerous, manufactured audio clip used to claim Pulwama terror attack an inside job by BJP - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
2nd March 2019 / 4:39 pm / Last updated: 4th March 2019
A Facebook Live posted by Avi Dandiya on March 1, where he claimed that the Pulwama attack was orchestrated by the BJP, has received over a million views in less than 24 hours. During his FB live, Dandiya presented an audio clip of an alleged conversation between home minister Rajnath Singh, BJP chief Amit Shah and an unidentified woman where it seemed that the trio was planning an attack on Indian jawans to arouse nationalistic sentiments in the country.
[Update: Dandiya took down his video after Alt News’s fact-check was published. However, not before it attracted 2 million views and over one lakh shares. A YouTube link of the said Facebook Live can be accessed below.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tMGJ054dhQ
Dandiya’s FB live was picked up various Pakistani websites, including thepost.com.pk, defence.pk, siasat.pk, zemtv.com, dailycapital.pk, ARY News.
Pakistani political commentator Zaid Hamid also shared a YouTube link of Dandiya’s video.
Now this is a nuclear strike on Modi…
This Indian fellow has played a clip where Modi, a female intelegnce officer and a senior RSS leader are potting the pulwama attack…it makes chilling hearing….
This must be investigated….Modi has gone silent..https://t.co/juEj9mOU8R
— Zaid Hamid (@ZaidZamanHamid) March 3, 2019
Alt News, however, found that the audio clip presented by Dandiya was completely bogus and manufactured by lifting different portions of old interviews given by BJP leaders. Parts of these interviews were conjoined to make it seems that Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah were discussing a ploy to kill Indian soldiers.
Twitter user Arif Khan alerted people about Dandiya’s fake audio clip which has caused quite a stir among both Indian and Pakistani social media users.
So this is the interview from where the audio was picked ..
Is video me 4:20 aur 5:10 par kahi gayi line avi dandiya ne kaat ke apne farzi audio me dali hai …https://t.co/jk6lidi9Ru
Listen at 4:20 and 5:10 …
Shame on @avidandiya ..
He should be behind bars.
— | عارف خان | Arif Khan | (@ArifKIndian) March 2, 2019
About the portions involving Amit Shah, social media user Smit Amin reached out to Alt News, specifying the original videos that were used to morph the BJP chief into the audio conversation. This article has been updated with Shah’s statements, which can be found in the last sub-section.
An approximate transcription of the audio clip presented by Avi Dandiya can be found below:
“AMIT SHAH – देश की जनता को गुमराह किया जा सकता है. और हम मानते भी है चुनाव के लिए युद्ध करने की ज़रुरत है. (The country’s citizens can be misled. And we believe that war needs to happen for elections.)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – आपके कहने से ये तो नहीं होता है अमितजी बिना मुद्दे के आप युद्ध कैसे करेंगे। अगर आतंकवादी हुम्ला करते है तो आतंकवादी हमले की करवाई हो सकती है. (It can’t happen just because you said so, Amitji. War cannot be fought without a motive. If terrorists attack then the terror attack can be investigated.)
RAJNATH SINGH – जवानो के सवाल पर हमारी देश बहुत सेंसेटिव है, बहुत संवेदनशील है भावना उनके अंदर कूट कूट कर भरी है (Our country is extremely sensitive when it comes to jawans. They are filled with emotions for them.)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – देश के जवानो को शहीद करवाना है? (You want to martyr the country’s jawans?)
RAJNATH SINGH – काम के लिए कमज़ोर होते है? (Are you weak for this kind of work?)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – एक-दो से कुछ भी नहीं होगा, उरी किया था कुछ भी नहीं हुआ. अभी चुनाव है, देश की सुरक्षा को लेके आप बड़ा मुद्दा बना सकते है. उसपे राजनीती खेलिए (Nothing will happen with just 1-2 jawans. We did Uri but nothing had happened. Elections are here, you can make national security your focus. Play politics on it.)
RAJNATH SINGH – देश की सुरक्षा से जुड़े हुए सवालो पर इस तरह की राजनीती की जानी चाहिए (Questions related to national security should be politicised.)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – राजनीति के लिए आप युद्ध करना चाहते है? एक काम करते है कश्मीर में या कश्मीर के आस पास… (You want to start a war for politics? Let’s do something, Kashmir or areas near Kashmir…)
RAJNATH SINGH- जम्मू और श्रीनगर (Jammu and Srinagar)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – वहा ब्लास्ट करेंगे, कुछ आर्मी डेड, कुछ पैरामिलिटरी फोर्सेज डेड, या कुछ CRPF डेड. एक 100-50 जवान मरेंगे तो सारे देश के देशभक्ति एक जगह हो जाएगी…(We can cause a blast there, some army dead, some paramilitary forces dead, some CRPF dead. If 100-50 jawans die then the country’s nationalism will be unified…)
TRACK CHANGE…MUSIC
RAJNATH SINGH – बहादुर जवानो के शहादत पर इस तरीके की राजनीति आनी चाहिए। (The martyrdom of soldiers should be politicised.)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – क्या गन्दी पॉलिटिक्स है अमित जी? (This is dirty politics Amit ji.)
AMIT SHAH – नहीं, ये पॉलिटिक्स नहीं है भाई. (This is not politics.)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – तो फिर है क्या ये? पॉलिटिक्स ही है गन्दी पॉलिटिक्स। (Then what is it? It is dirty politics.)
AMIT SHAH – मुझे सीधा पूछ रहे हो? सुनिए अब, क्यों हुआ कैसे हुआ| (You are asking me directly. Fine listen why this happened, how it happened.)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – मुझे नहीं सुनना है अमित जी, वैसे भी मैं नहीं करुँगी तो कोई और कर देगा। बॉम ब्लास्ट करवाना है बॉम ब्लास्ट करवा देते हैं. आप लोग जैसे चाहते है वैसा हो तो जाएगा। देश के जवान शहीद होंगे उनके घर का माहौल क्या होगा आपने कभी सोचा है उसके बारे में? (I don’t want to listen, Amit ji. Anyway, if I don’t do it, someone else will. You want a bomb blast, we will make it happen. Whatever you people want, it will happen. If the country’s soldiers are martyred, have you thought about what will happen to their families?)
AMIT SHAH – देश के हर सैनिक घर का वातावरण क्या होगा? (What will be the condition at every soldiers’ homes?)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – खौफ बैठ गया है और क्या? (There’s a growing fear.)
AMIT SHAH: डर बैठ रहा है, खौफ बैठ रहा है, और कोई रास्ते नहीं होते। (A fear is growing, there is no other way.)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – रास्ते तो बहुत होते है अमित जी, EVM था न आपके पास, ये सैनिकों को मरवाना जवानो को मरवाना ये मुझे समझ में नहीं आ रहा है। फिर भी आप चाहते हैं तो ब्लास्ट करवा देंगे। सौ पचास जवान मरेंगे, वैसे भी आप ही कहते हैं ना जवान सेना में भर्ती होते हैं शहीद होने के लिए लेकिन दुश्मन के साथ अब आप लोग भी दुश्मन बने हुए हैं सेना के तो कौन क्या कर सकता है? (There are many ways, Amit ji. You had EVM, didn’t you? I cannot understand why do you want to martyr soldiers and jawans? Anyway, we will make the blast happen if you want it. 100-50 jawans will die but don’t you only say that soldiers join the army to get martyred? But if you are also becoming the army’s enemy along with the enemy itself, then what can anybody do?)
AMIT SHAH – ऐसा ही होगा हम कैसे बदल सकते हैं उसको? (This will only happen, how can we change things?)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – मुझे बहस नहीं करनी आपसे, काम कर देंगे, पैसे भिजवा दीजियेगा और 12, 13 फरवरी तक ये सारा कुछ ताम-झाम करके आपको मैं फिर फ़ोन करती हूँ. पैसे भिजवा दीजियेगा। (I don’t want to argue with you. I will get your work done, just send me the money. I will again call you around February 12-13, send me the money.)
AMIT SHAH – मै बताता हूँ। (I will let you know.)”
The part when home minister Rajnath Singh says, “जवानो के सवाल पर हमारी देश बहुत सेंसेटिव है, बहुतसंवेदनशील है…”(Our country is extremely sensitive when it comes to jawans…)”, has been picked up from a February 22, 2019, interview of Singh with India Today. This was the first interview given by the home minister after the Pulwama attack.
At 8:39 minutes, Singh says, “जवानो के सवाल पर हमारी गवर्नमेंट बहुत ही सेंसिटिव है, बहुत ही संवेदनशील है (Our government is extremely sensitive when it comes to jawans.)” The word “jawans” was replaced with “country” in the audio clip posted by Dandiya.
At 10:41 minutes, the home minister says, “राष्ट्रभक्ति की भावना उनके अंदर कूट कूट कर भरी होगी (He is filled with nationalistic emotions.)” Here, Singh was talking about lieutenant general Deependra Singh Hooda, the former general officer commanding-in-chief of the Indian army’s northern command. The word “राष्ट्रभक्ति (nationalism)” was not included in the audio clip to stick to the context of the conversation. Dandiya wanted to portray that the home minister was talking about emotions for the country’s jawans, not the nation.
At 5:10 minutes in the interview, Rajnath Singh says, “कम से कम देश की सुरक्षा से जुड़े हुए सवालो पर इस तरह की राजनीती नहीं की जानी चाहिए (At least questions related to the country’s security should not be politicised.)” This statement was in response to anchor Sweta Singh’s questions about the Congress’s allegation that the prime minister was busy in Jim Corbett at the time of the Pulwama attack.
As alerted by Smit Amin, Alt News went through the original interview videos of Amit Shah that were used to manufactured the audio conversation.
The part where the BJP chief says, “देश की जनता को गुमराह किया जा सकता है. और हम मानते भी है चुनाव के लिए युद्ध करने की ज़रुरत है ( (The country’s citizens can be misled. And we believe that war needs to happen for elections.),” has been picked up from a 2018 interview of Shah with Zee News’s Sudhir Chaudhary.
The first part of the statement – “देश की जनता को गुमराह किया जा सकता है (The country’s citizens can be misled)” – was uttered by Shah at 4:47 minutes in the original video where he spoke about PDP, Congress and NC coming together to form government in J&K.
The second portion of the statement – “और हम मानते भी है चुनाव के लिए युद्ध करने की ज़रुरत है (And we believe that war needs to happen for elections) ” – was also lifted from the same interview at 21:33 minutes. However, the word “नहीं (nahi)” was clipped in the manufactured audio.
In the audio presented by Avi Dandiya, there is a part where the unidentified woman calls his politics “dirty”. To this, Amit Shah replies, “नहीं, ये पॉलिटिक्स नहीं है भाई. (This is not politics.)” This statement was picked from the BJP chief’s address at 2016 India Today conclave. To an audience question, “can’t education be left out of politics?” Shah replied at 50:37 minutes, “नहीं, ये पॉलिटिक्स नहीं है भाई. (This is not politics.)”
The concluding statement of the manufactured audio clip was, “मै बताता हूँ। (I will let you know.)” This too was lifted from the above-stated address when a member from the audience asked, “when will you get back Dawood Ibrahim and black money into the country?” and Shah’s reply was made at 52:19 minutes.
Alt News was unable to locate a few statements uttered by Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh as part of the alleged conversation and match it to their publicly available videos. However, the investigation till now is substantial to suggest that the remaining statements were also cherry-picked from either the politicians’ speeches or interviews. We will update this article as and when we locate further information. The manufactured audio clip was a malicious attempt by Avi Dandiya to exploit his online popularity and portray that the Pulwama terror attack was a conspiracy concocted by the Indian government. Dandiya claims to be a non-resident Indian whose page has over two lakh followers. The millions of views and lakhs of shares on his Facebook Live indicate the massive number of individuals who believe it to be true.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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2nd March 2019 / 4:39 pm / Last updated: 4th March 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/dangerous-manufactured-audio-clip-used-to-claim-pulwama-terror-attack-an-inside-job-by-bjp/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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663 |
Darul Uloom Deoband or Media: Who issued a Fatwa against TMC MP Nusrat Jahan? - Alt News
Mohammed Zubair & Pooja Chaudhuri
1st July 2019 / 9:43 pm
‘Fatwa issued against MP Nusrat Jahan by Darul Uloom for marrying non-Muslim, applying Sindoor’ – is what kept print and television media busy over the weekend. The news talked about an alleged fatwa against the newly-elected Trinamool Congress MP who had taken an oath last month wearing sindoor after her marriage to businessman Nikhil Jain.
The news led to an uproar with politicians and social media users coming out in support of Jahan and condemning Darul Uloom. The purported issue was widely reported by all major news outlets and was a topic of debate on television. India Today referred to the Islamic seminary as “Fatwa-happy Darul Uloom”, The New Indian Express called it “Fatwa-loving Darul Uloom”. No one, however, checked with Darul Uloom whether they had actually issued such a fatwa.
Darul Uloom, a Islamic religious and academic centre, is located in Deoband, a town in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh. The institution has an online service where anyone can ask a question and get a fatwa or an opinion from a Mufti. There are two important points to note about fatwas given by Darul Uloom –
1) The institution does not decide on its own to issue a fatwa. A fatwa or opinion is issued only in response to a specific query by an individual.
2) A fatwa is given by a Mufti or religious scholar in writing.
The former has been misused several times in the past when questions are posed by journalists to the institution with the sole purpose of making a sensational news story out of it. This ploy was uncovered by Alt News in an earlier story.
It is therefore clear that In Nusrat Jahan’s case, if there was such a fatwa, it would have been in response to someone seeking their opinion on the matter and it would be in writing. However, none of the media reports carried a copy of the said fatwa.
So where is the fatwa against Nusrat Jahan?
Alt News found that the controversy did not start with a fatwa but a statement that was reportedly given by a Deoband cleric Asad Qasim.
1. In the morning of June 28, ABP News quoted the cleric, whom the channel claimed was an Ulema. He reportedly said, “I found through the media that Nusrat Jahan, who was recently elected as an MP from Bengal, wore sindoor and mangalsutra in the Parliament. After investigating, I found that she married in the Jain community. In Islam, a Muslim can marry only a Muslim. She works in movies and actors don’t care about customs do it’s pointless to talk about the matter. I am only stating to the media what Sharia says. – translated from Hindi)”
जानिए- सांसद नुसरत जहां के सिंदूर लगाने और मंगलसूत्र पहनने पर क्या बोले देवबंद के उलेमाhttps://t.co/lLCXCQhKLY
— ABP न्यूज़ हिंदी (@abpnewshindi) June 28, 2019
2. Soon after the cleric’s opinion, media reached out to BJP politician Sadhvi Prachi for a statement. This is when an opinion transformed into a ‘fatwa’.
The earliest report of the alleged fatwa that Alt News found was published by News18 Hindi at around 4 pm on June 28. The media outlet reported BJP leader Sadhvi Prachi’s statement against a fatwa issued by a Deoband Mawlawi. News18, however, did not mention the Mawlawi’s name.
The news subsequently gained pace across mainstream media outlets, with Times Now getting a hold of Asad Qasim for its television broadcast and Twitter hashtag #NusratVsClerics. Times Now introduced Qasim as a Mufti, unlike ABP News which had referred to him as an Ulema.
In the clip below, Asad Qasim can be heard giving a statement similar to the one reported by ABP News – “After investigation, we got to know that she married into the Jain religion. Islam says that a Muslim can only marry a Muslim. Second, I want to say that Nusrat Jahan is an actor and I believe these actors do not care about religion. They do what they feel like doing. This is what she did when she came to Parliament with sindoor and mangalsutra. It is a waste of time to talk about this. We cannot interfere in her life. I’m just explaining what Shariat says on the topic through the media.”
Days after newly elected TMC MP Nusrat Jahan applied sindoor and wore Mangalsutra for the swearing-in ceremony, Deoband clerics have issued a fatwa to the actor turned neta and said that Muslim marry only Muslims. | #NusratVsClerics pic.twitter.com/M6F9SDhcUZ
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 29, 2019
Incidentally, Qasim’s statement had no mention of a fatwa. The Deoband cleric was giving his opinions on Sharia law, yet Times Now’s broadcast flashed the word ‘F-A-T-W-A’ on television screens.
3. Subsequent news reports added ‘Darul Uloom’ to the story.
The New Indian Express cited Asad Qasim’s statement and published a report on June 29 claiming that a fatwa was issued by Darul Uloom Deoband in opposition to Nusrat Jahan’s marriage outside her religion. Strangely enough. TNIE did not claim that Qasim was a member of Darul Uloom, yet published an article stating that a fatwa was issued by the institution.
Alt News contacted Asad Qasim who clarified that he is not associated with Darul Uloom Deoband in any manner but used to be a former student in the institution. Qasim is currently a Mufti in Deoband. He told Alt News that he was approached by two journalists from Aaj Tak and Etv to explain the Sharia perspective on Nusrat Jahan’s choice to apply vermilion and wear mangalsutra. He gave them his opinion and not a fatwa.
“There’s a difference between a fatwa and a statement. A fatwa is akin to an order while a statement is merely an opinion. When someone wants to know Islam’s take on an issue, they send queries and a fatwa is issued after scholars scrutinise the problem and give the corresponding solution according to the Quran. Darul Uloom issues fatwas in writing after it is reviewed by the authorized Muftis of the institution. But a misunderstanding has been prevailing lately. Any statement given is propagated by the media as a fatwa,” he said.
“A few media personnel had approached me about Nusrat Jahan. I said that Islam does not give permission to interfere with somebody’s personal life. I can only tell what the scriptures say – a Muslim can marry only a Muslim and a non-Muslim can marry only a non-Muslim. No fatwa has been issued against her [Nurat Jahan], stripping her of her Islamic identity,” he continued. Mufti Qasim further said that while he is authorised to issue a fatwa, he cannot do it on his own volition and without consulting other Muftis.
It is noteworthy that Alt News was unable to locate the said fatwa on Darul Uloom’s website. We spoke to a senior administration official at Darul Uloom, Ashraf Usmani, who also confirmed that no fatwa had been issued by the organisation against Nusrat Jahan – “Indian media is becoming irresponsible. They pick up any random Maulvi’s statement and portray it as a fatwa issued by Darul Uloom.”
“Darul Uloom has never issued a fatwa on Nusrat Jahan,” said Usmani, yet the non-existent piece of document found a mention in the reports of Aaj Tak, Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Jagran, Zee News, India TV, The Hindu, NDTV, The Indian Express, ANI, Deccan Chronicle, Scroll, The Economic Times, Amar Ujala, ABP News, Etv Bharat and Prabhat Khabar.
Right-wing websites OpIndia and Swarajya also carried similar misreports.
Media approached a random Mufti, posed a question to him and portrayed the explanation given by him as a fatwa issued by Darul Uloom. What followed was day-long debates on a piece of document that never existed. No media outlet, including those who run their own fact-checking sections, verified whether such a fatwa was indeed issued.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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1st July 2019 / 9:43 pm
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"author": "Mohammed Zubair & Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Dashama idols placed near Sabarmati bank mistaken as Ganesh idols, old video circulated with false narrative - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
10th September 2019 / 12:58 pm / Last updated: 10th September 2019
A video of idols, supposedly of Ganesh, kept on the roadside near Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad, Gujarat is doing rounds on social media. Facebook user Padmini Natarajan claimed that people were not allowed to immerse the idols, therefore, they chose to abandon them on the roads.
This is Sabarmathi river front of Ahmedabad . Ganpathi visarjan not allowed . So people left them on footpath. So much for God!
Posted by Padmini Natarajan on Saturday, 7 September 2019
Alt News has received several requests on its official app to verify the claim circulating along with the video. Twitter handle @iScrew alleged that this video depicted scenes of the recent Ganesh Chaturthi.
Leave moon alone, look at what we’re doing to earth. If this continues, environment too will crash like #Chandrayaan2 #GaneshChaturthi pic.twitter.com/RTZT7nxzrl
— TheAgeOfBananas (@iScrew) September 7, 2019
This video shared without proper context was quote-tweeted by several users on social media believing it to be ‘ill-treatment’ shown to the deity and an ‘insult’. Zainab Sikander, a journalist associated with The Print, also tweeted the video and opined that people who immerse idols in natural water bodies should use ‘eco-friendly, biodegradable (non-toxic paint) idols’.
Rebel AAP MLA Alka Lamba, who has reportedly joined the Congress party, tweeted the video with a message, “क्या आज इन मूर्तियों को अपने घर ले जाने वाला कोई नहीं ???”.
#GaneshChaturthi #GanpatiBappaMorya…
क्या आज इन मूर्तियों को अपने घर ले जाने वाला कोई नहीं ??? pic.twitter.com/omqwjmzhR5
— Alka Lamba – अलका लाम्बा (@LambaAlka) September 9, 2019
Alt News found that while the video is from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati riverfront, it is neither recent nor is the accompanying claim true. The idols placed on the roadside are of Goddess Dashama and this took place at least a month ago.
On August 11, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) commissioner Vijay Nehra had tweeted about the initiative taken by the citizens to keep Sabarmati river clean by not immersing the idols of Dashama in the river. Posting the images of idols left by the citizens on the road, Nehra said, “Instead of immersing Dashama idols in the river, they have respectfully left them on the banks!!”.
Something amazing is happening in #Ahmedabad today.
Ordinary citizens have decided to keep #Sabarmati river clean.
Instead of immersing Dashama idols in the river, they have respectfully left them on the banks!!
Thousands and Thousands of them. Unbelievable change 🙏 pic.twitter.com/t5f0yh9ywr
— Vijay Nehra (@vnehra) August 11, 2019
He further added that the corporation was working on the behavioural change from several months under the aegis of the ‘Swachh Sabarmati’ campaign.
We had been working on this behaviour change for several months
Since early morning today, security had been intensified. Several artificial ponds were also created. #SwachhSabarmati campaign has clearly helped change habits
CHANGING HABITS FOR CHANGING CITIES pic.twitter.com/NK87HTYxyG
— Vijay Nehra (@vnehra) August 11, 2019
While the video is at least a month old, Nehra took to Twitter today urging the citizen of Ahmedabad city to also not immerse idols of Lord Ganesh on September 12 i.e the day of Ganesh Visarjan or Anant Chaturdashi. He informed that there are more than 61 kunds (immersion ponds) to immerse these idols without polluting the river.
વ્હાલા અમદાવાદીઓને મારી નમ્ર અપીલ…#સ્વચ્છસાબરમતી#સ્વચ્છઅમદાવાદ pic.twitter.com/EM6IpNwWo4
— Vijay Nehra (@vnehra) September 9, 2019
However, according to a DNA report published on September 3, 2019, some idols of Ganesh were immersed in the river due to the lack of immersion ponds near the riverfront. Moreover, the standing committee chairman Amul Bhatt said that while immersion ponds were still under construction, 10 artificial ponds were made available to the devotees. “Finding the artificial immersion ponds still under construction, devotees who came to immerse idols on the first day had to turn to Sabarmati for the ritual”, stated the report.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is actively urging citizens to not immerse idols of deities in the river in order to reduce water pollution. The initiative taken by AMC is misrepresented on social media. A month-old video shot when Goddess Dashama’s idol was placed on the roadside near Sabarmati riverfront under an initiative led by the Municipal corporation of Ahmedabad city was shared as Ganesh idols disposed by citizens. This was an attempt to portray people as irresponsible and insensitive toward the environment when, in fact, the opposite was true.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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10th September 2019 / 12:58 pm / Last updated: 10th September 2019
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DCP Noida refutes ANI on linking quarantine setup in Sector 5 Harola with Tablighi Jamaat - Alt News
Sam Jawed
8th April 2020 / 1:19 pm
Misinformation regarding COVID-19 has peaked since the Tablighi Jamaat markaz in Delhi’s Nizamuddin emerged as one of the hotspots of the outbreak. On April 7, 2020, news agency ANI tweeted quoting the DCP of Gautam Budh Nagar that those in Sector 5, Harola, Noida who came in contact with Tablighi Jamaat members have been quarantined.
ANI’s news was amplified by Smita Prakash, Editor of ANI and Amish Devgan, Managing Editor of News18 Hindi.
ANI’s news regarding the link with Tablighi Jamaat was however refuted by DCP Noida’s official twitter handle saying that people who had come in contact with the positive case were quarantined as per the laid procedure. “There was no mention of Tabligh Jamat. You are misquoting and spreading fake news,” wrote the DCP. ANI subsequently deleted the tweet without any explanation.
@ANINewsUP people who had come in contact with the positive case were quarantined as per laid procedure.
There was no mention of Tabligh Jamat. You are misquoting and spreading fake news@noidapolice @Uppolicehttps://t.co/HwIM5Cr7K3
— DCP_Noida (@DCP_Noida) April 7, 2020
Even though DCP’s office reacted immediately to the misinformation and ANI’s tweet was deleted, it found a mention in Times of India’s Delhi lockdown news update.
The erroneous tweet also found its way in a Jagran report.
ANI has subsequently issued a correction taking out the reference to Tablighi Jamaat.
Correction- Those in Sector 5 Harola, Noida, who came in contact with #COVID19 positive case* have been quarantined: Sankalp Sharma, Gautam Budh Nagar (DCP) pic.twitter.com/R5m5NLEoze
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 8, 2020
The news agency has been featured in several Alt News reports for publishing misleading news. In a report from February 6, 2020, Alt News found that ANI’s coverage of citizenship law protests held abroad was skewed – reporting on pro-CAA rallies but missing out on anti-CAA protests. Last year, we published a compilation of the ‘inadvertent errors’ made by the news agency corrected mostly without clarifications.
Nobody's cheerleader, I tweet at @samjawed65
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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8th April 2020 / 1:19 pm
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"author": "Sam Jawed"
}
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Dear Bajrang Dal walon, look at this cute Valentine's Day celebration in a BJP office. Make love, not war. - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
16th February 2017 / 12:30 am / Last updated: 23rd February 2017
Valentine’s Day Celebration at BJP Office in Mira Bhayandar
Posted by Alt News on Wednesday, February 22, 2017
A Facebook user Jitu Bhai has uploaded a video to his timeline which according to him is that of Valentine’s Day Celebration at BJP Office in Mira Bhayandar. Just a couple of days ago on Feb 14, BJP’s ideological brother Bajrang Dal thrashed couples in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, who were out celebrating Valentine’s day. A video of same can be seen below:
#WATCH Bajrang Dal activists thrash couples in Bihar's Muzaffarpur in a protest against Valentine's Day pic.twitter.com/XiXkn7iUFd
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017
The Bajrang Dal attack on couples on Valentine’s day is nothing new. In fact, many senior leaders of BJP, VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS have time and again voiced their opposition to Valentine’s day by terming it as ‘western culture’ which degrades ‘Indian culture’. In fact, as an antidote to this invasion of ‘western culture’, many right wing leaders have often suggested that Feb 14 be celebrated as ‘Matru-Pitru divas’ instead, a day when one worships their parents. This year, one collector in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, issued a notice asking people to do so.
However, this rather cute celebration at a BJP office, even if it is not Valentine’s day celebration as claimed and just a get-together, hopefully, will be an inspiration for the right wing to let go off the hooliganism in the name of Indian culture. Make love, not war.
Co-Founder Alt News, I can be reached via E-mail at [email protected] and on Facebook at https://fb.com/freethinker.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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16th February 2017 / 12:30 am / Last updated: 23rd February 2017
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
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Dear BJP, why is Hyderabad MLA T Raja Singh still in the party? - Alt News
Alt News Desk
7th November 2017 / 7:49 pm / Last updated: 7th November 2017
BJP MLA T. Raja Singh is in the news once again. This time he has threatened to set theaters on fire if they screen the movie ‘Padmavati’. A few months ago he had threatened to behead those who oppose Ram Mandir. And a few months before that he was ready to kill or get killed over a beef fest. And a few months before that….. The list is long. Apart from threatening violence, Singh is also well known for and making hate speeches and communal statements. A BJP MLA from the Goshamal constituency in Hyderabad since 2014, Singh is also BJP Telengana state Gau Raksha convener.
Let us look at some of these incidents that have kept him in the news.
In reverse chronological order:
1. Nov 6, 2017 Singh was at the heart of the controversy over the movie ‘Padmavati’, threatening to burn theaters that run the movie
Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh threatens to set theaters on fire if anybody screen movie 'Padmavati' pic.twitter.com/YnpLKQIqQj
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 7, 2017
2. In July this year, when violence had broken out in West Bengal, WestBengal violence: BJP MLA Raja Singh spews hate, wants Hindus to respond like they did in Gujarat.
#WestBengal violence: BJP MLA Raja Singh spews hate, wants Hindus to respond like they did in #Gujarathttps://t.co/VISeXPyk0Q pic.twitter.com/z69B66NbVJ
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) July 9, 2017
3. In May he was booked for calling Hyderabad’s old city, ‘mini Pakistan’
BJP MLA Raja Singh booked for calling Hyderabad's old city 'mini Pakistan'https://t.co/fxv62exhy0 pic.twitter.com/c6Xhb0tjIt
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) May 14, 2017
4. Also in May he called Kashmiri Muslim ‘traitors’ and called for their trade boycott.
Video: BJP MLA Raja Singh calls for trade boycott with Kashmiri Muslim 'traitors'https://t.co/xs1Hl0s7Nv pic.twitter.com/v0YpQHxVRs
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) May 4, 2017
5. In April he had jumped into the Vande Matram controversy that is fanned every now and then by the “nationalists” and had declared there was no place in India for those who don’t sing Vande Matram.
'No place in India for those who don't sing Vande Mataram', says BJP MLA Raja Singhhttps://t.co/dCcDloyNWZ pic.twitter.com/d7RocumhnW
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) April 16, 2017
6. Also in April he threatened to behead those who oppose Ram Temple
BJP MLA Raja Singh threatens violence. He says he will behead those who oppose Ram mandir.
For more: https://t.co/yZhtmcWrKw #ITVideo pic.twitter.com/qRHPCUp9wW
— India Today (@IndiaToday) April 9, 2017
Police files complaint against BJP MLA T Raja Singh, for his inflammatory remarks on building Ram Temple https://t.co/zDIUS0P4IV
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) April 10, 2017
He declared he was ready to die and kill for Ram Temple and was also booked for his threats.
Hyderabad BJP MLA Raja Singh says he is ready to 'die and kill' for Ram temple at Ayodhyahttps://t.co/6to6DBY2VF pic.twitter.com/HyjZHHn932
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) April 12, 2017
7. In March he called Kerala CM, Pinarayi a murderer of Hindus and threatened to disrupt his meeting in Hyderabad.
'Pinarayi is a murderer of Hindus': BJP MLA Raja Singh warns Kerala CM ahead of Hyderabad meethttps://t.co/xmxarQhGeE pic.twitter.com/O06ehIv5Rd
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) March 7, 2017
BJP MLA Raja Singh threatens to disrupt Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi meeting in Hyderabad. Watch #ITVideo to know more. pic.twitter.com/JhOlLgspMO
— IndiaTodayFLASH (@IndiaTodayFLASH) March 7, 2017
8. Moving to 2016, in August when the whole country expressed shock over the Una incident, Singh supported the flogging of dalits in Una. He believed that Gau Rakshaks had taught filthy Dalits a valuable lesson.
FIR filed against BJP MLA T Raja Singh for anti-dalit comment.
Raja Singh supported flogging of Dalits in Una
— IndiaTodayFLASH (@IndiaTodayFLASH) August 4, 2016
BJP’s Raja Singh justifies Una incident; says gau rakshaks taught ‘filthy’ Dalits a valuable lesson https://t.co/cw3PCdaDPy
— Firstpost (@firstpost) July 31, 2016
9. In February, 2016 he was booked for hate speech
Hyderabad BJP MLA T Raja Singh booked for alleged ‘hate’ speech https://t.co/vxOigWfC99 pic.twitter.com/g8YmzUwBmO
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) February 25, 2016
10. In Dec 2015 he was again ready to kill or get killed. This time over the Osmania beef festival. He had said, “We warn them against a Dadri-like incident in Telangana. We can both give our lives and take life for the sake of protecting the cow“. He was placed under house arrest as he threatened disruption of Osmania beef festival.
Video: Hyderabad BJP MLA Raja Singh says 'ready to kill or get killed' over OU beef fest' https://t.co/vNmrexeXIC pic.twitter.com/ezMM7oo0JG
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) December 2, 2015
BJP MLA Raja Singh put under house arrest (considering law and order situation) as he threatened disruption in the Osmania's beef festival.
— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2015
11. In Sept 2015, one more case for hate speech was registered against him. The offensive speech was delivered at a Hindu Yuva Sangh meeting held in New Delhi August and uploaded on the Sri Ram Channel on You Tube in September. The complaint alleged that “He instigates the gathering for intrusion and invasion against a particular minority community i.e. Muslims; and falsely claims that the sacred and consecrated place of worships of Muslims ‘Kabah’ actually has an idol of Hindu’s Lord Shiva inside.”
Repeat offender? One more case against BJP MLA Raja Singh for hate speech http://t.co/oxQsBnX623 pic.twitter.com/fKP5AHVmro
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) September 5, 2015
Despite the multitude of cases lodged against him, there is no action against Raja Singh from either his party or the local police. A glance at the BJP Telengana website revealed that he is also an Office Bearer as the party whip in Telengana. A ‘whip’ is an official of a political party appointed to maintain parliamentary discipline among its members, especially so as to ensure attendance and voting in debates.
The police needs the state’s permission to prosecute Singh, as he is a sitting member of the Legislative Assembly. In July 2017, Telangana’s Law Department issued a Government Order (GO) that gave permission to prosecute BJP MLA Raja Singh for a 2013 case of hate speech. A day later he dared the authorities, “You can book cases on me. I have no problem. More than 50 cases were booked under me during the Congress rule for my ‘Gau Raksha’ activities. However, I will continue my ‘Gau Raksha’ and continue serving my Hindu brothers and my country, till my dying breath.”
That was four months ago. It seems to have had no impact to deter Raja Singh. He is carrying on with the same fervour and has now threatened to burn down theatres over the screening of a film. Does BJP not have a problem with the actions and speeches of Raja Singh? Have they initiated any disciplinary proceedings against their MLA? Why is this person who is a repeat offender still in the party?
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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7th November 2017 / 7:49 pm / Last updated: 7th November 2017
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Dear Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the articles you wanted banned have been archived on a Czech website. What now? - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
8th March 2017 / 2:12 am
A City Civil Court at Bengaluru ordered two articles on The Wire website to be taken down following an application filed by Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandresekhar. The Wire took down down the articles in compliance with the ex-parte order of temporary injunction. Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the NDA chairman from Kerala and an investor in Arnab Goswami’s new channel ‘Republic TV’. Pretty sure the loudmouth Arnab Goswami will have no problem with the gag on media that one of his investors is sponsoring. However, Internet is a place where NOTHING CAN BE DELETED.
A website called “archive.is” came to the rescue. The website “archive.is” can take a snapshot of any webpage and this snapshot will always be alive even if the original webpage disappears. Folks on Twitter took snapshots of the Wire articles from the Cached versions available via Google. Now if Rajeev Chandrashekhar has to bring down these versions available at “archive.is” website, he has to make a court ask Denis Petrov from Prague, Czech Republic, to take down these versions because he is the owner of the “archive.is” website. Pretty sure that is not happening, or at least not in near future.
The first article by Sandeep Bhushan published on January 25th and titled “Arnab’s Republic, Modi’s Ideology” is available here => http://archive.is/ayuDs
The second article by Sachin Rao published on February 17th and titled “In Whose Interests Do Our Soldiers March?” and which talks about the clear conflict of interest in Rajeev Chandrasekhar being part of the parliamentary committee on defence and investing in private defence manufacturing is available here => https://archive.is/ODFIC
Protest this gag order, share these links widely.
Co-Founder Alt News, I can be reached via E-mail at [email protected] and on Facebook at https://fb.com/freethinker.
Follow @free_thinker
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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8th March 2017 / 2:12 am
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
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Death of a priest by suicide in UP communalised on social media - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
26th July 2020 / 8:31 pm
A photograph of a dead body of a priest hanging from a tree is viral on social media. Sudarshan News reporter Gaurav Mishra shared the picture and wrote (archive), “After Meerut, now this priest was killed in Sultanpur because he was offering sawan month puja with pomp and joy. Did peacefuls not like it?” The word “peacefuls” is a derogatory term used for the Muslim community.
[Translated from “मेरठ के बाद अब सुल्तानपुर में इस पुजारी की हत्या इसलिए कर दी गई क्योंकि ये मंदिर परिसर में सावन मास की पूजा घंटा संख बजाकर पूरे विधि विधान के साथ कर रहे थे शांतिदूतों को अच्छा नही लगा?”]
A user named Deeksha Pandey also shared this picture and claimed, “The body of priest Satyendra Anand Saraswati was found hanging from a tree in a temple in Koiripur Sultanpur, UP. Just a day earlier, the priest had an argument with neighbouring “peacefuls” over sawan puja but no one will raise their voice for this priest because he does not adorn a cap but saffron clothes.” This tweet has more than 4,000 retweets.
Uttar Pradesh Congress also shared the image however without the Muslim angle and attacking the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.
On July 23, Sudarshan News tweeted a video of the place of crime claiming, “Another dead body of a sadhu found hanging from a tree in UP.” Sultanpur police is also tagged in the tweet which says. “While @PROCell19 is suggesting suicide.”
On July 23, Sultanpur police replied to Sudarshan News’s tweet — “Satendra Nand Saraswati Ji Maharaj age- approximately 25 years, died by suicide after hanging himself from a tree. The body has been sent for postmortem through a panchayatnama by the police. ”
SHO चांदा द्वारा अवगत कराया गया कि ग्राम- छतौना में एक पत्ता बाबा मंदिर पर सतेन्द्रा नन्द सरस्वती जी महाराज उम्र-25वर्ष लगभग ने पेड़ की डाल में अंगौछा से फांसी लगाकर आत्महत्या कर ली ।पुलिस द्वारा पंचायतनामा की कार्यवाही कर शव को पोस्टमार्टम हेतु भेजा गया है।
— Sultanpur Police (@PROCell19) July 23, 2020
We spoke with Additional SP Shiv Raj of Sultanpur who informed, “The investigation of the case is still going on. During the interrogation of villagers, it was learned that Saraswatiji Maharaj had no personal enmity with anyone. There has also not been any reports of any recent clash. The postmortem report says that the reason for death is hanging. The priest lived here alone and occasionally smoked cannabis. His family came after his death and they have not accused anyone. Some media outlets are reporting that one more priest was killed, this is completely wrong. This was murder and not a case of suicide. But the reason for suicide is not clear yet.”
In this way, an attempt was made to give the incident a communal angle. Two different claims were made — the priest was killed and he had an argument with “peacefuls” regarding sawan puja. The police have rejected both claims and clarified that the death was caused by suicide.
She specializes in information verification, examining mis/disinformation, social media monitoring and platform accountability. Her aim is to make the internet a safer place and enable people to become informed social media users. She has been a part of Alt News since 2018.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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26th July 2020 / 8:31 pm
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"author": "Priyanka Jha"
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Death of priest at Raebareli temple communalised on social media - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
9th January 2019 / 7:18 pm
A Twitter user, Ravinder Fauzdar tweeted an image of an old man who had seemingly committed suicide by hanging himself. The message circulated along with the image claims that one more priest from Ram Janki temple, Raebareli was murdered by ‘Jihadis’. The message further claimed that he was murdered and later hanged. Fauzdar, according to his Twitter bio is vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM).
उसी मठ में एक और सन्यासी की हत्या !
जहाँ पहले भी जेहादियों ने सन्यासियों की हत्यायें की थीं ।
उन्चाहार, रायबरेली के श्री राम जानकी
मन्दिर के पुजारी की हत्या कर टांग दिया !
हिन्दू सोया हुआ है उसे तो बस मुफ्त का राशन बिजली चाहिए@TajinderBagga @SureshChavhanke @BJP4India @RSFBLB pic.twitter.com/G2mYLPxzym
— Ravindra Fauzdar -20K (@RSFBLB) January 3, 2019
Several other individuals on Twitter and Facebook have claimed that the priest was killed by ‘Jihadis’, the term used derisively to refer to the Muslim community.
The official handle of Raebareli police tweeted a press note which includes a list of accused people in the case. According to the press note, a total of six people were apprehended and none of them belong to the Muslim community. This was also clarified by another tweet, regarding the viral claim circulating on social media, from Raebareli police.
रायबरेली के थाना ऊँचाहार क्षेत्र स्थित राम जानकी मन्दिर के पुजारी प्रकरण में नामजद 02 आरोपियों तथा महाविद्यालय प्रबन्धक सहित 04 महिलाएं अपराधिक साजिश में गिरफ्तार @Uppolice @Igrangelucknow @adgzonelucknow @etvbharatup @JagranNews @amarujalakanpur @htTweets pic.twitter.com/IA2q5f1EJM
— Raebareli Police (@raebarelipolice) January 6, 2019
Baba Prem Das, the priest of Ram Janki temple was reportedly murdered and then hanged at the entrance of the temple on January 2. An article published by Hindustan Times on January 4, 2019 stated, “The police registered a case of murder against the owner of Panchsheel Mahavidyalaya (a degree college) BN Maurya – who had allegedly occupied the 11-bigha land of the temple trust – and his three aides on the complaint of Mauni Baba, who is also associated with the temple trust.”
Alt News spoke to Shashi Shekhar Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police, Raebareli who has categorically rubbished the claims about perpetrators belonging to the Muslim community. He said, “All the accused belong to Hindu community and the viral claim is absolutely false. Six people people were arrested in the case.”
In conclusion, a case of death which is still under investigation was falsely propagated with a communal angle, suggesting foul play was carried out by individuals belonging to the Muslim community.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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9th January 2019 / 7:18 pm
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Debunking the false narrative around the impact of demonetization on Naxal violence - Alt News
Sam Jawed
26th April 2017 / 6:13 pm
Heavy casualties suffered by the security forces in the month of April 2017 have once again raised doubts about the promised impact of demonetization on controlling the Maoist insurgency. When demonetization of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes was announced on November 8, 2016, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi called it a historic step to eradicate corruption, black money, terrorism and counterfeit currency. BJP in its video explained how demonetization was deadlier than a surgical strike on terrorism.
इसे कहते है एक तीर से 3 निशान लगाना → Corruption, Terrorism and Counterfeit notes. #JaiHind. pic.twitter.com/2LGZw7Xwap
— BJP (@BJP4India) November 11, 2016
Barely two weeks after the demonetization, Minister of Law & Justice and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad, claimed that it had broken the backbone of terrorists and naxals.
In the face of growing national and international criticism of the costs v/s the benefits of the massive demonetization exercise, the government was very keen to project demonetisation as a historic success. With the help of social media influencers, the hashtag #IndiaDefeatsBlackMoney was widely trended. “No more funding to terrorists, naxalites and underworld. A great step towards eliminating all such practices” tweeted scores of handles in a coordinated effort.
In his address to the nation on New Year’s Eve, PM Modi claimed that the government’s demonetisation drive had effectively neutralised terrorism and Naxalism since both these relied heavily on black money.
Naxal violence has continued unabated after demonetisation
Five months on, naxal violence has continued unabated after demonetization. The deadly Maoist attack in Sukma killed 26 Central Reserve Paramilitary Force (CRPF) jawans
A timeline of naxal violence shows that:
Security forces fatalities double in six months post demonetization as compared to previous 12 months
April 2017 has been the deadliest month for security forces since May 2011. The fatalities of security forces due to naxal violence has shown a sharp increase in the last three months and with 26 deaths in Sukma, the fatalities peak in the month of April. In the full year 2016, 66 security personnel were killed by naxal violence. In the first four months of 2017 alone, there have already been 58 deaths. Where is the sharp drop as claimed by the Prime Minister? There seems to be no evidence of a broken back either. On the other hand, in the last three months, naxalites have inflicted heavy casualties on the security forces.
For the period Nov 15- Oct 16, the average number of security forces killed every month was five. This doubles to ten from Nov 16 to April 17 due to the spike seen in the last three months.
No fall in total fatalities due Naxal violence
Total fatalities due to naxal violence also does not show a declining trend. On the contrary, the average no. of deaths does to naxal violence for the six month period since demonetization (Nov 2016 to April 2017) is 35 which is the same as that for the preceding 12 month period of Nov 2015 – Oct 2016. The total fatalities refers to civilians, security force personnel and Maoists.
Naxal violence has not been neutralized overnight as claimed by the false narrative built around demonetisation. Contrary to tall claims, demonetization has not brought about any reduction in fatalities due to naxal violence. Last three months have been deadly for the security forces.
After the Sukma attack, PM Modi has tweeted that “Attack on @CRPFIndia personnel in Chhattisgarh is cowardly and deplorable. We are monitoring the situation closely”. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said “We will review the strategy and if necessary we will revisit it.” It will certainly take more than demonetization to control the loss of human lives on both sides. Claims of dramatic impact of demonetization on Naxalism should now be put to rest.
Nobody's cheerleader, I tweet at @samjawed65
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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26th April 2017 / 6:13 pm
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"author": "Sam Jawed"
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Debunking the 10 question conspiracy theory about Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
18th April 2019 / 4:53 pm / Last updated: 18th April 2019
On April 17, Twitter user Maya Hariram tweeted a list of questions and answers pertaining to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In a series of tweets, the user suggested that throughout his political career, Rajiv Gandhi was accompanied by Sonia Gandhi in every rally except for the one where he was assassinated, thus suggest possible involvement of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the assassination plot of her late husband Rajiv Gandhi.
Qn.9: *How many rallies has Rajiv Gandhi attended in his political career?*
Ans.: 181.
Qn.10: *How many rallies did Sonia Gandhi attend with Rajiv Gandhi?*
Ans.: 180 out of 181. She was not able to attend the last rally.
— Maya Hariram (@HariramMaya) April 17, 2019
The text of the whole threads is as follows:
*10 questions about the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi*
1. Who was Rajiv Gandhi on the day he was assassinated?
Ans- He was the PM candidate of the Congress
2. What was he doing in Sriperumbudur the day he was assassinated?
Ans- Leading an election rally.
Qn.3: *How many people died along with Rajiv Gandhi?*
Ans.: 14 people other than Rajiv Gandhi including the assassin.
Qn.4: *How many of the dead were Congress party leaders?*
Ans.: Zero.
Qn.5: *How many of the injured were Congress party leaders?*
Ans.: Zero.
Q 6 Have you ever seen any election rally where the Congress PM candidate or any Congress candidate is interacting with the public alone without netas/party chamchas surrounding the candidate in the history of Indian politics?*
Ans.: No.
Qn.7: Is it possible to kill someone with a belt bomb of the type worn by Rajiv Gandhi’s assassin from more than 5 feet away?
Ans.: No !
Qn.8: *Does the answer to question 7 suggest that the assassin knew she would get the opportunity to get closer than 5 feet of Rajeev Gandhi and hence planned this method of assassination?*
Ans.: Yes.
Qn.9: *How many rallies has Rajiv Gandhi attended in his political career?*
Ans.: 181.
Qn.10: *How many rallies did Sonia Gandhi attend with Rajiv Gandhi?*
Ans.: 180 out of 181. She was not able to attend the last rally.
This message has gone viral on social media with several individuals sharing it on Facebook and Twitter.
During the course of the article, we will examine the answer to each question and set the facts straight.
1 & 2. Answers to questions 1 & 2 are true. As claimed, Rajiv Gandhi was the prime ministerial candidate leading an election rally in 1991 in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu where he was assassinated by a suicide bomber.
3. Yes, fourteen people died in a suicide attack that also killed Rajiv Gandhi as claimed.
4. The message falsely claims that no Congress leader except Gandhi was killed in the suicide attack. The of the 14 people who died in the attack includes at least three Congress members. Santhani Begum, who was the South Chennai Mahila Congress president had also died in the attack. Another Congressman ‘League’ P Munusamy, the then member of the Tamil Nadu legislative council, was also among those who died in the attack. Latha Kannan, a Mahila Congress worker was one of the victims, who also lost her life. In a photograph (posted below), clicked moments before the attack, Santhani Begum was seen standing besides Rajiv Gandhi.
5. The viral post also claims that no Congress leader was even injured; let alone killed in the attack. Like the previous claim, this claim is false as well. Needless to say, it is ludicrous to suggest that out of 43 people injured during an election rally of the Congress party, none were connected with the party. Maradadam Chandrashekhar, the candidate for whom Rajiv Gandhi was campaigning, had survived with injuries. As stated above, at least three people associated with the Congress party were killed.
6. In the sixth point, it is being claimed that it is impossible to find a political leader in public not surrounded by his party workers or members of the party. While the answer to this question is true, seeing the question in the context of all the questions, it attempts to suggest that no Congress leader was present in the rally. The suggested claim is false. As shown in the picture below, a Mahila Congress president was standing right in front of Gandhi before the assassination while the claim stated that no Congress leader was present around him.
7 & 8. These questions attempt to make a point that how could the perpetrators even get so close to Gandhi if it wasn’t for a planned conspiracy to assassinate him. According to the caption attached with the same image posted above, Dhanu, the girl adorning jasmine flowers is the belt bomber who killed Rajiv Gandhi in the explosion. The distance between Gandhi and Dhanu is less than 5 metres, which is clearly visible in the above picture. Hence, the claim about the suicide bomber standing very close to Gandhi and the suggestion of the attack being a well-planned assassination also might stand true. However, an impromptu interaction between political leaders and civilians or party workers while campaigning in elections is also not an unusual sight in India. For instance, in the video below, at 0:25 mins, you can see a person approach Gandhi and touch his feet.
9 & 10. The final two questions raised in the message attempt to implicate Sonia Gandhi by suggesting that she was seen with Rajiv Gandhi in every one of the 181 rallies that the latter had addressed, except the one in which he was assassinated. There is no source to confirm the total number of rallies addressed by Rajiv Gandhi. However, the claim that Sonia Gandhi missed just this particular rally is false.
On the very day of the assassination, the rally in which Gandhi was assassinated was the third rally he was supposed to address. Sonia Gandhi did not attend any of the rallies as she was in Delhi on that day. This fact alone disproves the theory of Sonia Gandhi attending all but the last rally.
Alt News analysed several videos of Rajiv Gandhi’s rallies and found multiple videos in which Sonia Gandhi hadn’t accompanied him through the course of his political career.
In the video posted below, Rajiv Gandhi is seen walking towards the dais at a rally, where he is campaigning for Congress leader and veteran actor Rajesh Khanna. At 0:51 in the video, one can clearly make out that Sonia Gandhi was not present at this rally.
At 5:35 mins in the video (below), one can see that Rajiv Gandhi is in another rally walking amongst the people sans Sonia Gandhi.
So, the claim that Rajiv Gandhi’s final rally was the only one that Sonia Gandhi did not attend, is not true at all.
In conclusion, the claims made in the viral social media post which attempts to suggest Sonia Gandhi’s hand in the assassination plot of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi are false. The crux of the claim was that no Congress leader was accompanying/injured/dead in the blast that killed Rajiv Gandhi and that Sonia Gandhi had accompanied Rajiv Gandhi in every rally except his last one, in which he was assassinated. Both the claims were found to be patently false, and all it needed was a simple Google search to find the relevant information.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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18th April 2019 / 4:53 pm / Last updated: 18th April 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/debunking-the-10-question-conspiracy-theory-about-rajiv-gandhis-assassination/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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Deccan Chronicle attributes false, previously debunked quote to Jawaharlal Nehru - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
24th November 2018 / 3:11 pm
“By education I’am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and Hindu only by accident of birth- Jawaharlal Nehru”. This quotation attributed to India’s first Prime Minister was printed by the Deccan Chronicle in its Hyderabad edition on November 19, 2018.
The quote was printed on top of page 12 of the newspaper. This is a quote which has been used numerous times by several commentators on Nehru. Expectedly, political opponents of the Nehru-Gandhi family too have latched on to this purported statement, criticizing Nehru for being at the very least apathetic to Hindus and Hinduism. The fact of the matter however is that Jawaharlal Nehru had never made such a statement.
Alt News had, in an earlier article established how this quote attributed to Nehru is false. These words first made their appearance in an article titled ‘The Angry Aristocrat’, written by N B Khare in 1959, a Hindu Mahasabha leader and staunch critic of Jawaharlal Nehru. The article was part of a volume on Nehru with commentaries by numerous political personalities, called A Study of Nehru.
Interestingly, Khare had claimed in this article that it was Nehru who had described himself thus in his autobiography, calling himself Hindu merely by ascription, but professing to be Muslim by culture and an Englishman by education.
However, Alt News could not find any reference to this statement in the autobiography of Jawaharlal Nehru. It was N B Khare himself who had first made a reference to this alleged remark by Nehru. This quote famously ascribed to Nehru has become a legend, used by all and sundry, and Deccan Chronicle is no exception. It seems to matter little that no record exists of Nehru ever having written or said these words about himself.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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24th November 2018 / 3:11 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/deccan-chronicle-attributes-false-previously-debunked-quote-to-jawaharlal-nehru/",
"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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December round-up: Link between elections and rise in misinformation evident yet again - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
10th January 2019 / 8:39 pm
Assembly elections to five states were held in the month of December and expectedly, politics became the major theme of misinformation/disinformation throughout the month. Interestingly, the flurry of misinformation was not restricted to the run-up to the elections but continued well after polling had ended and new governments had been formed in the states.
Addressing a public rally in Telangana in the beginning of December ahead of the assembly election, BJP President Amit Shah made a series of claims about the Congress party’s manifesto for Telangana. Shah claimed that the Congress party in its manifesto had made a slew of promises specifically targeting the minority communities and excluding the majority Hindu community in the state.
Alt News found that several of these claims made by Amit Shah were unfounded or misleading. For instance, Shah had claimed that Congress had promised free electricity to churches and mosques but not temples, or that scholarships would be provided only to students of minority communities. This was untrue.
An image of what was purportedly a screenshot of the Hindi news channel ABP News was shared widely on social media, carrying an alleged quote of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, according to which he had said that it is necessary to support Pakistan and that he will do the same, promising Rs.5000 crore loan to Pakistan without interest for the next 50 years!
The screenshot circulating on social media was fake. No such news was flashed on the channel, as claimed. Alt News spoke to Pankaj Jha, editor at ABP News who confirmed, “All of these screenshots are fake”.
A purported newspaper clip viral on social media claimed that BJP chief Amit Shah called the Baniya community ‘thieves’ and accused them of profiteering. It was suggested that Shah made this statement while rallying ahead of Rajasthan elections in Bundi. The earliest instance of this viral clip, that Alt News found, was circulated by Twitter handle @KedarKansanaINC.
साथियों..भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष अमित शाह की यह भाषा सिर्फ सत्ता का नशा है!चिंता मत करो बनिया ही तुमारे सत्ता के नशा को 2019 में उतारेंगे..@RahulGandhi @INCIndia @INCMP pic.twitter.com/v5wglqjeJ8
— Kedar Kansana (@KedarKansanaINC) December 9, 2018
Alt News fact-checked this claim and found that Shah had not said anything to that effect in his speech at Bundi, where it was claimed that this comment had been made. The newspaper clip circulated on social media was fake.
After the results of the assembly elections in five states were announced on December 11, a message began circulating on multiple social media platforms and WhatsApp. It was claimed to be the observation of an ‘author’ of The New York Times, the popular American newspaper. The message sought to build a wave of sympathy for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party, and denigrated Indian citizens for having a “short memory and narrow vision”, for failing to recognize the need to “fix long term issues” which PM Modi is successfully doing.
Alt News found that there is no such article on The New York Times listing out the contents of the viral message. Moreover, the write-up attributed to a New York Times author, not only did not specify the name of the author, but was also replete with spelling and grammatical errors. Similarly, an emotional appeal to PM Modi falsely attributed to Arnab Goswami was shared widely after the elections.
“चुनाव ख़त्म होते ही अपने असली रंग में आ गये जनेऊधारी राहुल बाबा”(Janeudhari Rahul baba back to his true colours after conclusion of polls- translated). This message was viral on Facebook and Twitter from December 17, 2018 along with a video. In the video, Rahul Gandhi can be seen offering namaz along with senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and some members of the Muslim community. It was claimed that this video was taken after the recent assembly elections.
चुनाव ख़त्म होते ही अपने असली रंग में आ गये जनेऊधारी राहुल बाबा
चुनाव ख़त्म होते ही अपने असली रंग में आ गये जनेऊधारी राहुल बाबा
Posted by India272+ on Monday, December 17, 2018
Alt News found that the video in question was two years old, shot when Rahul Gandhi had paid tribute at the Kichochha Dargah in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.
After the assembly elections ended, a video of Congress President Rahul Gandhi began to circulate on social media. In the video, Gandhi could be heard making an about-turn on his party’s pre-poll promise of loan waiver for farmers.
The video shared on social media was mischievously clipped. In the entire video, Gandhi could be heard saying, “Loan waiver is a supporting step. It is not a solution. The solutions would be complex, it would be to support them, build infrastructure, provide access to technology and frankly, the solution is not easy. It is challenging and we will do it, but we will have to work with farmers and the people of the country, and we will do it.” (translated). A few days later, Gandhi was targeted again over the same issue through another clipped video.
The Pakistani flag invariably makes an appearance on social media during elections. It was claimed that the Pakistani flag was waved at a victory rally of the Congress party in Rajasthan after it emerged victorious in the polls.
The green-coloured flag waved at the victory rally was NOT the flag of Pakistan. Alt News independently verified this. Moreover, Rajasthan police tweeted a clarification asking people not to fall for this rumour.
Madhu Kishwar and Tarek Fatah had tweeted another video in which they had made a similar claim- of Pakistani flags waved at Congress’ victory rally.
This too was false. In yet another instance, a video of rioting in Gujarat was shared as violence in Rajasthan after Congress’ win.
“डरावनी खबर – हिन्दू का कतल कर उनका मास खा रहे रोहिंग्या, मेवात का मामला, खबर विचलित कर सकती है (Horrfying News – Rohingyas are killing Hindus and eating their flesh, a case from Mewat, this news may send shivers down your spine -translated),” read the headline of an article published by fake news website Dainik Bharat on December 18, 2018. The article carried photographs depicting people dismembering dead bodies.
The images were not of ‘Rohingyas eating Hindus’ as claimed. They were representative of a funeral ritual of the Tibetan people who believe in donating their dead bodies to wild birds.
Over 15 people were killed in an incident of food poisoning at a temple in Chamarajanagar in Karnataka on December 17. The source of the poison was the prasada offered to the devotees of the temple. A section of right-wing supporters on social media have claimed that one of the accused in the case, Ambika is actually Sylvia Ambika and that she is a Christian.
In a conversation with Alt News, Dharmendra Kumar Meena, Superintendent of Police, Chamarajanagar District stated that this claim is baseless and false. “This is completely fake. Ambika is a distant relative of the seer and both belong to the same village and the same community. We will issue a clarification through our social media handles.”
राजस्थान में कांग्रेस सरकार बनते ही पाकिस्तान से लगे जैसलमेर के दार्ती गांव में शांतिदूत मुस्लिमो द्वारा मारवाडी हिन्दूओ के घर जलाये गए और दो हिंदूओ को मौत के घाट उतार दिया (After Congress formed govt in Rajasthan, peaceful muslims in Darti village near Jaisalmer attacked Marwari Hindus, burning their houses. Two Hindus killed- translation). This message was shared on Facebook along with a video which showed women wailing over the loss of their loved ones in violence.
Alt News fact-checked this claim and found that the video is not from Rajasthan. It is not even from India. The video is from Bangladesh and dates back to 2013 when violence against religious minorities had broken out in Noakhali district.
“In the unrest following the Bulandshahr Ijtema, children are stuck in schools and crying, people are in the forest, they have shut the doors of their homes- residents in live conversation with Sudarshan”- translated.
This message was tweeted by Suresh Chavhanke, the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan News. Tablighi Ijtema is a three day Islamic gathering that took place at Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh from December 1-3. On December 3, a cop was killed after a mob protesting alleged illegal cow slaughter clashed with the police in Siana tehsil of Bulandshahr district. By prefacing the tweet with “बुलंदशहर_इज्तेमा के बवाल” (Unrest after Bulandshahr Ijtema – translated), Sudarshan News suggested that the Ijtema was somehow linked with the violence in which the cop was killed.
#बुलंदशहर_इज्तेमा के बवाल के बाद कई स्कूलों में बच्चे फँसे है, रो रहे है, लोग जंगल में है, घरों के दरवाज़े बंद कर के लोग सहमे हूए है- सुदर्शन से लाईव बातचीत में स्थानीय लोग। #बुलंदशहर_में_बवाल @SudarshanNewsTV पर लाईव
— Suresh Chavhanke STV (@SureshChavhanke) December 3, 2018
Bulandshahr police clarified via twitter that the violence which shook the town was NOT related in any way to the Ijtema gathering. Replying to Chavhanke’s tweet, police appealed not to spread misinformation about the violence.
The release of S Shankar’s ‘2.0’, a Tamil science fiction movie starring Rajnikanth and Akshay Kumar, sparked up a discourse on the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation on birds. The film’s message – birds die due to radiation – was portrayed with scenes showing them crash into cell phone towers. Several media organisations reported that this had indeed happened in the Netherlands.
Media reports claiming that birds crashing into towers and dying due to EMF radiations, as shown in ‘2.0’, is likely to happen because a similar incident occurred in The Netherlands, were not only wrong but their assertions were unfounded.
Apart from the above, there were numerous other instances of misinformation/disinformation.
Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at the ruling coalition regime in Karnataka and claimed that while they had promised loan waivers for lakhs of farmers, till date only 800 farmers have been benefited.
#PMInGhazipur: Karnataka mein laakhon kisaano ka karz maafi ka vaada kiya tha lekin sirf 800 kisaano ka karz maaf hua. Ye kaisa khel hai, kaisa dhoka hai? pic.twitter.com/JtIj2W3noD
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 29, 2018
PM Modi’s claim that only 800 farmers have availed the farm loan waiver is outdated. The origin of this claim is a December 13, Times of India report in which it was reported that the Karnataka government has distributed the sum of Rs 44,000 cr mandated for farm loan waiver scheme to 800 farmers. It further stated,“Cooperation minister Bandeppa Kashempur told the legislative that only about 800 farmers have availed the benefits of the scheme announced, by the CM on July 5.” Since then, there have been multiple reports which illustrate the progress in the disbursement of loan waiver by the Karnataka government.
Union Minister and BJP MP Giriraj Singh tweeted on December 24 – “Top 10 List of Most Corrupt Political Party in the World 2018 and Rahul Gandhi led congress making it all the way to 2nd spot …congratulations to the most corrupt political party.” In a little over two hours, Singh’s tweet attracted over 1,000 likes and 474 retweets. Giriraj Singh later deleted his tweet.
The website BBC News Hub, which had published this ‘list’ of ‘most corrupt political parties in the world’, is a fake news website.
“After successfully damaged 2000 notes within 2 years Sardar Statue cracking in 2 weeks” Three close-up pictures of the recently inaugurated Statue of Unity were being circulated on social media. On these pictures, certain sections of the statue have been highlighted with a blue outline. Within the areas marked by the blue outline, one can see white markings. These markings were claimed to be cracks that have developed on the statue that was inaugurated with much fanfare on October 31, 2018.
There was no truth to this claim. The statue consists of thousands of metal plates made out of a bronze alloy which have been welded together. A special type of welding has been used for this purpose, which gives the illusion that these are cracks.
The month of December was, in a sense, a culmination of the cycle of misinformation/disinformation that flooded social media throughout the year, mainly due to the fact that assembly elections were scheduled in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. The general election of 2019 is barely a few months away, and this flurry of fake news is only expected to intensify in the days, weeks and months ahead.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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10th January 2019 / 8:39 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/december-round-up-link-between-elections-and-rise-in-misinformation-evident-yet-again/",
"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Defying bail terms, Yati Narsinghanand continues to deliver hate speech. When will law catch up with him? - Alt News
Kalim Ahmed
4th November 2022 / 7:05 pm / Last updated: 17th November 2022
On April 3, 2022, just about two months after Yati Narsinghanand got bail in the Haridwar Dharam Sansad hate speech case on the condition that he would not deliver provocative speeches that can disturb communal harmony or take part in similar assemblies, Narsinghanand launched a vitriolic attack against Muslims at the Burari Hindu Mahapanchayat in Delhi and urged Hindus to take up arms against Muslims.
Fourteen days later, he repeated it in Una, Himachal Pradesh. Here, speaking to the media during a hate-spewing assembly in which he took part, Narsinghanand said that Islam’s jihad would eat the entire country.
Undaunted by bail conditions imposed on him, Narsinghanand has since delivered speech after speech after speech targeting Muslims, which received thousands of views on YouTube. Not only that, he has announced a three-day dharam sansad in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, from December 17, 2022. After the district administration denied him permission, he said he would hold it at any cost.
The Supreme Court recently took a serious note of the ‘disturbing’ nature of hate speeches ‘against one community’ and asked police to take suo moto action in such speech cases ‘even if no complaint is forthcoming and proceed against the offenders’. Keeping this in mind, Yati Narsinghanand’s brazen and repeated violations of bail orders with complete impunity deserve to be highlighted. It is worth noting that the apex court said in its October 21 order that ‘any hesitation to act in accordance with this direction will be viewed as contempt of this Court and appropriate action will be taken against the erring officers.’
According to the United Nations, hate speech ‘refers to offensive discourse targeting a group or an individual based on inherent characteristics (such as race, religion or gender) and that may threaten social peace.’ It identifies hate speech as a ‘precursor to atrocity crimes, including genocide.’
The Law Commission of India had in March 2017 submitted a report to the Supreme Court on hate speech. On page 38, the report defines hate speech as an ‘expression which is abusive, insulting, intimidating, harassing or which incites violence, hatred or discrimination against groups identified by characteristics such as one’s race, religion, place of birth, residence, region, language, caste or community, sexual orientation or personal convictions.’
Readers can find the Alt News Hate Speech Policy here, follwoing which this report has identified and classified Narsinghanand’s hate speeches. The document has been prepared based on Facebook’s community standard on hate speech, which is the most detailed such document available publicly.
Tier 2 of the policy considers the following as hate speech: Expressions of contempt (in written or visual form), which is defined as:
All of Narsinghanand’s public speeches documented below, offline or online, can be designated as hate speech according to the above classification.
In January 2022, Narsinghanand’s father 83-year-old Rajeshwar Dayal Tyagi told ThePrint that Narsinghanand was born in 1972 in Hirnot village, Bulandshahr. His given name was Deependra Narayan Singh.
He also described his son as a brilliant student who had received scholarships based on merit for studying food and chemical technology in Russia. A junior at the college, Arun Tyagi, revealed to ThePrint that Narsinghanand was very popular among the Indian student community, especially because of his culinary expertise and he had started a business providing tiffin services.
According to the story, Narsinghanand returned from Russia in 1997 and got married. He had a job offer from Haldiram’s which he declined and moved to Ghaziabad and opened a coaching institute. Around this time, he came under the influence of BJP leader Baikunth Lal Sharma, who later became his mentor. However, it is unclear how Narsinghanand got associated with the Dasna Devi temple and later became the head priest.
In March 2021, Narsinghanand shot to fame after he came out in support of two caretakers of the Dasna Devi temple who had been arrested for allegedly beating up a 14-year-old Muslim boy for entering the temple to drink water. At a press conference, he said that he had trained his followers to give a befitting reply to trespassers from a certain minority community and they were simply following his instructions.
The Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad also had a poster in place that barred entry to Muslims. After the assault of the minor Muslim boy, this poster was replaced by a larger banner which read the same. In fact, this poster inspired Hindutva groups to put up banners at other temples and shrines warning Muslims and non-Hindus not to enter the premises.
The very next month, speaking at another press conference organised by Akhil Bharatiya Sant Parishad at the Press Club of India, Narsinghanand made several inflammatory remarks against the Prophet of Islam. A number of FIRs were filed against him.
From December 17 to 19, 2021, a large gathering of Right-Wing religious leaders, including some affiliated with the BJP, took place in Haridwar. The event was termed ‘Dharam Sansad’ or religious parliament. On all the three days, this event witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of hate speech, call for violence and anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Videos of the Haridwar Dharam Sansad soon started circulating on social media. BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay was also an attendee of the event and had brought a ‘saffron constitution’ to Dharam Sansad. The police took cognizance of the videos and filed an FIR on December 23.
सोशल मीडिया पर धर्म विशेष के खिलाफ भड़काऊ भाषण देकर नफरत फैलाने संबंधी वायरल हो रहे वीडियो का संज्ञान लेते हुए वसीम रिजवी उर्फ जितेंद्र नारायण त्यागी एवं अन्य के विरुद्ध कोतवाली हरिद्वार में धारा 153A IPC के अंतर्गत मुकदमा पंजीकृत किया गया है और विधिक कार्यवाही प्रचलित है। @ANI pic.twitter.com/0NLBwPqQhV
— Uttarakhand Police (@uttarakhandcops) December 23, 2021
On January 13, Jitendra Narayan Tyagi, formerly known as Wasim Rizvi, one of the speakers, was arrested for hate speech.
A video of the conversation between Yati Narsinghanand and the Haridwar Police during Tyagi’s arrest also went viral on social media. In the clip, it appeared as if the police are begging the mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhara to allow them to arrest Tyagi. Here, Narsinghanand can also be heard saying to the police that they will all die (“Tum sab maroge“).
Conversation between “Swami Ji” Yati Narsinghanand and police officers during Jitendra Tyagi/Wasim Rizvi’s arrest- pic.twitter.com/IzXj1vfAH5
— Fatima Khan (@khanthefatima) January 13, 2022
Narsinghanand, one of the most prominent speakers at the Dharam Sansad since his Hindutva activism had already been widely reported, was arrested two days later in two separate cases — one relating to derogatory comments against women, another relating to hate speech.
Uttarakhand | Yati Narsinghanand has been arrested today, in connection with a case pertaining to derogatory remarks against women. He has 2-3 cases registered against him: CO City, Haridwar pic.twitter.com/mMs1YI6R9x
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 15, 2022
After staying in judicial custody for almost a month, he received bail on February 7 in the Haridwar hate speech case and on February 14, in the case pertaining to derogatory comments against women. As has been stated earlier, Narsinghanand’s bail conditions included giving an undertaking that he would not repeat the same offence he had been arrested for or participate in any event that can cause enmity between communities.
Less than two months after his bail, Narsinghanand appeared on the stage at the Burari Hindu Mahapanchayat on April 3 organised by Seva India Foundation and other Hindu organisations, reportedly without police permission. In one of the clips available in public domain, he says that once a Muslim becomes the Prime Minister of the country, 50% of the attendees will have to change their religion. He further says that the Muslims in the country are not from Arab, they were once friends and family of Hindus. He also adds that 40% of Hindus will be murdered, and the rest 10% of Hindus will give away their sisters and daughters to Muslims and will either live in refugee camps or in foreign lands. Narsinghanand also urges the Hindus to be man enough to take up arms if they wanted to alter their future.
The entire above speech falls under Tier 2 (3.1) as it is Islamophobic in nature. Besides, it peddles a conspiracy theory that once Muslims come to power, they will essentially exterminate the Hindu population. Moreover, it is a form of speech that could incite imminent violence or intimidation.
Yati Narsinghanand is at it again, he asks “Hindus” to take up arms against “Muslims” while addressing a crowd gathered at the ongoing “Hindu Mahapanchayat” in Delhi’s Burari ground.
“If you want to change the future, become a man,man is the one who has arms in hand,” Yati said. pic.twitter.com/ABuX2B58UU
— Mahmodul Hassan (@mhassanism) April 3, 2022
In another clip, he says that those who are capable of giving birth should go now and give birth to children, and make the children worthy to fight.
Yati Narsinghanand further asks “Hindus” to give birth to children and make them worthy to fight.
“Only give birth to children, go now and give birth to children, and make your children worthy to fight,” he said at “Hindu Mahapanchayat” in Delhi today. pic.twitter.com/9CmvGMWP9a
— Mahmodul Hassan (@mhassanism) April 3, 2022
Both the viral clips show a clear violation of the bail conditions by Yati Narsinghanand.
In this same event, several journalists affiliated with Article 14 and Newslaundry were assaulted. There were also reports of the mob forcing journalists to delete footage of the event from their devices.
14 days after the Hindu Mahapanchayat in Delhi’s Burarai, Yati appeared in another Dharam Sansad, this time in Una.
There are no publicly available clips to verify if Narsinghanand spoke at the Una conclave. However, he did speak to the media during this event. He said that Islam’s jihad will eat the entirety of the country and that the population of Muslims was increasing exponentially. He also said that the population of Muslims had increased in the hills and hence the crime rate had gone up.
This falls under Tier 1 (2.7) of the hate speech policy as it generalizes Muslims as criminals and also peddles the theory that an increase in Muslim population leads to an increase in crimes. [Generalisations or unqualified behavioural statements (in written or visual form) to or about criminals (including, but not limited to, ‘thieves’, ‘bank robbers’ or saying ‘All [protected characteristic or quasi-protected characteristic] are ‘criminals’]’.
Yati Narsinghanand was also a speaker at the Una Dharm Sansad. He said, “Population of muslims is rising” and stressed on the need for Hindus to produce more kids. According to his bail condition in Haridwar Dharm Sansad case, he is not allowed to take part in these events. pic.twitter.com/P6uHDnfr8S
— Kaushik Raj (@kaushikrj6) April 17, 2022
Ever since Narsinghanand got out of jail, he has taken part in several YouTube live streams. On going through Narsinghanand’s YouTube speeches, Alt News found that there are a few points that he makes repeatedly. One of them is the idea that ‘Islam’s jihad’ will destroy India. He keeps on saying that by 2029, India will have a Muslim PM and this will be the beginning of the extermination of Hindus. He also likes to harp on the string that Islam is a fundamentally corrupt and violent religion that believes in destroying others and Hindus should be prepared. Another claim that he makes almost every time he is at the microphone is that religious texts of Muslims, that is, the Quran and the Hadith, tell Muslims that they can rape, murder, loot people from other religions, or ‘kafirs’. The only way for the Hindus to defeat this enemy is by being physically prepared, giving birth to as many child as possible and pick up arms. He also often makes the claim that most of the religions of the world, if not all, are at war against Muslims.
Moreover, all of his speeches contain loads of misinformation and conspiracy theories unsupported by any evidence, which function as a launchpad for him.
Live stream #1
On April 3 around 2:30 PM IST, the same day as the Hindu Mahapanchayat in Burari, Narsinghanand appeared on a YouTube live stream on the channel ‘Swami Armitanand Bhakti’, run by Swami Amritanand, a close associate of Narsinghanand. The channel has around 20.9K subscribers and the live stream received 6,066 views. The topic for this stream was ‘Vijay ya veergati’ (Victory or gallantry).
At the 6:38-minute mark, Swami Amritanand says that there is a latest government press release as per which it is said that in the last one week in West Bengal, around 800 bombs, 15 rifles and 150 shotguns have been recovered from a ‘certain community’. He then asks Yati Narsinghanand about the outrage that is caused when they speak of such facts.
To this Narsinghanand responds by saying that the Hindu community only knows how to do politics to fulfil self-interest. The Muslims, he says, are doing their job with honesty, that is, they are following what the Quran says and not doing anything that is not mentioned in there, implying that Muslims are inherently violent and it is part of their religion.
In this same stream, at the 8:53-minute mark, Narsinghanand argues that Hindus are not producing children, not becoming strong physically, and are not prepared for a battle. He argues that Hindus are becoming economically strong but there is no meaning to that.
At the 9:20-minute, the co-host asks why the Hindu community does not come to his support. Narsinghanand responds by saying that Hindus are not interested in saving their sisters and daughters. They are only interested in watching their sisters and daughters get raped by Muslims and later get sold in the markets. He says that Hindus have a slave mindset hence they don’t come to his support. At the 14:15-minute mark, Yati compared Muslims to wolves/beasts.
This part can be categorized under Tier 1 (2.4) of the policy — Dehumanising speech or imagery in the form of comparisons, generalisations or unqualified behavioural statements (in written or visual form) to or about sexual predator.
From the 14:58-minute mark, they extensively talk about the kinds of people who are leading this country and are ‘fooling’ Hindus. Swami Jitendranand also raises the issue of the Government of India not providing enough security for Yati Narsinghanand. Narsinghanand says that the government is providing security to those saints who are leading Hindus to the den of Muslims to get murdered.
At the 17:55-minute mark, Narsinghanand says that BJP-RSS are here to promote self-interests before Muslims take over and rule Hindus in 2029 (Intimidation). He says that after 2029, they are going to give away their sisters and daughters to Muslims anyway. (Tier 1 – 2.4)
Narsinghanand ends his bit of the stream by talking about Maulana Tauqeer Raza, and how the person was not arrested despite giving out objectionable speech, he also mentions that even nationalist news anchors are saying that he spews venom.
Live stream #2
The second live stream was held on ‘Swami Amritanand Bhakti’ in the evening of April 18 around 8 PM IST. This stream received 2,738 views and it is the lengthiest Yati Narsinghanand has been live on YouTube since his bail. This stream was held on the day Narsinghanand and Amritanand were returning from the Una Dharam Sansad.
The stream begins with Amritanand asking Narsinghanand why the speeches at the Dharam Sansad are termed hate speech. Narsinghanand responds by saying that Dharam Sansad-like events are enlightening Hindus and this has rattled the ‘jihadis’.
At the 17:55-minute mark onward, to a question asked by Amritanand, Narsinghanand says that as per the hadiths, a ‘kafir’ can be raped, murdered and even looted, none of which is considered a crime. He adds that wherever sharia is implemented, the murder of a ‘kafir’ is seen as a reward. He also says that wherever Muslims are in majority, Hindus are not even allowed to breathe. (Tier 1 – 2.6)
At the 44:17-minute mark, Narsinghanand says “They don’t spare their own mothers, sisters and daughters” (translated) – (Tier 1 – 2.6). Just after this, at the 44:27-minute mark, he says, “In Bangladesh when Muslims go to rape Hindus, their mothers say go one by one or else my daughter will die” (translated) — (Tier 1 – 2.6). At the 47:36-minute mark, Amritanand says Muslims are more shameless than animals. He says that it is written in the Hadith that they can rape the dead. The rest of the stream till the end remains in the form of a Q&A.
It is pertinent to note, throughout this live stream, Narsinghanand also targets the RSS-BJP. He thinks that the BJP-RSS speaks a different language when they are not in power and take a U-turn when they are in power.
Live stream #3: The Interview
The third live stream on the Swami Amritanand Bhakti channel was done on May 20, around 2:41 PM. It received a total of 10,171 views. Unlike the first two streams, this one did not feature Narsinghanand. Instead, another interview with him shot a few days back was broadcast.
At the 7:15-minute mark, interviewer Sachin Tiwari asks Narisnghanand how Hindutva will emerge stronger and how Gyanvapi has become an issue these days. In his usual style, Narisnghanand starts by saying that Hindus are fools, he says “which Hindu did not know that Gyanvapi was a temple and not a mosque?” He then adds that which Hindus do not know that the mosque in Mathura, too, is actually a temple. Narsinghanand says that it is good that these places of worship are being returned to Hindus but the focus should not solely be on that.
“Isse jyada humein dhyan iss baat pe dena chahiye ki Bharat pe Islam ke jihadiyon kabza na ho jaye. Pata chala hum kewal mandiron ki ladai ladte rahe aur itne dino main musalman jihadis pure bharat pe kabza kar le.” (“More than this, we should focus on the fact that India might get captured by the jihadis of Islam. Our focus will solely remain on temples and one day we will find out that Muslim jihadis have captured the entire country”) — (Tier 2 – 3.1).
He says that the whole focus should be on creating a Sanatan Rashtra (Hindurashtra), and only then will Sanatan dharma survive. He adds, “Mandir banne chahiye lekin dekhiye sthiti ye hai ki agar musalmano ka raaj aya to ek bhi mandir yaha bachna nahi h, jo mandir aaj ke hai ye bhi nahi bachne hai. (Temples should be built but the condition is such that if Muslims start ruling this country, not a single temple will survive, and even those temples that were built today will vanish). (Intimidation)
He also says that the religion of Islam was born to destroy Hindu temples. The first temple that was destroyed was in Mecca, the ‘Makkeshwar Mahadev’ temple [referring to the conspiracy theory that the Kaaba is a Shiva temple].
Narsinghanand adds that he cannot expand upon these topics because of the restrictions imposed upon him by the courts. However, he doesn’t relent. He immediately says that, “Humara bhavishya tabhi zinda rahega jab hum bachengay.” (“our future will only exist if we survive”.)
He adds, “Pata chala hum toh mar gaye fir chahe jitne mandir ho jitne gaushalaye ho, jitne ashram ho ye kis kaam aane hai. Woh Jihadiyon ke kaam aane hai woh unhe masjid banaengay, waha apni aiyyashi karengay, apna maza lengay.” (“One day we will find out that we all are dead and all our temples, gaushala, and ashrams will be of no use. They will be useful to the jihadis, they will convert those places to mosques, they will enjoy there, they will take pleasure there”.) (Intimidation, Tier 2- 3.1)
He also says, “Islam ke basic jo samjhiye. Aapka jo bhi kuch hai, usey cheen na, aap ki hatya karna, aapke maal ko ganimat maan kar hajam kar jana, aapki aurton ko ya to balatkar karke mandiyon main bechna, ya apni sex slave banake apne pas rakh lena. Ye islam ka uddeshiya hai. Isko samjhe bina, hum Islam ko samjh hi nahi sakte.” (“Understand the basics of Islam. To steal everything from you, to kill you, to take away all your belongings, to rape your women and then sell them in the markets or to turn your women into their sex slaves and keep them for themselves. This is the basic goal of Islam. Without understanding this, we will never be able to understand Islam”.) (Tier 2 – 3.1. Tier 1 – 2.6).
The interviewer then moves to the other guests. At the 23:22-minute mark, Amirtanand takes over and starts asking questions to Narsinghanand about the ‘restrictions’ implemented on him by the courts. What Narisnghanand says can be translated as follows: “Look, this is true that the court has put such a huge restriction upon me and I will never be able to tell the truth about Mohammad which I had earlier brought before the world. Now I will never be able to tell that Mohammad was a thief, that Mohammed was a dacoit, that Mohammed was a rapist, that Mohammed was a seller of women, that Mohammed was a merciless killer, that Mohammad was the founder of organised crime. Islam is an organised gang of criminals”. (Tier 2 – 3.1. Tier 1 – 2.6).
Live stream #4
The fourth live stream was held in the evening on June 19, on the same channel. The stream was led by Swami Amritanand and it featured Santosh Das and Yati Narsinghanand. The stream received 4,400 views and the topic of the conversation was “धर्म परिवर्तन एवं धर्म परावर्तन पर विशेष चर्चा” (Special conversation on religious conversion and religious enforcement).
The conversation with Narsinghanand begins at the 1:09:00-minute mark with Das narrating a poem about religious conversations. Narsinghanand gets disconnected from the stream and another guest, named ‘the Apostate Imam’, talks of how every one out of four Muslims in Europe are leaving Islam. Once he reconnects, the first guest, Santosh Das, asks Narsinghanand’s opinion on धर्म परावर्तन (Dharam Paravartan or religious enforcement) through which Islam was allegedly forced upon others.
Narsinghanand begins by saying that the disease named Islam needs to be removed not just from India but from the entire world (Tier 2 – 3.1). He then goes on a rant about how Hindus need to become strong, without which they cannot win this ‘battle’. Narsinghanand also says that Islam has various countries, mosques, institutions and terrorist organisations to back it, but its fundamentals are weak. He then refers to the ‘data’ shared by the ‘Apostate Imam’ which proves that Islam was slowly vanishing from this planet.
At the 1:16:00-minute mark, Narisnghanand says, “Jaise swami ji China ne kaha ki Islam ek mansik beemari hai. Toh iss mansik beemari ka har sambahv ilaaj hume khojna padega, inhe khadena bhi padega aur inka paravartan bhi karwana padega.” (“For example; the way China has called Islam a mental disease, we also have to find every possible solution for this mental disease. We have to chase them away and at the same time enforce upon them our religion.”) (Tier 2 – 3.1, Tier 1 – 2.3).
For the rest of the stream, all the speakers continue talking about religious enforcement. At one point (1:17:05), Narisnghanand says, “Hindus never changed their religion on their own. I am not speaking of some of these traitors. Lots of torture happened, blood-bath happened, and rapes happened, but only after that Hindus switched their religion.” (translated)
He repeatedly emphasizes in this stream that the reality of Islam needs to be brought in front of the world. His bit on this live stream ends with him talking about the various steps and sacrifices required to finish the ‘enemy’.
Live stream #5
This one was held on a channel called ‘Maa Bharti Putra’, which is run by a follower of Yati Narsinghanand and has 2.76K subscribers. This live stream was organised on August 1, 2022, at 3:49 PM IST and the total lifetime views of this stream are 1,588 views. The topic of this stream was ‘Vishwa Dharam Sansad’ (Global Religious Parliament).
The stream begins with (0:53-seconds mark) Swami Amritanand asking Narsinghanand about the topic of the stream. He asks why ‘Vishwa Dharam Sansad’. To this, Narisnghanand says that Islam’s jihad is not just an issue for India, but the whole world.
He says, “Even the last Muslim on earth will take two swords in his two hands and fight until he kills himself. Islam’s jihad is endless, after the end of the world also they will continue their jihad.” (translated)
He then adds, “So, Swami Ji, when they are our enemy, they are the enemy of Buddhists, they are the enemy of Christians, they are the enemy of Jews, they are the enemy of Communists. So we should all come together and fight them. This is the biggest battle.” (translated). (Tier 3 – 1)
He further says, when the world comes together to defeat Islam, only then humanity will progress.
Throughout the stream, Narsinghanand answers various questions. At the 7:30-minute mark, a viewer poses a question about the security apparatus of the country and how leaders have failed to ban PFI despite having thousands of evidence that they are involved in terrorist activities. What could be the reason behind this, he asks.
Narsinghanand says that the entire world knows that no Hindu leader has the guts to fight Islam’s Jihad. He adds that there is no point in banning PFI as it will achieve nothing; the focus should be on defeating Islam and its jihad. Drawing on the metaphor of Cancer, he adds, “I don’t consider banning a step. All mosques and all madrassas should be demolished using cannons if you wish to survive. You are trying to cure fourth-stage cancer using prayers. That is not possible.” (translated)
At the 14:40-minute mark, a viewer asks Narsinghanand a question about Hindus allegedly trying to please Pasmandas and Sufis. Narsinghanand responds by saying, “Do you understand cheenal women? Cheenal women are those who are not satisfied with their husbands. Sometimes they will go here, sometimes they will go there and then within a few days they die of painful diseases. Similarly, the Hindu community moved to Pasmandas. Sometimes they move to Sufism, then in a few days they join Wahabism, then Bareilvis, then you never know where. And then they will die a painful death, worse than that of a dog.” (translated). (Tier 2 – 1.3. Tier 1 – 2.2, 2.5).
In this stream, at the 28:53-minute mark, a viewer suggests that the leaders of Hindu organisations like Mohan Bhagwat should be converted to hijras (a pejorative term for transgendered people), to which Narsinghanand replies by saying “Hijde toh abhi bane huwe hai, abhi bhi toh hijde bane huwe hai. Abhi kaunse mard hai? Dekhiye Satyam Shivam Sundaram ji, humara toh manna ye hai ki aaj bhi jo bade bade pado main behte hai sab hijde hi hai.” (“They are already Hijras. See, Satyam Shivam Sundaram Ji, I believe, people who are in big posts are already hijras.”) (Tier 2 – 6).
A viewer also asks Narsinghanand about his opinion on India sending rations to countries like Afghanistan where Hindus and Sikhs are allegedly tortured. This is the last question in the stream and Narsinghanand responds by saying that Indian leaders have a tradition of treating Muslims favourably, like one treats one’s sons-in-law, and they have a history of dying by ingesting poison provided to them by these people. He says that an average citizen cannot stop this tradition.
We decided to count the number of words that are common throughout these streams and found the following:
Other than participating in YouTube live streams, Narsinghanand also regularly gives interviews to his associates and voices his messages on contemporary issues. For instance, he issued a video statement in June on the controversy surrounding Nupur Sharma, the former BJP spokesperson who allegedly made derogatory remarks on the Prophet of Islam. Narsinghanand had said that he would be visiting Delhi’s Jama Masjid on June 17, to tell the truth about the verses written in the Quran.
[English Caption]
Hindu extremist leader Yati Narsinghanand supported hateful comments on Prophet Muhammad, he said Islamic books are responsible for terrorism. pic.twitter.com/O4ZRYGRVM4
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) June 7, 2022
Narsinghanand’s video statement went viral on social media on June 7. The Ghaziabad administration later issued a notice to him asking him to cancel his Jama Masjid visit or face legal consequences.
On June 8, he gave an interview to his associates at the Maa Bharti Putra YouTube channel. In this interview, Narsinghanand again spoke about his plans to visit Jama Masjid. He also repeats that “Islam is an organised gang of criminals.” [timestamp: 4:11-minute.] (Tier 1 – 2.6, 2.7) This interview received 8,050 views.
On June 12, again on the Maa Bharti Putra YouTube channel, a video of a conversation between Narsinghanand and an unidentified individual was uploaded. In his signature style, Narsinghanand talks about Islam in a derogatory manner throughout the video. At the 3:40-minute mark, he says that “No one is scared of their threats. The Jews are not scared, and the Buddhists of Myanmar are not scared. In fact, China has declared Islam as a mental disease.” (Tier 1 – 2.3, Tier 2 – 3.1) This video received 12,729 views.
Parts of the conversation between Narsinghanand and the unidentified individual were also uploaded on YouTube on June 14. Here, he continues to talk about Islam and about history. At one point [timestamp: 10:50-minute mark] he says that the Holocaust happened because Muslims had told the Nazis to do it. (Tier 1 – 4.6) This video received 8,298 views.
On July 1, during the hearing of the plea by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma seeking the transfer of FIRs against her, Justice Surya Kant made an oral remark that “this lady [Nupur Shamra] is single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country.” Responding to this, Narsinghanand issued a video saying that the judiciary of the country has instigated ‘jihadis’ to kill Nupur Sharma. At the 00:36-minute mark, he says India has 30 crore jihadis. (Tier 2- 3.1)
At the 10:00-minute mark, Narsinghanand says that the Supreme Court wants to get Nupur killed. It can get me killed as well. (translated). The title of the YouTube video in Hindi can be translated as “Will India be now run by Sharia law.”
The oral remarks made by the court received a mixed response from the civil society. It is for the courts to decide if Narsinghanand’s language qualifies as contempt of the court.
On the evening of July 9, just the night before Eid ul Adha, Narsinghanand recorded a message saying that Muslims across the globe are praying for the destruction of Narendra Modi and the RSS. He also says that the BJP government has helped Muslims so much that all their struggles are over and now all they plan day and night is how to rule India and how to do jihad. (Tier 2 – 3.1)
In the same video, he suggests that the leaders of India should take the road the leaders of Myanmar or China or Israel did. (Tier 2 – 3.1, Tier 3 – 2)
On September 15, Narsinghanand issued a video message regarding the rape case in Lakhimpur where two Dalit minor sisters were allegedly raped by three Muslim men. Narsinghanand says that this act was done by the ‘Jihadis’ of Islam. In this video, he also says that the Quran gives Muslims the right to rape ‘kafir’ women and to make them their ‘sex slaves’ or sell them in the markets. (Tier 1 – 2.6).
Unlike his other video messages, this one was uploaded on a channel called We Support Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, which has around 2.15K subscribers. This specific video received 1,148 views.
All of the above instances — be it a speech, a YouTube live stream or an interview — Narsinghanad abuses and/or insults groups of people based on their religion identity, and sometimes gender, and incites violence against them.
Almost all the videos of Yati Narsinghanand and his associates uploaded on YouTube violate the platform’s Hate Speech policy. The policy clearly states that YouTube removes content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on Caste, Gender Identity, Religion, etc., The full guidelines can be read here.
The image above highlights several points that have been violated by Narsinghanand and his associates multiple times on YouTube. For instance, in the second live stream mentioned in the story, Narsinghanand’s associate Swami Amritanand says Muslims are worse than animals and their religious texts justify necrophilia. Throughout all the videos, Narsinghanand casually refers to Muslims as Jihadis. He also says that Muslims need to be sent to concentration camps like the way it is done in China or they should be treated the way it is done in Myanmar [referring to the Rohingya exodus]. In several of the YouTube live stream, he promotes the conspiracy theory that Muslims are planning to capture India or that the Kaaba in Mecca is a Shiva temple. In fact, in one of his video messages, he claims that the Holocaust happened because Muslims had instigated the Nazis and Hitler.
All of these are clear violations of YouTube’s policy on hate speech.
After Alt News reached out to YouTube, two of the above-mentioned channels — Maa Bharti Putra and We Support Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati — were taken down by the platform after a review. The third and the most prolific channel, Swami Armitanand Bhakti, continues to be available on the platform. The platform did remove at least six videos from this channel.
Though Yati Narsinghanand’s bail condition says that he cannot participate in public events that spread hatred between religious groups or give inflammatory speeches, he participated in two such events — Hindu Mahapanchayat and Una Dharam Sansad — just two months after his bail. In fact, he continued to make inflammatory remarks on YouTube which receive thousands of views.
Moreover, in August, Narsinghanand called for the boycott of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, the initiative launched by the Prime Minister to celebrate the 75th year of Independence. As per Narsinghanand, the campaign aims to benefit a company owned by a Muslim. (Tier 3 – 2.3)
हर चीज़ में मुस्लिम ऐंगल क्यों जोड़ दिया जाता है?
अब प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी के ‘हर घर तिरंगा अभियान’ का बहिष्कार करने की बात करते हुए यति नरसिंहानंद सरस्वती को सुनिये…👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/uc2rW4K4XF
— Ashraf Hussain (@AshrafFem) August 11, 2022
In mid-September, after speaking at a public event, Narsinghanand addressed the media and said that all madrassas in the country should be demolished using gunpowder. He also proposed that all the students in the madrassas be sent to camps to remove the ‘virus’ called Quran. He also says that the Aligarh Muslim University should also be demolished like madrassas. (Tier 2 – 3.1, 1.2. Tier 3 – 1).
“मदरसों और AMU को बारूद व बमों से उड़ा ध्वस्त कर देना चाहिए और उसमे पढ़ने वालों को डिटेंशन सेंटर भेज देना चाहिए”-यति नरसिंहानंद
हरिद्वार कोर्ट ने इस व्यक्ति को इस शर्त पर जमानत दी थी कि यह भविष्य में इस प्रकृति का अपराध नही करेगा लेकिन माननीय यह तो अब बमों की बात कर रहा है! pic.twitter.com/UESIjTaxXZ
— Zakir Ali Tyagi (@ZakirAliTyagi) September 18, 2022
In the second half of October, Narsinghanand issued a video message about the alleged gang rape of a woman in Ghaziabad. The case received extensive media coverage due to the brutal nature of the incident. In his statement, Narsinghanad not only made the false claim that a Muslim individual had raped Nirbhaya ‘most brutally’ in 2012, but also repeated the claim that he makes often, that is, Islam teaches them (Muslims) to rape the daughters of kafirs and the crime should be looked through the lens of the Quran and Hadith.
The Ghaziabad rape case turned out to be false as per the police and they arrested the woman and her accomplices for fabricating the charges.
Narsinghanand’s speeches continue to demonize Muslims and promote both structural and casual violence against religious minority groups. As noted by lawyer Shahrukh Alam, hate speech does not only refer to offensive or foul-mouthed speech directed at people. It is speech that can cause actual material harm through the social, economic and political marginalization of a community.
Alt News also spoke with a lawyer regarding Narsinghanand’s bail condition. The lawyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “Normally in a case, when bail conditions are there and the accused is subjected to those conditions, the police should monitor if such conditions are violated and the judiciary should take its course if the same is brought to its notice. And hence, in this case, if the accused has violated the bail conditions on multiple occasions and if there are proofs in the public domain, then the same should be brought to the notice of the police, who should bring it to the notice of the court.”
Section 446A in The Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973 also dictates some provisions regarding cancellation of bond and bail bond, which can be read here.
After FIRs were lodged against him in April 2021, BJP leader Kapil Mishra came forward and started crowdfunding to support Narsinghanand’s operations.
₹ 25 lacs almost collected for Swami Yati Narsimhanand Ji
Click to donate now : https://t.co/8NqiC1TKz1 pic.twitter.com/tfMNaV5KW2
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) April 15, 2021
While Narsinghanand has no formal association with the Bharatiya Janata Party, he has been seen in close proximity of BJP leaders on several occasions. It is pertinent to note that his mentor in the early days was the BJP leader Baikunth Lal Sharma, who had played an important role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
The relationship between the BJP and Narsinghanand soured in August of 2021 when a video of his went viral where he could be heard saying that many women politicians have been mistresses of at least one male politician. Several BJP leaders and supporters condemned the statement. In fact, the same Kapil Mishra, who had previously raised funds for Yati Narisinghanand, now said he had a ‘Jihadi mindset’.
यति नरसिंहानंद की महिलाओं के प्रति सोच किसी भगवाधारी की हो ही नहीं सकती
ये जिहादी सोच से बीमार कोई कुंठित आदमी हैं
इस आदमी को महिला आयोग और यूपी पुलिस द्वारा गिरफ्तार किया जाना चाहिए
ये माँ जगदम्बा के मंदिर में बैठने योग्य नहीं https://t.co/Q24TGRwy59
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) August 28, 2021
According to this report in Scroll, Narsinghanand has both supporters and detractors among the BJP rank and file.
Alt News spoke with SP City (Additional SP) Dr Yogender Singh Rawat regarding the violation of bail conditions by Yati Narisinghnand. He told Alt News that all information pertaining to the matter was available with Kotwali Police Station. The very first FIR in the Haridwar Dharam Sansad case was registered at this police station.
When we reached out to an officer at Kotwali Police Station, we were told that the police did not monitor social media and that if Narsinghanand had delivered inflammatory speeches in public spaces or on social media, FIR should be registered against him at the nearest police station. There was no direct response to what course of action the police were taking over the violation of bail conditions.
It was surprising to see that police were not monitoring the social media activities and interactions of an individual who had been to jail for inflammatory remarks and have a history of disseminating hate speech/misinformation through social media platforms. The police conveyed a sense that it was not their duty to monitor such developments as it was not under their station’s jurisdiction.
Whether police complaints/FIRs were filed against Yati Narignshnand in the area where he delivered his speeches can easily be verified through a simple Google search. We found at least three media reports about FIRs registered against Narsinghanand in the last five months. (1, 2, 3). The latest ‘probe’ against Naringhanand was ordered on October 9, when he made objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammad and Mahatma Gandhi.
Kalim is a journalist with a keen interest in tech, misinformation, culture, etc
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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4th November 2022 / 7:05 pm / Last updated: 17th November 2022
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"author": "Kalim Ahmed"
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Morphed billboard saying 'thank taxpayer, not Kejriwal' shared online - Alt News
Kinjal
12th March 2021 / 8:56 pm / Last updated: 23rd February 2022
A picture of a billboard that reads, “Nothing in this country is free. If you are getting something without paying for it, thank a taxpayer. Not to Kejriwal” was shared by BJP MP Paresh Rawal amid the ongoing assembly elections. His tweet drew over 16,000 likes.
pic.twitter.com/aSGZEhknqf
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) February 23, 2022
The image is massively widespread on Facebook.
Last year, the same image was tweeted by BJP member Surendra Poonia.
Absolutely True !
Salute to Every Taxpayer 🙏❤️
Jai Hind 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Nu0bkWGAAp
— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) July 29, 2021
Twitter user @ExSecular had also shared the image.
If you are getting anything for free thank a taxpayer not kejriwal pic.twitter.com/ug8WUwB9I6
— exsecular (@ExSecular) July 24, 2021
The image was also circulating in March 2021. It is noteworthy that the Delhi CM has provided certain services to the public free of charge, including free bus travel for women, free water supply up to 20,000 litres and free treatment at the Mohalla Clinics.
Several users shared the image back in 2020 as well, including Times Now Navbharat journalist Shweta Bhattacharya.
Such a Brilliant Hoarding! Respect a Tax Payer. pic.twitter.com/FjJh9vgEtj
— Shweta Bhattacharya (@spbhattacharya) November 8, 2020
The year before, it was tweeted by BJP supporter Renuka Jain.
Such a brilliant hoarding. Respect a tax payer pic.twitter.com/bRN7L1reRC
— #RenukaJain (@RenukaJain6) January 14, 2019
Alt News performed a search using the keywords ‘taxpayers billboard‘ and found the viral picture posted on a number of sites. It was shared in a June 2015 article by Yellow Hammer, an American media portal. The text on the image does not refer to Kejriwal or any other political party.
According to the article, the picture of the hoarding was first tweeted by the Alabama Free Market Alliance (AFMA) on June 5, 2015.
Good reminder. cc: @GroverNorquist @taxreformer pic.twitter.com/tHmSpWFuL4
— AFMA (@ALFreeMarket) June 5, 2015
Therefore, an old picture of a billboard in the United States was edited and circulated on social media to target Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
Kinjal Parmar holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. However, her keen interest in journalism, drove her to pursue journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. At Alt News since 2019, she focuses on authentication of information which includes visual verification, media misreports, examining mis/disinformation across social media. She is the lead video producer at Alt News and manages social media accounts for the organization.
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news-altnews
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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12th March 2021 / 8:56 pm / Last updated: 23rd February 2022
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"author": "Kinjal"
}
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677 |
Congress handles share doctored graphic to claim Rahul ahead of Modi in popularity - Alt News
Abhishek Kumar
18th October 2022 / 1:35 pm
A graphic from news channel Aaj Tak’s show ‘Desh Ka Mijaz’ is viral on social media, in which the figure ‘52%’ is shown along with Rahul Gandhi’s name and ‘34%’ with that of Narendra Modi. It is being claimed that the figures prove Rahul Gandhi’s popularity has surpassed that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sharing this graphic, the Twitter handle of the Delhi Congress wrote, “The mood of the country is changing. Now the public has made up its mind to teach a lesson to the autocrats.” (Archived link)
The graphic was also promoted by the Twitter handle of the Tripura Pradesh Youth Congress. The accompanying caption read, “The Bharat Jodo Yatra will gradually wipe the BJP out of this country.” (Archived link)
Pankaj Prahlad Singh of Congress Delhi also amplified the graphic.
Taking a closer look at the viral screengrab, Alt News noticed that below Rahul Gandhi’s statement is a ticker that reads, ““.
We performed a keyword search using this statement of Gandhi’s. This led us to a report by Aaj Tak dated January 25, 2019. Rahul Gandhi made the remarks while addressing a rally in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This confirms that this broadcast from Aaj Tak was aired sometime around January 25, 2019.
Next, we performed a keyword search on Twitter using a date filter and came across a video of this programme which was tweeted on January 25, 2019 by the official handle of Aaj Tak.
ये रहा पीएम मोदी और राहुल गांधी की लोकप्रियता का ग्राफ और लोकसभा चुनाव में जनता का मिजाज #MoodOfTheNation
देखिए #HallaBol @anjanaomkashyap के साथ.
लाइव: https://t.co/fOz5QPkk43 pic.twitter.com/RK8BvLNqli
— AajTak (@aajtak) January 25, 2019
The programme claimed on the basis of a survey that the popularity of Narendra Modi for the post of prime minister was 46 percent, while that of Rahul Gandhi was 34 percent. We noticed that the viral graphic used the original frame in context of the figures for Narendra Modi, which also matches the time stamp (17:59). However, the frame mentioning Rahul Gandhi (34%) is not the one used in the viral graphic.
Further in the show, it is revealed that among the Opposition leaders, Rahul Gandhi was the most popular alternative for Narendra Modi. Here, his popularity figure stood at 52 percent, the highest among the Opposition. In this context, the visual referring to Rahul Gandhi can be seen on screen. The time stamp (18:01) also lines up with the viral graphic.
Aaj Tak issued a tweet clarifying that the viral graphic was doctored. Following this, Congress’s social media and digital platform chairperson Supriya Shrinate took cognizance of the viral graphic and the tweet was taken down from the official handle of Delhi Congress. (Archived link)
मेरे संज्ञान में लाए जाने के तुरंत बाद @INCDelhi ने ट्वीट को डिलीट किया।
हम ग़लत तथ्यों को क़तई बर्दाश्त नहीं करते हैं-चाहे कहीं के भी हों।अपनी गलती का त्वरित सुधार और दूसरे की नज़रंदाज़ नहीं करते।
यह कांग्रेस का सिद्धांत है, पर क्या भक्तमंडली और नतमस्तक मीडिया एसा करेगा? 🙏 https://t.co/Hy0BmMn0t2
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) October 13, 2022
To sum it up, Congress members falsely circulated an edited graphic from a 2019 Aaj Tak broadcast comparing figures from two different parameters to suggest that Rahul Gandhi’s popularity had surpassed that of Narendra Modi’s.
Abhishek is a senior fact-checking journalist and researcher at Alt News. He has a keen interest in information verification and technology. He is always eager to learn new skills, explore new OSINT tools and techniques. Prior to joining Alt News, he worked in the field of content development and analysis with a major focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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18th October 2022 / 1:35 pm
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"author": "Abhishek Kumar"
}
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Fake Twitter account created in the name of Delhi cop Seema Dhaka - Alt News
Kinjal
23rd November 2020 / 8:08 pm
Recently, Seema Dhaka, a head constable in the Delhi Police, rescued 76 missing children after only having been in the force for two and a half months. She was promoted to the position of an assistant sub-inspector on November 19. She also became the first police personnel of Delhi police to receive an OTP (out-of-turn promotion). Meanwhile, Twitter user @seemadhaka0 tweeted a picture on the same day, writing, “My duty is to serve the public…” The tweet has received 24,900 likes and 1,200 retweets at the time of writing. (archive link)
Social media users believe this account belongs to Seema Dhaka herself. A Twitter user with the display name ‘SP leader Golu Yadav’ tagged the handle congratulating the officer for her promotion. It was also retweeted by @seemadhaka0. (archive link)
On November 21, this handle also posted a tweet thanking everyone after reaching 5000 followers. (Archive link)
Alt News reached out to Seema Dhaka who clarified, “This is a fake Twitter account. I do not have an account on Twitter.” The policewoman added that she had called out the misinformation from her husband Anit Dhaka’s Twitter account. He wrote that @seemadhaka0 is a fake account in his replies to a number of tweets.
ये एक फर्जी एकाउंट खोला गया है अगर जल्द ही इसे डिलीट ना किया गया तो इस पर कानूनी कार्यवाही की जा सकती है। अब जिस एकाउंट से मैं ट्विट कर रही हूँ ये मेरे हसबैंड का एकाउंट है। मैं अभी तक twitter पे नही हूँ और ये बातें मैं सभी मीडिया चैनलों को भी बता चुकी हूँ। #SeemaDhaka
— ANIT DHAKA (@anitk1230) November 20, 2020
Several fake Seema Dhaka Twitter created
We found several Twitter accounts posing as Seema Dhaka, such as @SeemaDhaka10 (archive link), @RealSeemaDhaka (archive link), @seemadhakalive (archive link), @seemadhaka15 (archive link), and @Seemadhaka13 (archive link). All of these accounts were created in November 2020.
In fact, some of them also posted tweets insisting they belong to Seema Dhaka.
Another similar incident occurred in July 2020, when a video of former police officer Sunita Yadav went viral. In the clip, she was seen confronting a Gujarat minister’s son for violating lockdown rules. Following this, there was a proliferation of Twitter handles falsely claiming to be Yadav.
Kinjal Parmar holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. However, her keen interest in journalism, drove her to pursue journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. At Alt News since 2019, she focuses on authentication of information which includes visual verification, media misreports, examining mis/disinformation across social media. She is the lead video producer at Alt News and manages social media accounts for the organization.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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23rd November 2020 / 8:08 pm
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"author": "Kinjal"
}
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Delhi doctor's arrest in kidney transplant racket viral with false COVID angle - Alt News
Archit
5th August 2020 / 6:21 pm / Last updated: 19th April 2021
Several Facebook users have shared a message that claims that a doctor named Devendra Sharma was arrested for surgically removing the kidneys of healthy people by falsely declaring them COVID positive. “स्वस्थ आदमी को कोरोना पेशेंट बता कर अब तक 125 लोगो का किडनी निकाल कर हत्या करने वाला डॉ देवेन्द्र शर्मा गिरफ्तार,” reads the Hindi claim. The posts also carry a news report that says Dr Sharma has killed over 100 people in the kidney racket.
स्वस्थ आदमी को कोरोना पेशेंट बता कर अब तक 125 लोगो की किडनी निकाल कर हत्या करने डाक्टर देवेंद्र शर्मा ….
Posted by प्रकाश सूर्यवंशी on Sunday, 18 April 2021
The claim is viral on Facebook.
Facebook and Twitter users had shared the same claim last year with the message, “Merit holder sold kidney on the pretext of coronavirus. Police nabbed the ‘cruel’ doctor Devender Sharma who murdered over 100 and fed them to crocodiles. The illegal kidney transplant gang transplanted kidney for 125 people in Jaipur, Ballabgarh and Gurugram.”
Uttar Pradesh Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) member Virendra Prajapati’s post received over 500 shares on Facebook (archived link). He also shared a news report about ‘Dr Devender Sharma’ arrested in a kidney racket.
The complete message reads, “मेरिट धारी कारोना बीमारी के नाम पर कीडनिया निकाल कर बेचता था. पुलिस के हत्थे चढ़ा 100 से ज्यादा मर्डर करने वाला ‘दरिंदा ‘ डॉक्टर देवेंद्र शर्मा हत्या कर मगरमच्छ को खिलाता था लाशें अवैध किडनी ट्रांसप्लांट करने वाले गिरोह में शामिल हो कर जयपुर बल्लभगढ़ और गुरुग्राम में 125 लोगों की किडनी ट्रांसप्लांट करवाईं.”
Similarly, a Twitter user shared (archived link) these images. It was retweeted over 200 times.
Alt News received several requests to fact-check this on WhatsApp (+917600011160) and on our official Android application.
Alt News performed a keyword search ‘Dr Devender Sharma kidney’ and found multiple media reports. As per a report in The Indian Express, published on July 30, 2020, Sharma, an Ayurveda doctor, allegedly masterminded 50 murders of taxi drivers in the early 2000s. The report added that Sharma also ran an illegal kidney transplant racket in the 1990s with a network spread across Jaipur, Ballabgarh and Gurgaon. Sharma and his associates used to dump bodies in a canal infested with crocodiles to get rid of the evidence. He was arrested on July 29, six months after he jumped parole while serving a life sentence at the central jail in Jaipur.
India Times reported that Sharma was released on parole for 20 days in January in 2020 after spending 16 years in jail. He skipped parole and stayed at his village for a while before moving to Delhi in early March.
Alt News spoke with DCP (Crime Branch) Rakesh Paweriya. He confirmed, “There is no COVID-19 angle to Sharma’s case.” Paweriya added, “Sharma is serving a life sentence for the past 16 years at Jaipur’s central jail. In January, he had jumped his parole and was rearrested.”
As per media reports, this incident isn’t linked with COVID-19. Alt News performed a reverse image search on two of the viral images — a man in a yellow t-shirt surrounded by five men wearing protective masks and an image of a kidney. The former has been used by multiple media outlets including The Hindu and The Outlook on July 30. As per the reports, the man in the yellow t-shirt is Sharma.
The reverse image search of the second image led us to an article by Fox News. As per the article, “Doctors in the United Kingdom readying to perform a kidney transplant on a young girl noticed the organ they were preparing to use had an unusual abnormality: Five renal arteries.”
The news report shared with these images was published by Jagran, a Hindi news platform.
Thus, social media claim that Devender Sharma ran an illegal kidney racket on the pretext of COVID-19 is false. Sharma was arrested on July 29, 2020 after he jumped his parole. Last year, another false claim of organ trading linked with coronavirus deaths was debunked by Alt News.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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5th August 2020 / 6:21 pm / Last updated: 19th April 2021
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"author": "Archit"
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BJP accuses AAP of corruption, claims Kirari hospital exists only on 'paper'. What is the truth? - Alt News
Abhishek Kumar
29th June 2022 / 4:09 pm / Last updated: 29th June 2022
Recently, BJP leader and MP Manoj Tiwari and Delhi BJP state president Adesh Gupta, including several media personnel, visited the proposed construction site of a hospital in Delhi’s Kirari Assembly constituency. Accusing the Delhi government of corruption, they claimed that a hospital supposed to be functional in Kirari does not exist even as media outlets reported that a 458-bed hospital was operating since June 28, 2020. Several media outlets amplified the claim. Among them were Zee News, Hindustan, Patrika, and The Hindu.
Delhi BJP state president Adesh Gupta tweeted a video of the proposed hospital’s construction site in Kirari. He claimed that according to the Kejriwal government, a 458-bed hospital in Kirari has been completed as per official records on June 28, 2020. But there was no hospital to be found when he visited the area. Targeting CM Kejriwal, he asked whether the land or the sky “swallowed” the hospital. (Archive link)
केजरीवाल सरकार के अनुसार कागजों में 28 जून 2020 को किराड़ी में 458 bed का अस्पताल बनकर तैयार हो चुका है। आज जब सांसद @ManojTiwariMP जी के साथ किराड़ी जाकर देखा, तो यहां अस्पताल तो दूर उसकी एक ईंट तक नहीं है।
.@ArvindKejriwal जी बताएं कि कहां है वो अस्पताल, जमीन खा गई या आसमान? pic.twitter.com/IV7yMQN0et
— Adesh Gupta (@adeshguptabjp) June 22, 2022
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also made a similar claim while tweeting this video. He said that according to the Delhi chief minister, a 458-bed hospital had been set up in Kirari and as per the PWD (NCT Government) website, the construction work had been completed on June 27, 2020. But in reality, the hospital existed only on paper. He accused AAP of running a scam worth Rs 1,256 crore. (Archive link)
According to Delhi CM Kejriwal, a 458 bed hospital has been set up in Kirari and as per PWD (Govt of NCT) website, the work has been completed on 27Jun2020. But the hospital exists only on paper! This is a 1,256 crore scam by the AAP.
Where did the money go, Arvind Kejriwal? pic.twitter.com/cvq3f4xdyS
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 22, 2022
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari made the claim on Twitter. (Archive link)
आज हम किराड़ी के 458 बेड वाले हॉस्पिटल को देखने गये.. सच्चाई हैरान करनेवाली मिली.. ना कोई स्थाई अस्पताल ना ही अस्थाई.. pic.twitter.com/28kLQ56xce
— Manoj Tiwari 🇮🇳 (@ManojTiwariMP) June 22, 2022
BJP Delhi’s official handle also amplified the claim. Several BJP leaders including Neelkant Bakshi, Ashwini Upadhyay, Nighat Abbas, and several social media users promoted it.
Alt News reached out to Kirari Aam Aadmi Party MLA Rituraj Govind who said that Manoj Tiwari’s claim about the Kirari hospital being completed in June 2020 was completely false. Govind added that on August 4, 2020, he met Delhi minister Satyendra Jain and submitted a letter detailing a need for a hospital in Kirari. The MLA also shared the link to a Facebook post from the same day where he spoke about the meeting with Jain.
The Kirari MLA explained that the process of allotting land for the hospital began after he submitted the letter. Following this, on February 10, 2021, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) allotted a plot for the construction. On March 22, 2021, they received the possession slip for the land. Govind also shared with us the allotment and possession documents of the hospital plot.
A press notice on the website of the PWD of Delhi related to the proposed hospital states that the deadline for tender applications for the construction was August 11, 2021.
We then performed a search using the tender’s NIT number, 04 /CE/Health/PWD/2021-22, and were led to websites that track tenders. For instance, Free State Tenders and Tenders on Time. The tender in question is dated July 28, 2021 on these websites. Furthermore, the deadline for filing the tender was August 11, 2021. Alt News also found a report by ABP News from July 31, 2021, about the tender. This makes it evident that the tender for the 458-bed hospital in Kirari was out in July-August 2021.
A hospital with a tender application deadline of August 11, 2021, could not possibly have been constructed by June 27, 2020. Thus, several BJP leaders and supporters of the party promoted a misleading claim on social media about a proposed hospital in Kirari, Delhi. They falsely claimed that according to the documents available on the PWD website, this hospital had been constructed in 2020 itself. However, Alt News’s investigation found that the documents on PWD’s website, in fact, refute this claim.
Abhishek is a senior fact-checking journalist and researcher at Alt News. He has a keen interest in information verification and technology. He is always eager to learn new skills, explore new OSINT tools and techniques. Prior to joining Alt News, he worked in the field of content development and analysis with a major focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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29th June 2022 / 4:09 pm / Last updated: 29th June 2022
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"author": "Abhishek Kumar"
}
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681 |
Delhi man 'angry with God' defiles Hanuman idols, Sudarshan News adds false Muslim angle - Alt News
Aqib Pathan
14th April 2021 / 1:38 pm
Sudarshan TV tweeted a video claiming that three temples were vandalised in Dwarka, Delhi. “Another temple was gripped by hate,” read its tweet. (Archive Link)
“नफ़रत की उन्मादी आंधी की चपेट में आया दिल्ली का एक और मन्दिर..”
द्वारका के ककरौला गाँव मे पवित्र नवरात्रि की रात को 3 मंदिरों की मूर्तियों को किया गया खंडित.
क्षेत्र में तनाव और धार्मिक समुदाय बेहद आक्रोशित.
दोज़ख बनती दिल्ली.@DCPDwarka @DelhiPolice @CPDelhi @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/TpYwoqrSjK
— Sudarshan News (@SudarshanNewsTV) April 13, 2021
The channel uploaded a second video where the reporter is showing the state of the temples and asking locals what went down. (Archive Link)
Sudarshan News editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke tweeted the same ground report and blamed ‘jihadis’ for the vandalism. (Archive Link)
जिहादियों ने जहाँ पर मूर्तियों को तोड़ा, उसी मंदिर से ग्राउंड रिपोर्ट। pic.twitter.com/0e0gNoErfc
— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) April 13, 2021
BJP Delhi social media head Naveen Kumar made the identical claim. (Archive Link)
दिल्ली में द्वारका के पास #ककरोला गाँव मे जिहादियों द्वारा नवरात्रो से ठीक एक दिन पहले हनुमान मंदिर में देवी देवताओं की मुर्तिया तोड़ दी गयी। गंगा जमुनी तहजीब वाले अब कहाँ है जो भाई-चारा की बात करते हैं, या हिन्दू उनके लिए सिर्फ़ चारा है?@DelhiPolice आरोपियो को जल्द गिरफ्तार करे। pic.twitter.com/htzp6437QU
— Naveen Kumar (@naveenjindalbjp) April 13, 2021
The incident drew protests by Vishva Hindu Parishad members in the West Delhi area. VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal had tweeted a protest video.
मंदिरों में देवी-देवताओं की मूर्ति विध्वंस से आक्रोशित हिन्दू समाज पश्चिमी दिल्ली में सड़कों पर उतर आया है। देखना यह है कि यहां की सरकार हिन्दू रक्षार्थ कब अपनी तन्द्रा से जागेगी..!! pic.twitter.com/FkFDTItSFO
— विनोद बंसल (@vinod_bansal) April 13, 2021
Sudarshan news correspondent Nimit Tyagi, Twitter user @AchAnkurArya, and BJP member Sandeep Thakur further amplified the claim.
DCP/Dwarka, Delhi replied to Sudarshan News that accused Mahesh was arrested from the same locality and the incident does not have a communal angle. “He was aggrieved on God due to inadequate rainfall,” said the police.
Miscreant Mahesh@ Bhut (45yr), a resident of same locality, has been arrested in our prompt action. Says he was aggrieved on God due to inadequate rainfall. There is no communal angle in this unfortunate incident.@DelhiPolice
— DCP/Dwarka, Delhi (@DCPDwarka) April 13, 2021
We found several news articles on this incident. According to The Indian Express, “The accused, Mahesh (50) of Bharat Vihar JJ colony, is a cobbler, police said. The matter was reported by a priest on Tuesday morning who first spotted the damaged Hanuman idols at three adjacent spots in Kakrola, a senior police officer said.”
This wasn’t the first time Sudarshan News communalised an incident. The channel recently claimed that Muslims entered a Hindu place of worship in Maharashtra’s Malanggad and disrupted aarti. Muslims had entered the Hahi Malang Dargah, which is regarded as a temple by a section of the Hindu community. Earlier this month, Sudarshan News had also communalised a clash between Muslim groups in Uttarakhand’s Jaspur Dargah. A compilation on the channel’s sectarian disinformation can be read here.
Aqib is monitoring and researching mis/disinformation at Alt News
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In a now-deleted article titled “दीप प्रज्ज्वलन के वैज्ञानिक और आध्यात्मिक पक्ष, जानें ये है…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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14th April 2021 / 1:38 pm
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"author": "Aqib Pathan"
}
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Delhi MLA Manjinder Sirsa shares affectionate photo of Nehru with his niece to malign him - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
22nd October 2018 / 6:39 pm
Delhi MLA Manjinder S Sirsa from NDA-affiliated Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) tweeted a photograph of a lady holding former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in an embrace from behind and kiss him on his cheek, captioning the image as – “the hero of the Indian National Congress”. Juxtaposed with Nehru’s image, he posted what looks like an e-paper clip in admiration of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and termed him “the real hero of India.”
Pic 1 – The real hero of India
Vs
Pic 2 – The hero of @INCIndia
Thank you @narendramodi Ji for honouring the real heroes #AzadHindGovernment #AzadHindSarkar pic.twitter.com/xEWi11jjBl
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 21, 2018
In the picture tweeted by Sirsa, Nehru is being given a kiss by his niece Nayantara Sehgal on his arrival at London airport in 1955. The woman on their right is Sehgal’s mother, Vijaylakshmi Pandit, who was the High Commissioner to the UK at that time. Alt News had debunked this image last year as well when BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya also shared the photograph to malign Nehru.
A video of Nehru’s arrival posted by vintage television company British Pathé on their YouTube channel provides a clearer context. The peck can be seen at the 27th second of the clip.
India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal has often been targetted on social media. The attempt at character assassination not only takes place with the help of false narratives but also fake images.
Recently, another purported photograph of Jawaharlal Nehru was doing rounds on social media, attempting to show him intimate with a woman. From a Facebook group, We Support PM Modi, this image was circulated with the caption – “आजादी की लड़ाई लड़ते नेहरु चाचा (Chacha Nehru fighting the battle of Independence).” It was shared over 600 times.
This image is a shot from a play ‘Drawing the Line’ and the man in the photograph is not Nehru but theatre actor Silas Carson with actress Lucy Black who played the role of Edwina Mountbatten. Details about the play are available on the website of London’s Hampstead Theatre.
The country’s first Prime Minister is one of the favourite targets of social media’s right-wing machinery. Decades after his death, Nehru’s photographs are not only shared with false narratives but often photoshopped to propagate his image as an immoral man.
Watch the following Alt News video for more such examples where misleading and photoshopped images were used to target Jawaharlal Nehru.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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22nd October 2018 / 6:39 pm
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Delhi murder accused Aftab Poonawalla is a Muslim; contrary claims made on social media are false - Alt News
Indradeep Bhattacharyya
15th November 2022 / 2:29 pm / Last updated: 15th November 2022
Soon after the news of the alleged murder of 26-year-old Shraddha Walker in Delhi’s Mehrauli by her partner became viral, the religion of the accused, Aftab Ameen Poonawalla, became a bone of contention on social media. (Some media outlets used slightly different spellings for the name)
A twitter user called ‘the dude’ posted a screenshot of Poonawalla’s Facebook profile and wrote, “Although Poonawala is usually a Parsi surname and the accused claims himself to be humanist, such a heinous crime against a woman should not go unpunished. Regardless of his beliefs he should be given harshest possible punishment. At the same time, we need to call out ++” (Archive)
Although Poonawala is usually a Parsi surname and the accused claims himself to be humanist, such a heinous crime against a woman should not go unpunished.
Regardless of his beliefs he should be given harshest possible punishment.
At the same time, we need to call out ++ pic.twitter.com/qMnJIh83Yn
— the dude (@the_shrewd_dude) November 14, 2022
Another user with the name ‘RVAIDYA2000’ wrote, “Youngistan me confuzed as usual: This Aftab Poonawala is a Shia or Bhora or Parsi or ?? Many media differ+ there are many other poonawalas floating around–all one set:))))) RT”. (Archive)
Youngistan me confuzed as usual: This Aftab Poonawala is a Shia or Bhora or Parsi or ?? Many media differ+ there are many other poonawalas floating around–all one set:))))) RT
— RVAIDYA2000 🕉️ (@rvaidya2000) November 14, 2022
Replying to a tweet by user Anshul Saxena, user ‘MaynZalik’ simply wrote “Aftab Parsi Poonawala Not muslim”. (Archive)
Aftab Parsi Poonawala Not muslim https://t.co/IC41oBR76H
— MaynZalik (@XunizXan) November 14, 2022
Another Twitter user, ‘Yedz’, quote-tweeted NDTV’s report of the incident and claimed in his tweet that the accused was a Parsi and not a Muslim. (Archive)
Time that our judiciary stop being lenient and start giving death sentences for such brutal acts!
Why show humanity to an inhuman monster?!
Also the accuse is parsi not muslim but irrespective of that stop making everything about religion! https://t.co/uxAcOm3s6n
— Yedz (@YetOtherHuman) November 14, 2022
Some also claimed that the accused was a Hindu.
Some others claimed he was a ‘Sindhi’.
While looking into the matter, Alt News checked Poonawalla’s Instagram profile, and found that replying to a comment to one of his posts, he had written, “I am a Muslim, and the other tern you’re is Hindu. Lord Krishna is the God of Hindus. May I ask why the certain inquisitiveness about my religion?”
Alt News also accessed the FIR copy of the incident and found that according to the victim’s father, Poonawalla was a Muslim. The relevant part of the police complaint can be translated as “My daughter had told my wife in 2019 that she was in a live-in relationship with Aftab Amin Poonawala. Me and my wife did not agree to this because the guy was a Muslim and inter-caste/inter-religion marriage was not accepted in our social circle…”
Based on Poonawalla’s own admission on his Instagram page and the FIR copy, we can confirm that he is a Muslim by religion. Contrary claims made on social media, that he is a Parsi or a Hindu, are not true.
Indradeep, a journalist with over 10 years' experience in print and digital media, is a Senior Editor at Alt News. Earlier, he has worked with The Times of India and The Wire. Politics and literature are among his areas of interest.
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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15th November 2022 / 2:29 pm / Last updated: 15th November 2022
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"author": "Indradeep Bhattacharyya"
}
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Delhi police clarifies no ban on Azaan after video of policemen imposing a ban goes viral - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
25th April 2020 / 2:17 pm / Last updated: 25th April 2020
A video of two policemen conversing with a few members of the Muslim community is doing the rounds on social media. In the video, the policemen can be heard saying that there will be no ‘Azaan’ and this is an order by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Delhi-based journalist and author Saba Naqvi posted the video (now deleted) and asked, “Is azaan during #Ramzaan now not allowed in Delhi?“. According to her tweet, the video is from riots affected Mustafabad. However, if one listens carefully, the policemen can be heard saying, “You go to Rohin Nagar police station and see the order”. The month of Ramzan starts from April 25, 2020.
Alt News has received several requests to fact-check the video.
@AltNews kindly verify this video. Here, cops are claiming that @LtGovDelhi ordered a ban on azaan during ramzan. Is this true, how can azaan violates social distancing??@zoo_bear @free_thinker @thisisjignesh pic.twitter.com/3O4AP4eRkO
— Khushboo Khan (@Khushbookhan_) April 23, 2020
On our official Android application, the video has been uploaded with the following message – “दिल्ली किराड़ी में रमज़ान में सभी मस्जिदो में आजान नही देने का फरमान पुलिस ने कहा LG साहब का ऑर्डर है” reads the viral text.
[Translation: In Delhi’s Kirari, it has been ordered that there will be no Azaan in all the mosques during Ramzan. Police says that this an order by the LG.]
Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia took to Twitter and clarified that there is no restriction on Azaan. “In the lockdown, there is a complete ban on assembling of people for prayers in mosques or at any other religious places,” said the Dy. CM.
अजान के लिए कोई पाबंदी नहीं है. लॉकडाउन में मस्जिदों में नमाज़ के लिए इकट्ठा होने या किसी अन्य धार्मिक स्थल पर पूजा आदि के लिए लोगों के इकट्ठा होने पर पूरी तरह पाबंदी है. https://t.co/OxYGiqaIrR
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 24, 2020
Delhi police also tweeted that while people are expected to follow the lockdown rules when they are observing Roza and prayers, Azaan may be carried out in accordance with NGT guidelines. “It is requested that namaz may be performed while staying indoors and have Sehri at home,” reads the message posted by Delhi police.
Important Information. pic.twitter.com/wCXgaWIqoX
— #DilKiPolice Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) April 24, 2020
While speaking with BBC Hindi, Rohini DCP SD Mishra said, “I saw the video this morning. Actually, the constable didn’t understand the difference between Azaan and Namaz and made the false claim. Due to social distancing [norms], offering namaz at mosques is prohibited but there is no restriction on Azaan.” He informed that disciplinary action has been taken against the constable for spreading false information. He added, “No such order from the office of Lieutenant Governor has been issued. We have informed the maluvis of all the mosques in the area.”
In Islamic tradition, Muslims are summoned to perform five congregational prayers (Namaz) a day via the Azaan or call to prayer. Due to coronavirus pandemic, congregational prayers are suspended and namaz can be offered at home.
A video of a policeman who falsely claimed that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has issued orders to ban Azaan in mosques has spread panic among the Muslim community.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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25th April 2020 / 2:17 pm / Last updated: 25th April 2020
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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Delhi police probe or ABVP investigation? DCP releases images shared earlier by ABVP - Alt News
Pratik Sinha & Pooja Chaudhuri
11th January 2020 / 4:43 pm / Last updated: 11th January 2020
“In my SIT (Special Investigation Team), there are three ACPs and seven officers, and we have been working day and night“, announced DCP (Crime) Joy Tirkey during a January 10 press conference by Delhi police on JNU violence. The officer laid down the purported sequence of events that led to a rampage in the varsity campus on the intervening night of January 5-6. He began with alleged vandalism of servers by students opposing hostel fee hike to stop registrations for the winter session of the university.
“At 3:45 PM on January 5, these four organisations – Students’ Federation of India, All India Students Federation, All India Students Association, Democratic Students Federation – I will also share images, we have identified a few people – these people attacked Periyar hostel. They had muffled faces and some members of JNUSU were also there. In fact, their president was also there who was caught on camera,” informed Tirkey, stating that the police has registered FIRs against nine students for assault, criminal intimidation and damage to public property.
Towards the end, he released print-outs which had pictures of suspects he claimed that the “SIT identified” after speaking to a “crosssection of students, teachers, JNU admin staff, hostel wardens and other residents” and through “viral videos and images.”
But as it turns out, the photographs in the print-outs released were earlier circulated by RSS-affiliated ABVP members on social media in the exact print and design.
1. “Chunchun Kumar Ex student, JNU”
The print-out held DCP Crime Joy Tirkey, naming Chunchun Kumar, was identical to the one tweeted on January 7 by ABVP’s national organising secretary Ashish Chauhan. “CHUNCHUN AISA Activist (Pelting stone With stick in hand outside Periyar hostel),” reads the text in the yellow box in both images that carry the same markings, numbering and grammatical errors (words starting with capital letters in the middle of the sentence).
2. “Pankaj Mishra School of Social Sciences (SSS), JNU. Mahi-Mandvi Hostel”
This was tweeted by Chauhan on January 6. The text inside the blue box reads, “Pankaj Mishra [SSS] Mahi-Mandavi Hostel.” Notice how the name of the hostel is spelt “Mandvi” on the police print-out and Chauhan’s tweet but “Mandavi” inside the blue box in both photographs.
3. “Aishe Ghosh President JNUSU”
“You can see Aishe Ghosh madam here,” said Tirkey, holding a print-out to the camera which has also been floating on social media since January 6. State joint secretary ABVP Delhi Anima Sonkar had tweeted the image saying, “Make no mistake. Identify the culprit. @aishe_ghosh (the @JNUSUofficial president) clearly seen as leading the masked men. It’s a conspiracy to attack the JNU students who went against the Left’s decision to boycott registration. Classic case of legitimising mob (left activists)!” The same photograph was also shared by JNU professor Alok Singh on the same day.
The red box in both photographs reads, “JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh with red bag is seen in the video of Periyar Hostel Vandalism. Leading her masked violent comrade gang in hostels.”
It is unclear why the words “comrade gang” were used by the police as part of an official investigation.
4. “Vasker Vijay Mech MA, SAA, JNU”
The Delhi police released a cropped image of a photograph shared by ABVP’s Ashish Chauhan on January 6, naming Vaskar Vijay Mech as one of the suspects behind the violence. Notice that the circle highlighting Mech is the same and a portion of the black arrow is also visible on the print-out held by DCP Tikey.
5. “Dolan Samanta (Face covered by red scarf). School of Social Science, Centre- Centre of Historical studies”
In all the above-mentioned instances, the police print-outs were the same as images shared by ABVP members. All of them were identical stills taken from videos, they carried identical markings and the exact text.
However, in the case of Dolan Samantha, ABVP did not circulate similarly-designed photographs but a video. Ironically, Delhi police also did not release an image with text and markings but a photograph where Samanta can be seen in a red scarf.
Below, we have compared the still in the police print-out with Samanta’s video shared by Ashish Chauhan and ABVP on January 6. As evident, the police’s screengrab is from the same video.
“Girl with red-scarf is AISA activist Dolan Samanta (CHS, JNU), seen beating a common student who was going for registration,” reads Chauhan’s tweet.
Alt News was unable to locate photographs/ videos of Sucheta Talukdar and Priya Ranjan.
During the press conference, DCP (Crime) Joy Tirkey referred to Left-affiliated student bodies – AISA, SFI, AISF and DSF – and their alleged involvement in vandalism multiple times. However, ABVP found no mention thus giving the impression that the RSS-affiliated organisation was not responsible for the mob frenzy that took over JNU on the fateful night of January 5.
But among those nine suspects were two ABVP activists, which the police failed to clarify despite journalists questioning ABVP’s role.
1. Yogendra Bhardwaj
“This is Yogendra Bhardwaj ji, PhD Sanskrit who was the admin of the WhatsApp group Unity Against Left,” stated Tirkey. The photograph held up by the senior officer has been circulating on social media since January 6. It used to be Bhardwaj’s Twitter profile picture before the account was deleted/ deactivated. Bhardwaj’s image began circulating after his name came up in a WhatsApp group chat ‘Unity Against Left’.
He identified himself as JNU ABVP joint secretary, 2017-18. on Twitter but the same was omitted by the police.
7. Yogendra Shaurya Bhardwaj #ABVP_TERRORISTS #अखिल_भारतीय_गुंडा_परिषद pic.twitter.com/WltzKkGJa3
— Ashwin Gupta (@Ashwinca2012) January 6, 2020
2. Vikas Patel
“This is Vikas Patel,” claimed Tirkey, holding a photograph of a stick-wielding man in a blue and yellow jacket.
The police, however, made a blunder and misidentified ABVP’s Shiv Poojan Mandal as Vikas Patel who is also a member of the student body. Moreover, the photograph released by the police was cropped. In the full picture, Mandal can be seen with a baton. It is unclear why the Delhi police released only one of their names as suspects.
The Delhi police press conference on JNU violence by DCP Tirkey claimed that a Special Investigation Team carried a thorough probe. However, Alt News found that the list of suspects released by the police was essentially an exhibition of visuals shared by ABVP days before the briefing. Moreover, the RSS-affiliated student body found no mention in the nearly half an hour-long conference despite two of the suspects’ evident association with the organisation.
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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11th January 2020 / 4:43 pm / Last updated: 11th January 2020
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"author": "Pratik Sinha & Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Delhi police puts alert over "Jaish terrorists", later takes down posters placed across the city - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
1st December 2018 / 4:00 pm / Last updated: 18th March 2019
On November 20, Delhi police issued an advisory asking public to keep a lookout for two men and alert SHO Paharganj in case any of them was spotted. “If you spot or get information regarding any of these men, send an alert by calling the numbers below…” was the message placed across Paharganj area. According to media reports, the police put out the alert on the likely presence of two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) ‘terrorists’ suspected to have infiltrated the national capital.
In the poster, two men wearing salwar kameez and skull caps can be seen posing against a milestone in Urdu that reads – “Delhi 360 km, Ferozepore 9 km.” This points at the possibility of the photograph being taken in Pakistan.
The police alert came at the backdrop of counter-intelligence wing of Punjab police issuing an alert the week before on a possible infiltration by 6-7 members of terror outfit JeM in Ferozepore.
The police advisory was reported by newsrooms across India.
In a bizarre turn of events and after the alert was broadly circulated owing to widespread media attention, the two men – Tayyab and Nadeem – came forward to refute allegations of the Delhi police and claimed that they were students of an Islamic seminary in Faisalabad district of Punjab, Pakistan. Holding a press conference, the men said, “This photograph was clicked during Raiwind Ijtema held from November 9 to 11. It was a weekend when we had gone toward Lahore and while returning we decided to watch the parade at the (India-Pak) border. After watching the parade we took a photo posing next to the milestone. This was uploaded on social media.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPmu0X3qe4Q
Alt News found that an Ijtema was indeed held in Pakistan’s Raiwind during the time period mentioned by the men. The event was also covered by local media. Ijtema is an Islamic congregation held worldwide and attended by millions of Muslims.
We also found that the two men had posed in front of the milestone at Ganda Singh Wala Kasur border in Punjab, Pakistan that lies on the border with Eastern Pakistan, India. This used to be a primary crossing point between the neighbouring countries in the 1960s and 1970s. But now remains closed and plans to reopen it in 2005 were unsuccessful, therefore, one cannot cross the Kasur border to enter the Indian side.
Following the press conference, the incident was widely reported in Pakistani media as India’s wrongful dubbing of the country’s students as terrorists.
Pakistani media came down heavily upon India’s “terror bogey” as security in important government offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office and the Defence Ministry was tightened following the Delhi police advisory.
Following the press conference, the Delhi police quietly removed the advisory spread across the city. On November 28, Navbharat Times published a report titled – “Posters of ‘terrorists’ that were put up in every corner were removed by the police at night”. According to the media outlet, intelligence agencies had forwarded the photograph to Delhi police for internal monitoring, however, the cops acted prematurely and made them public.
Navbharat Times also reported that according to sources, intelligence agencies keep a track on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media groups. The photograph of the two Pakistani men resting against the milestone was discovered while monitoring chats. Since one of the places mentioned on the milestone was ‘Delhi’, intelligence agencies asked the police to keep a lookout. However, the cops went overboard with placing posters across the city in hotels, gas stations, etc.
The Delhi Police Special Cell, however, denied that the men were ‘students’. According to Navbharat Times, the cell claimed to have ‘concrete proof’ that they were terrorists. However, due to some undisclosed reasons, the cell denied presenting further information on the case.
When Alt News tried to contact Delhi Police to question their reasons behind taking down the posters, our calls were transferred from one officer to the other, with none providing answers.
On November 29, The Print published statements of two Special Cell officers. While one of them said that the advisory was taken down because the men had gone back to Pakistan, the other officer claimed that the men never crossed the border. However, both maintained that the initial intel about them planning to infiltrate into India was genuine.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Delhi police public relation officer, deputy commissioner of police Madur Verma said that the poster was a “classified input shared by the superior agencies”.
“Agencies concerned had conveyed to us that these two men could create trouble and because we wanted to sensitise people in a specific area, the posters were put up. Posters were removed after the purpose was served. Such inputs are meant for a specific time duration and a particular area. It is a usual exercise,” DCP Verma said.
It is indisputable that posters of alleged ‘terrorists’ placed across the city were a cause for panic; even more so around the anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. However, the police statements fail to give a clear picture of what exactly went wrong.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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1st December 2018 / 4:00 pm / Last updated: 18th March 2019
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After Jahangirpuri violence, old video from UP shared to target UP police - Alt News
Archit
3rd March 2020 / 7:16 pm / Last updated: 27th April 2022
A two-minute video in which a mob can be seen pelting stones in front of policemen was shared after communal violence shook Delhi’s Jahangirpuri.
London-based Twitter user @URScrewed_ posted this video. This was quote-tweeted by journalist Rana Ayyub shared. Ayyub deleted the tweet after it gained over 1,000 retweets. However, the tweet by @URScrewed_ is online and has gained close to 4 lakh views.
This is how state sponsored riots are scripted in India. pic.twitter.com/D32gcCWIfS
— URScrewed 🇬🇧 (@URScrewed_) April 24, 2022
Twitter user @KhanGirl_4 shared the video with the hashtag #DelhiRiots2022. It is noteworthy that later in the video, we can also see the police pelting stones along with the mob.
गुजरात कांड,
अब पूरे भारत मे होने जा रहा है,
गुजरात,का मुख्यमंत्री भी ज़ालिम था!
और भारत का प्रधानमंत्री भी ज़ालिम है।
गुजरात मे रात को सुरक्षा बलों से मुसलमानों पर हमला करवाया,
और अब भारत के विभिन्न जगहों पर पुलिस वालों से गोलियां पत्थर और बुल्डोजर चलवा रहा है।#DelhiRiots2022 pic.twitter.com/RLcfZ8qSL9
— Shahin khan (@KhanGirl_4) April 21, 2022
An account created in the name of AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi reshared @KhanGirl_4’s clip.
सरकारी खाकी और Pvt खाकी एक साथ मुसलमानों पर हमले करते हुए कपड़ों से पहचानों दहशतगर्दो को
pic.twitter.com/QePUbIyqvs
— Akbaruddin Owaisi (@Akbaruddin_MIM) April 21, 2022
On February 29, 2020, Indian National Congress (INC) member and former actor Nagma tweeted (archive link) the video. Her tweet was retweeted over 6,700 times and the video was viewed over 1.5 lakh times.
Is this why the #Delhigenocide #DelhiPolice nd 4wks ? किसी को लगता है
कि दिल्ली पुलिस अपना काम कर रही है ..तो वो अपनी गलतफहमी इस वीडियो को देख कर दूर कर ले…..@IndiaToday @TimesNow Question the ones who r 2b https://t.co/nHgJVDWABn do your job . @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi pic.twitter.com/R8a4tANngC
— Nagma (@nagma_morarji) February 29, 2020
Similarly, on March 1, 2020, Digvijaya Singh, INC member and the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, also shared (archive link) the video. His post was shared over 1,300 times and the video drew over 47,000 views.
Similarly, several users had shared the video on Twitter and Facebook.
On January 1, 2020 Times of India published a report carrying the video. According to the report, the video shows an anti-CAA protest in Firozabad on December 20, 2019. The report describes the video as follows, “A group of 15-20 civilians, along with cops, is seen barging inside a wooden shop (Raja ki Lakdi ki Taal) owned by one Raja Khan. The men throw stones, vandalise shop and later set ablaze woods kept inside the shop. It’s located on Shikohabad Adda Road at Vakeelpura Mandi, close to Nalband chouraha under Rasoolpur police jurisdiction.”
Interestingly, Digvijay Singh tweeted (archive link) the TOI report on January 1, 2020.
The video in TOI’s report was uploaded by Online Express, a YouTube channel, on December 31, 2019.
Therefore, the video is neither related to the recent violence in Jahangirpuri nor the 2020 Delhi riots. It was shot in 2019 during violence sparked by anti-CAA protests in UP.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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3rd March 2020 / 7:16 pm / Last updated: 27th April 2022
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"author": "Archit"
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Delhi riots 'fact-finding' report accepted by Amit Shah replete with false, unsubstantiated claims - Alt News
Archit
13th June 2020 / 7:22 pm / Last updated: 3rd July 2020
On May 29, Home Minister Amit Shah accepted a fact-finding report on Delhi riots by Delhi-based NGO Call for Justice. Several media outlets reported about this including Times Now and The Print. The fact-finding committee was chaired by Justice Ambadas Joshi (retired judge, Bombay High Court) and included the following members — ML Meena (IAS retd.); VivekDubey (IPS retd.); Dr TD Dogra (former director AIIMS); Neera Mishra (social entrepreneur); Neeraj Aarora (advocate).
Alt News has reviewed the report and found that it cannot be categorised as a ‘fact-finding’ report because of the torrent of misinformation it carries. These can be categorised as:
1) Misinformation already fact-checked
2) Misleading sequence of events
3) One-sided fact-finding
4) Sourcing dubious website for information
Claim: Despite aggressive lobbying by the anti-CAA protestors the international community did not extend social, moral or political support
Fact-check: Anti-CAA protest wasn’t limited just to India
The first paragraph of chapter one in the report stated, “Despite aggressive lobbying by the anti-CAA protestors, the international community also did not extend social, moral or political support.”
However, this claim is baseless because anti-CAA protests took place in multiple counties beyond the Indian subcontinent, as reported by major media outlets — NDTV, The Hindu and Deccan Herald.
On February 6, Alt News published a media analysis report that documented the multiple anti-CAA protests that took place in other countries. The report is an analysis on news agency ANI’s biased coverage that focused primarily on pro-CAA rallies abroad despite significantly larger anti-CAA protests.
Claim: Video clip presented as proof of anti-CAA protesters getting paid for protesting
Fact-check: Video clip shows an individual’s act of charity towards the Delhi riots victims
On page 21, under chapter 5 ‘Enquiry done by the committee’, the report included a testimony that stated, “Amount of Rs. 500 per shift was given to the females and Rs. 700-800 per shift was given to the males for their participation in the protest. The said [anti-CAA] protest was happening from the last one and half months in two shifts of 8 hours each.” For validation, the report included a screenshot of a tweet by Pakistani-Canadian columnist Tarek Fatah.
On March 2, Alt News Fact Check found that the person in the viral video is actually giving cash to victims of the Delhi riots. Additionally, Alt News has documented multiple instances of misinformation put out by Fatah on Twitter.
Claim: Amanatullah Khan was spotted leading the riots in Jamia Nagar
Fact-check: Amanatullah Khan was at Shaheen Bagh at the time of riots
One of the points under Chapter 5 ‘Timeline of activities’ claimed, “On 15.12.2019, AAP MLA and Delhi Sunni Waqf Board chairman Amanatullah Khan was spotted leading the riots in Jamia Nagar. Buses were set on fire and chants of Hinduon se Azadi‘ were raised in that area.”
On December 19, after speaking with multiple witnesses, Alt News Fact Check found that Amanatullah Khan was present at Shaheen Bagh from approximately 2 pm to 6 pm. There are no reports of buses being torched in Shaheen Bagh by the media.
Claim: Activist Harsh Mander instigated violence in his speech delivered at Jamia Millia Islamia
Fact-check: Clipped video of Mander shared with false and misleading claim
A section under Chapter 6 ‘Related and Incidental Issues’ alleged that social activist Harsh Mander said, “I do not have faith in the apex court and that it did not safeguard humanity, secularism and equality in the cases related to National Register of Citizens (NRC), Ayodhya Verdict and Kashmir…‘ultimate justice’ could only be done on the streets.”
On March 4, Alt News Fact Check reported that a clipped video of Harsh Mander was shared on social media which claimed that he instigated violence during Jamia speech. The clipped video was presented by members of the BJP and amplified by certain media outlets to portray that Mander’s reference to “coming out in the streets” promoted violence. Contrary to claims, the social activist said that people need to come out to protect the soul of the Constitution, which was founded on the ideals of love. This claim was also fact-checked by The Quint and BOOM.
It is pertinent to note that the quote attributed to Mander in the report is misleading. The transcript of Mander’s speech is mentioned in the fact-check by Alt News.
CLAIM: Umar Khalid called for riots ahead of Donald Trump’s visit FACT: Clipped video of Khalid’s speech presented with misleading claims
On four instances (page 3, 9, 13 and 43), the report claimed that activist Umar Khalid’s speech on February 17 shows that he called for riots during President Trump’s visit. On page 3 the report stated, Umar Khalid “explicitly mentioned that the riots would take place during the visit of the US President.” Out of the four instances, only page 3 and 48 have a valid attribution in the footnotes — OpIndia (archive link) and The Republic respectively.
Khalid gave the speech in question at Amravati, Maharashtra on February 17. The Wire reported that a 40-second clipped video of the address was widely circulated on social media.
However, the claim that Khalid called for riots in his speech is false. In the first few minutes, he said, “Right now, when IPS Abdur Rehman (the person who introduced Khalid prior to his speech) was speaking, he spoke about Gandhi and told us that the weapons that Mahatma Gandhi has given us to fight are Ahimsa and Satyagrah.”
Later he said, “We won’t respond to violence with violence. We won’t respond to hate with hate. If they spread hate, we will respond to it with love. If they thrash us with lathis, we keep holding the tricolour. If they fire bullets, then we will hold the Constitution. If they jail us, we will go to jail singing, Saare Jahaan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara.” The same was reported by The Quint. The complete English transcript of Khalid’s speech is available online.
7000 people gathered at Idgah a day prior to the riots
On five occasions (page 3, 10, 11, 30 and 60) the report has stated that a day prior (February 23) to the Delhi riots 7000 people, aged between 15-35 years, trained in disruptive activities gathered at Idgah. The report doesn’t disclose the religious identity of the 7000 people at Shahi Idgah Mosque, Sardar Bazaar. However, the statement that follows after this claim on page 3 under the executive summary makes it clear that the report is implying that these 7000 people are from the Muslim community.
The report includes a quote from a fruit vendor who told that 7000 people would be coming for “the final war.”
Alt News performed a keyword search on Google and on Twitter with ‘7000 And (Idgah OR ईदगाह),’ and didn’t find a single report by mainstream media on the same. If 7000 people “trained in disruptive activities” had gathered at Idgah, it would have made the headlines. We also spoke with the concerned station house office (SHO) at the relevant police station. They denied that such an event occurred.
The fact the report mentions 7000 people gathered at a mosque to “wage war” on February 23, without any credible source, shows that the report wants to establish that Delhi riots were started by the Muslim community.
Meer Faisal’s post
On page 41, under section 8.1 ‘Timely execution of the attack,’ the report has attached a screenshot of a Facebook post by Meer Faisal, freelance correspondent of Jamia Times. The report claims he was inciting the public at large to block the road. It is pertinent to note that the text written by Faisal is not clear in the screenshot.
As per Lexico, incite means “encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behaviour), urge or persuade (someone) to act in a violent or unlawful way.”
Alt News spoke with 19-year old Faisal who currently interns at Maktoob Media. He clarified that prior to Maktoob Media he worked as an editor at Facebook page Jamia News and not Jamia Times. He added, “The Facebook post attached in the fact-finding report has been made private by me because I had used swear words.” The screenshot below shows the post included in the report. According to him, this image shows people celebrating with confetti and foam spray after a road towards Shaheen Bagh was unblocked on February 22. The Hindu and The New Indian Express also reported on the said incident.
The English translation of Faisal’s post reads, “Are we stupid for having spent so much time on the protests? On one hand, you say that the police have blocked the road. But on the other hand, you unblock the road. People are celebrating. [Now] because of five to six news anchors [the news] is — Shaheen Bagh lost… get lost! Mood down, no more videos [referring to his ground reports]. Are we stupid for not sleeping last night? PS: There’s hope that Sarita Vihar road [to Shaheen Bagh] might also be unblocked.”
ANI posted a video of the celebrations captured in Faisal’s video that same day.
#WATCH Delhi: Celebrations underway as protestors open Noida-Kalindi Kunj Road via Road No. 9 (Okhla road) #ShaheenBaghProtests pic.twitter.com/UIqL4ms6a5
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2020
Since Faisal made the post in the report private, we are going to rely on other posts shared by Faisal to authenticate the location. He had uploaded a video on Facebook that shows the scenes after celebrations. This is also spotted in ANI’s video. Alt News has compared the screenshots from Faisal’s video and ANI’s video to authenticate that both videos were shot at the same location.
This is not the first time Faisal’s social activity has been used to spread misinformation. On February 22, OpIndia claimed that Faisal made a graffiti of Sharjeel Imam. “I don’t know how to make such artwork. I can confirm that I haven’t made it. However, the image used in OpIndia article was clicked by me for Jamia News,” he informed.
The following points make it evident that the report is an attempt to build a hostile opinion about anti-CAA protests and protestors:
Omitting data on the death toll
Executive Summary paragraph 10 states, “The violence ended up taking lives of 53 people including one IB official and two Delhi Police personals, injured more than 200 people.” However, it conveniently fails to mention that three-fourth of the casualties was from the minority community. The Polis Project report stated that out of 52 victims, 39 were from the Muslim Community as compared to 13 from the Hindu community.
Overwhelming majority of testimonies from the Hindu community
The report’s chapter 5 recorded the testimonies of victims and eye-witnesses of the Delhi riots. Out of 27 statements, 21 statements listed in this section are from the Hindu community. Despite more people from Muslim community succumbing due to communal riots, as highlighted above, the fact-finding report relies on testimonies from one community.
Scanty mention of hate speech by the pro-CAA group
Under section 8.2 and 8.3, the report has made a timeline using social media posts, of events on February 22 and 23. An overwhelming majority of these posts are about the anti-CAA protests. However, the “fact-finding” report has not included social media posts which capture blatant hate speech by the pro-CAA group a few hours prior to the communal riots.
On February 23, News18’s Saahil Murli Menghani reported, “Desh ke gaddaro ko goli maaro ___ ko’ slogan still being raised in front of the Police in Maujpur. It’s less than a Kilometer away from where anti CAA women are sitting in Jafrabad to support @BhimArmyChief.” On the same night, Menghani also reported, “Goli maaro ___ ko” & “Hindustan mein rehna hoga toh jai shri ram kehna hoga” SLOGANS being raised in front of the cops here where stone-pelting happened.”
#WATCH
👉”Goli maaro ___ ko” & “Hindustan mein rehna hoga toh jai shri ram kehna hoga” SLOGANS being raised in front of the cops here where stone pelting happened.
👉I’ll continue to update with verified inputs & videos. Situation tense.
👉My Video report from Maujpur👇 pic.twitter.com/06muR4bToA
— Saahil Murli Menghani (@saahilmenghani) February 23, 2020
Burning of Muslim place of worship near the petrol pump set ablaze not mentioned in the report
The report has stated twice (page 20 and 48) that, “The Petrol Pump located at the B-2 Block was the first property which was attacked and burnt by the rioters by putting the petrol and diesel on fire on 24.02.2020, at around 1 pm.”
Alt News performed a reverse image search and found that the images were used by India Today (top) and The Wire (bottom). As per the reports, images of the petrol pump are from Bhajanpura and Chand Bagh respectively. In order to authenticate that the two images show the same petrol pump, we spoke with Kaushal Shroff, a journalist at The Caravan, who did a ground report on February 23. According to him, the two images are of the same petrol pump that is located on the Wazirabad Road between Chand Bagh and Bhajanpura.
As per The Caravan, a photojournalist said that the petrol pump was burnt by a “Hindu right-wing mob”.
“At around 1.30 pm, a Hindu right-wing mob of around 200 men came near the protest site carrying stones and everything. They started stone pelting. They burnt the petrol pump.” #DelhiViolence
— The Caravan (@thecaravanindia) February 24, 2020
Alt News spoke with the photojournalist who said, “The anti-CAA protestors were present at the end of the women’s sit-in protest site (tent). After the police action in the morning as told by protestors present, they moved towards the main road. Soon, the Delhi Police used tear gas to disperse them and also lathi-charged the protesters. Around 1 pm, a large number of people gathered at the site. Half were from Chand Bagh (predominantly Muslim area) and other half were from Bhajanpura side (predominantly Hindu area) who joined the Delhi police. This is when the stone-pelting and arson started. I observed the riots from a vantage point until 6 pm. Until that time, the anti-CAA mob wasn’t able to approach close to the petrol pump due to the brute force from the pro-CAA mob from Bhajanpura. I saw the petrol pump and vehicles set ablaze. As per my observation, it appeared that the protestors were, by and large, defending the waves of attack from Bhajanpura side.” According to the photojournalist, the conflict zone’s epicentre gradually kept shifting towards the right (shown below).
As per a ground report for The Caravan by Kaushal Shroff, a mazar was burnt in the Chand Bagh area close to the petrol pump. After inputs from Shroff, Alt News pinned the mazar and the petrol pump on the map. It is pertinent to note that the mazar is located a few steps away from a police booth.
The Wire also reported the same. Alt News compared the image of burnt mazar in the report by The Wire (left) and the image of the mazar available on Google maps and found a match. A detailed timeline of the Delhi riots has been documented by The Wire.
Despite mentioning that the petrol pump was burnt, the fact-finding committee didn’t deem it important to mention that a mob burnt a mazar in the same locality.
The “fact-finding” report has cited OpIndia, a website that has repeatedly shared misinformation, at least 10 times in the report. Alt News has found multiple instances when OpIndia was guilty of spreading misinformation since 2017.
Last year in March, The Economic Times (ET) reported that OpIndia’s application at International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) was rejected due to bias in their reportage. OpIndia’s application was evaluated by IFCN assessor Kanchan Kaur, who is also dean at Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM), Bengaluru. Speaking to ET, Kaur said, “Though the applicant has not officially endorsed any political group, and has stated a non-partisanship policy, a quick look at the website indicates otherwise.”
On May 20, Poynter Institute, the parent company of IFCN, published a blog that includes the evaluation of OpIndia’s IFCN application.
Delhi-based NGO Call for Justice’s report on communal riots in the capital was submitted to Home Minister Amit Shah at this residence. The report that claims to be a fact-finding report has five accounts of misinformation that was fact-checked by independent media organisations. It heavily relies on OpIndia, a website that has repeatedly shared misinformation. Several sections in the report, particularly the witness testimonies, indicate that the committee relied on inputs from just one community in its efforts to build a narrative that the Muslim community was responsible for the communal riots.
Update: One of the members of the fact-finding committee sent a rejoinder to our article. We are reproducing it in full below. Alt News stands by its report.
“A team of professionals headed by the Retired High Court Judge of Mumbai High Court has conducted the inquiry of Delhi Riots on behalf of the NGO ‘Call for Justice’ with an approach to bring the factual information to the public and stakeholders. Alt News questions the committee report on selective and convenient issues and refrains from commenting on unsuitable aspects of the report as the media reports of the investigation has already corroborated broadly the finding of the committee to a larger extent. The committee would like to remark that the self- proclaimed fact checking website ignores the entirety of the report and focuses on isolated parts, suitable to their own narrative. For example, the website goes on to give a clean chit to transgressors like Amanatullah Khan on one aspect, and very carefully ignores other videos in which Khan can be seen misleading and inciting people, instances which are more or less indefensible. Another instance is where Alt News quotes the person seen distributing money to women in a video, saying that he was distributing money to the riot affected families but intentionally and conveniently overlooked the fact that this averment is also corroborated from the testimony of another witness and inference has been drawn taking into account totality of the facts and not from any one particular evidence. Further, the involvement of Umar Khalid has already been established by Delhi Police in the charge sheet filed against Tahir Hussain wherein, it was observed that Tahir Hussain was in contact with Umar Khalid who was part of a larger group of person involved in inciting riots in Delhi. Another example is the claim that the entire report presents a misleading sequence of events despite the fact that the authenticity of entire timeline of activities has been corroborated from the media reports and other evidences referred therein in the report itself. The website claims that the finding of the report that 7000 people had gathered from outside for riots, is misleading without appreciating the fact that it was based on the testimony of the witness. Further, the allegation of sourcing dubious website for information is mischievous as the committee has toiled hard to disclose the sources of information to substantiate its findings and refer to the more than 100 footnotes, which are either the links to news reports or the details of any video / photo/ other source. Alt News challenge only 10 which belong to OpIndia and suppressed the fact that the report also puts out its source of information on India Today, The Scroll, National Herald, The Hindu, The Indian Express, The Print, The Wire, Outlook, NDTV, and many other media houses which play a huge role in the Indian political discourse. The allegations of one sided fact-finding are false as apart from the testimonies, the committee have taken into consideration the images, videos, media reports and other content from the public domain. As far as the few testimonies from the other community, there are two reasons for this, firstly, the committee visited the riot affected areas on 29 th February, 2020 & 1 st March, 2020 and a few person from the other community volunteered to testify before the committee and in some areas, there were safety issues and the police stopped the committee from visiting those areas. Imagine the police fearing for safety! It is no secret that even journalists were targeted when they attempted to cover the initial barrage of attacks on the Hindu community. And lastly, all the issues challenging the fact finding report are so trivial in nature and do not impinge on the fabric of the report in any manner and instead fortify the outcome of the report of committee. Thus the present criticism of the report is unwarranted and have been done by adopting a ‘between the lines approach’ and based on trivial issues in isolation without appreciating the fact that these findings are supported and backed by many corroborative evidences at every instance and subsequently by the police investigation also as such, the criticiser are just making a fuss out of nowhere. The report have maintained neutrality in its finding and nowhere has given the communal colour and in-fact accusation was against the anti-national, extremist and radical groups behind the riots. It is expected from the editor / author of the article to publish our reply as it is and maintained the ethics of journalism.”
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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13th June 2020 / 7:22 pm / Last updated: 3rd July 2020
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Delhi riots: Jafrabad shooter's name is not Anurag Mishra, unrelated man's images circulated - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
26th February 2020 / 10:10 pm / Last updated: 27th February 2020
Delhi has been gripped by communal riots since February 24, According to latest reports, at least 22 people have lost their lives. Adding to the stream of viral claims on social media is a message which suggests that the name of the Jafrabad shooter is not Shahrukh but Anurag Mishra. A collage of five images is being shared online where one of them depicts the shooter. The other four have been picked up from the Facebook profile of a person named Anurag D Mishra. From the account of one Tabish Khan, the post has received over 1,300 shares.
The complete message in Hindi reads, “इसका नाम अनुराग मिश्रा है प्रोपेगेंडा के तहत इसको “शाहरुख” बोल के पेश किया जा रहा है शेयर कर के सच फैलाऐं, इससे पहले कि झूठ फैला दे शाहरुख हो या अनुराग दोगले नहीं हो तो इसको तुरत फांसी दो.”
The claim is viral on both Facebook and Twitter.
ये वही आतंकी है जिसने खुलेआम गोली चलाया था और सबने इसे मुस्लिम नाम शाहरूख से मशहूर कर दिया था मुस्लिम को बदनाम करने के लिए
मगर ये अनुराग मिश्रा है
प्रोपेगेंडा के तहत इसको “शाहरुख” बोल के पेश किया जा रहा है
आतंकी शाहरुख हो या आतंकी अनुराग इसे तुरंत जेल में डालो
आतंकी अनुराग मिश्रा pic.twitter.com/H1UqZNtASW
— Aafrin (@Aafrin7866) February 26, 2020
The Jafrabad shooter was arrested by the police on February 25 and he was reportedly identified as Shahrukh.
Alt News rummaged through the Facebook profile of Anurag D Mishra where several photographs of the user were found. As evident, he is not the same person. There are major facial dissimilarities – nose, eyes and eyebrows.
Moreover, Mishra uploaded a Facebook live on February 26 where he debunked the misinformation and threatened to file a complaint against those misusing his images.
Mere naam ko kharab karoge photo dekh ke pata nahi chalta ki mai aur esme kitna farq hai
Posted by Anurag D. Mishra on Wednesday, 26 February 2020
He reiterated the same on a Facebook post.
Kaun hai a kya hai a par jo bhi hai a galat kar raha hai mai sabhi ke khilaf karyawai karunga aur mere khilaf jhuthi khabar failane wale ko bulkul nahi chodunga
Posted by Anurag D. Mishra on Wednesday, 26 February 2020
Social media claims that the Jafrabad shooter’s name is Anurag Mishra were made by lifting the photographs of an unrelated person. Earlier, a false claim was viral that a man standing behind BJP leader Kapil Mishra during his provocative speech is the shooter.
She specializes in information verification, examining mis/disinformation, social media monitoring and platform accountability. Her aim is to make the internet a safer place and enable people to become informed social media users. She has been a part of Alt News since 2018.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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26th February 2020 / 10:10 pm / Last updated: 27th February 2020
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Delhi riots: Times Now misreports man firing at Muslim mob as attack on police - Alt News
Pratik Sinha, Mohammed Zubair & Pooja Chaudhuri
12th March 2020 / 9:09 pm / Last updated: 12th March 2020
A Times Now broadcast of March 5 ran a video of a man in red, wearing a helmet, opening fire during communal riots in Delhi. “New video of Delhi violence surfaces. Video reportedly from Maujpur…This is the 4th video of attack on police,” the channel claimed. The video was tweeted using #ShaheenLynchModel.
#Exclusive | New video of Delhi violence surfaces. Video is reportedly from Maujpur. In the video a man wearing a helmet, is seen firing gun shots on police. This is the 4th video of attack on Police. | Pranesh explains the sequence of events in the video. | #ShaheenLynchModel pic.twitter.com/RndJ4oaBnF
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 5, 2020
During the show, channel correspondent Pranesh took viewers through the “sequence of events” which was essentially explaining in words what the viewers could see and decipher for themselves: “And here you can see this guy…he is wearing a helmet, he has a gun in his hand, he comes from the left-hand side of the road, takes aim, fires two shots initially. Let’s play that video again so that you get a better sense of what’s happening. This man comes from the left-hand side, stops, takes aim, fires the second shot then goes back.”
The next few minutes were spent in conjecture: “He knows that people are pelting or perhaps he will also be injured in this counter-attack from the other side which is why he is wearing a helmet. Many people believe he is wearing a helmet to hide his identity…second incident of a man firing at policemen.”
Ironically, Pranesh alleged this was the second video of an attack on the police, while Times Now’s tweet claimed it was the fourth.
A day later, the same clip was tweeted by BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya who insinuated that the shooter was a member of the Muslim community. He wrote, “Another video of a ‘peaceful’ protestor firing at the cops? What kind of a ‘pogrom’ is this where rioters are firing indiscriminately at the police force?” The 14-second clip was retweeted close to 9,000 times.
Another video of a ‘peaceful’ protestor firing at the cops? What kind of a ‘pogrom’ is this where rioters are firing indiscriminately at the police force?
In developed western democracies, like US or UK for instance, police has the powers to shoot dead an armed assailant… pic.twitter.com/wWcbVBOLF3
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 6, 2020
BJP member Surendra Poonia also tweeted the video and wrote, “This is not against CAA but a terrorist conspiracy to break the nation. (यह CAA की ख़िलाफ़त नहीं बल्कि देश को तोड़ने की आतंकवादी साज़िश है.)”
यह आतंकवाद है या नहीं ??
इसका फ़ैसला रविश बाबू,बरखा जी,जावेद साहब,ओवैशि,केजरीवाल,सिसोदिया, Wire के जोकर या सोनिया गांधी जी के सलाहकार हर्ष मंदर नहीं करेंगे ..यह फ़ैसला आप सब हिंदुस्तानियों को करना है !
यह CAA की ख़िलाफ़त नहीं बल्कि देश को तोड़ने की आतंकवादी साज़िश है 👇 pic.twitter.com/o5QqjsKdKU
— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) March 6, 2020
Times Now’s claim that the video is “new” evidence of an attack on the police is false. As it turns out, a longer version of the ‘exclusive’ clip played by the channel has been circulating on social media since February 25. A Twitter user shared a 25-second video and wrote that members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bajrang Dal opened fire at Muslims in Vijay Park. The part played by Times Now and Amit Malviya starts 14 seconds onward in this video.
Ye abhi ki video hai jisme RSS or bajrang Dal wale Vijay park k main gate per Muslims per firing ker rahe hai.
Ye log mohallo me ghusne ki koshish ker rahe hai.
Same situation kardampuri or Kabir Nagar ki hai .#DelhiBurning pic.twitter.com/kz0H1nMHZf
— Awais Kashmiri (@AwaKashmir) February 25, 2020
Where was the video shot?
There are several clues in the video which help locate the area where the violence occurred. For instance, two shop hoardings – ‘Jain Furniture’ (left) and ‘Nexa Dental’ (right).
These shops are located in Vijay Park, Maujpur. In the course of this article, we will find that location was the only aspect that Times Now got right. Alt News contacted a local who sent us a photograph of Nexa Dental, located on the ground floor of Qureshi Tower. It was closed when he visited.
We were also sent photographs of Nexa Dental from across the road. One can spot the flyover and nala or sewage canal in the picture below, same as in the viral video which was also shot from across the road.
Which mob was the shooter a part of? Were policemen his targets?
Alt News was able to find the person, identity concealed at request, who took the video of the shooting on February 25. This person had uploaded it on Snapchat at 12:12 pm and saved it in the ‘memories’ section of the application. Those unfamiliar with Snapchat, videos/ images reflect the original date and time stamp (visible on top left corner) if saved in ‘memories’. Fourteen seconds of the same video were shared by Amit Malviya and Times Now.
The individual had shared another video on Snapchat, uploaded two minutes before the shooting video – at 12:10 pm. A screenshot has been provided below. Alt News has independently verified that there hasn’t been any tampering with the time-date stamp.
The video reveals a heavy police presence in the area. Police vans are spotted on the left – the same direction in which the shooter runs after firing into the ally. Here, policemen can be seen amidst the mob present outside the ally.
The photo-montage below shows the sequence of events and begs the question – why would the shooter run toward policemen if they were his targets?
Abhinay Lakshman, a correspondent with Millenium Post, had extensively reported on the violence. In a February 25 article, he described how mobs comprising supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) flanked and surrounded the Maujpur-Babarpur area early in the day. Vijay Park falls under the Babarpur constituency.
Lakshman informed Alt News that he was reporting from the area between 12 pm to 5 pm on February 25. He saw the video which was played by Times Now and confirmed that the mob – of which the shooter was a part – comprised CAA supporters.
“What I witnessed was surreal. On the main road side of the canal, there was a police van parked and a lot of CAA supporters were concentrated there [Vijay Park]. Every time the police fired tear gas shells on the other side of the canal [Kabir Nagar], the pro-CAA mob celebrated and people on the other side began moving inside galis to escape the tear gas. As soon they started clearing the bridge, the pro-CAA mob tried to get into the colonies via the bridge. This happened at least four or five times while I was there.”
He further said, “I was wondering why the police were firing tear gas only on one side when stones-pelting was happening from both sides. So I crossed over the bridge [to Kabir Nagar] and realised there was not a single officer there. The entrance of the service road on the side of the canal was blocked by the police and all the [tear gas] shots fired by the police were from the pro-CAA side to the Muslim side.”
Where was the shooter aiming?
The official Twitter handle of Shaheen Bagh had uploaded a video of the February 25 violence. The person shooting the video alleged, “Qureshi Tower in Kadampuri-Vijay Park has been surrounded. We are trapped here. The force and Bajrang Dal are with them. They are attacking us, shooting at us. We are trapped from all four corners.”
#SOSKadampuri
Bajrang Dal along with Police force have surrounded Qureshi Tower at Kadampuri-Vijay Park. They are firing at innocent civilians. Urgent help is required#DelhiRiots #DelhiBurning #ArrestTerroristKapilMishra pic.twitter.com/EJRVG6BmvM
— Shaheen Bagh Official (@Shaheenbaghoff1) February 25, 2020
The above video was shot atop Qureshi Tower. This was confirmed to us by a building resident and locals. “The violence started around 12-1 pm and lasted for a couple of hours. A local from the gali, Mubarak, was shot dead. We were inside the ally and the shooting was from outside,” the resident said.
According to reports, Mubarak Hussain was shot in the chest at 1:04 pm on February 25 in Vijay Park. He was 28 years young and a migrant labourer from Bihar’s Darbhanga. An eyewitness, Naeem Khan, told The Print that a man in a black jacket came from across the street and opened fire, killing Hussain. “The police stood there and watched,” he said.
Residents of the area also spoke with The Caravan and informed that Vijay Park has 4-5 galis or lanes which are Muslim-dominated. The Hindus live around the galis – on the periphery.
Journalist Mohammed Sher Azhar of DB News reported from the area hours after Hussain was shot dead. His video broadcast carries multiple eye-witness accounts. According to a resident, whose statement can be watched from 2:20 minutes, February 25 was the third consecutive day of violence. “They are coming in from all sides – [gali] number 27, [gali] number 28, [gali] number 24, [gali] number 19 and also from the road. How many people do we stand up against? They are all RSS goons. We are unarmed. They have broken our doors, there’s nothing to eat…This started on the day Kapil Mishra gave the speech in Maujpur that they will clear the roads if the police don’t,” she said.
The electoral data of all the lane numbers mentioned by the resident reveals that two of them are Muslim-dominated and two have a mixed Hindu-Muslim population. The data is publically available on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi.
Times Now ran a clipped video of the February 25 violence in Babarpur’s Vijay Park. The channel claimed that the man seen shooting in the video was aiming at policemen. Longer videos of the violence, however, reveal that the channel’s interpretation was grossly misleading. The man can be spotted running in the direction of the cops after he fires into a residential colony. Journalists who reported from the ground and area residents confirm that the shooter was part of the pro-CAA mob. Earlier, Times Now had misreported that a video of a mosque being vandalised in Ashok Nagar was “fake”.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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12th March 2020 / 9:09 pm / Last updated: 12th March 2020
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Delhi's Disha Student Organisation alleges defamation by Republic TV - Alt News
Alt News Desk
30th May 2017 / 5:20 am / Last updated: 12th July 2018
Pro-ISIS and pro-Maoist slogans have been spotted on the walls…
Pro-ISIS and pro-Maoist slogans have been spotted on the walls at Delhi University
Posted by Republic on Sunday, May 28, 2017
Simran Kaur, convenor of Disha Student Organisation, raised this issue on her Facebook profile and her post can be seen here. She also wrote to Alt News regarding the same and the full text of her email is reproduced below.
The messiah of irresponsible journalism, hate-mongering and saffron propaganda- Republic TV
Arnab Goswami, the self proclaimed justice machine and saviour of “ethical” jounalism of our country with his new venture Republic TV is leaving no stone unturned to spread lies and hatred. In the latest foot-in-mouth by the veteran screamer and self-righteous Mr. Goswami’s channel is the usage of the visuals of pro-students democratic posters as background for running it’s news story against the emergence of pro-ISIS and pro-maoist posters in University of Delhi.
The posters in question used as visuals by Republic TV are from Disha Student Organization. Simran, a student activist with Disha Student Organization said “We had posted the posters to welcome the new comers into Delhi University, who are coming to attend the open days organized by Delhi University. The subject matter of the poster in no way encourages, endorses or advertises any terrorist organization or ideology. The posters are in keeping with the legacy of Bhagat Singh. However exhibiting total callousness Republic TV has used the visuals of our posters to run their story”. She further added that their organization has issued an official statement seeking apology from Republic TV, in case the channel does not run an apology they will go ahead to file a demafation suit against Republic TV.
On 28th May 2017, Sunday Republic TV ran a story about pro-ISIS and pro-maoist slogans and wall writing appearing in Delhi University. While running the story Republic TV has very irresponsibly used the visuals of posters by Disha Students organization in the backdrop. As the anchor goes on stating the event close-ups of pro-students posters bearing Bhagat Singh’s picture are pasted onto the screen as pro-ISIS and pro-maoist!! The slogans can be read in the picture given below. The posters mention the slogans such as:
1. शिक्षा है सबका अधिकार, बन्द करो इसका व्यापार! (Everyone has the right to Education, Stop it’s commercialization)
2. भगत सिंह के सपनों को साकार करो! ( Come forward to realize Bhagat Singh’s dreams)
3. Dare to fight, dare to win!
4. Flee not, Change the world.
5. लड़ो पढ़ाई करने को, पढ़ो समाज बदलने को। (Fight for education, educate to galvanize change in society)
Any sane minded person can decide for themselves what these posters endorse.
Delhi University has been a boiling pot of saffron agenda where in January the incident at Ramjas College further sharpened the tensions between pro-students organization and the saffron brigade. The university is being turned into a ghetto where there is no space for any democratic discourse or dissent. Even putting up pro-students democratic posters is being termed as a pro-ISIS act. It appears as if the story has been colored to further the divisive politics of BJP and other parties doing politics on fascist communal lines. The manner in which this story has been run devoid of any facts devoid of any evidence just stating the side of the saffron brigade makes it’s credentials even more questionable. Ever since the Occupy UGC movement and the FTII movement the authorities have further shrunk the space for any democratic activity. Even organizing a study circle calls upon interrogation not just from the authorities but also from Police. The very essence of university and learning is being injected with the poison of saffronization and communal politics.
Republic TV has very proudly urges it’s viewers to join the revolution however due to their habit of selective filtering and omission of facts they have slyly refrained from fixing the prefix ‘saffron’. These kinds of acts of irresponsible journalism are not new for Mr Goswami, his past is filled with such acts of unethical journalism be it the case of FTII students movement or the event of 9th February in JNU. Now the saffron brigade has its eyes on DU and hence non-issues are being coloured saffron and being packaged in his trade mark jingoistic nationalistic rhetoric to feed the fire of hatred.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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30th May 2017 / 5:20 am / Last updated: 12th July 2018
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Delhi violence: Jafrabad shooter falsely identified as part of pro-CAA mob - Alt News
Jignesh Patel & Pratik Sinha
25th February 2020 / 12:13 am / Last updated: 25th February 2020
For the second consecutive day, clashes broke out between groups opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and those in support of the law. A video of a protester in northeast Delhi’s Jafrabad rapidly moving towards a Delhi police personnel with a gun in his hands, subsequently shooting multiple rounds has gone viral on social media. In the video, the man can be seen pointing the gun in the direction of a mob on the other side of the road and later towards the lone police personnel. The shooter had reportedly fired around eight rounds. Saurabh Trivedi, senior reporter with The Hindu, posted a video of the incident and stated that an anti-CAA protester opened fire in Jafrabad.
An anti-CAA protester open fire in #Jaffarabad area. He pointed pistol at policeman but the cop stood firm. He fired around eight rounds. @DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/0EOgkC6D40
— Saurabh Trivedi (@saurabh3vedi) February 24, 2020
Soon after the incident, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan tweeted grainy images of the incident and suggested that the shooter is associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He said, “The shooter will definitely have an association with Kapil Mishra and BJP. And that is the reason, he is firing at the Delhi police. The police are giving protection to the rioters (translated)”. The tweet has amassed over 1,000 retweets so far.
Writer-activist Hansraj Meena posted an aerial video of the same incident and said, “Watch the manner in which BJP and RSS terrorist is openly raining bullets at the police at anti-CAA protesters.” He later took down the tweet.
The official handle of Shaheen Bagh tweeted the video shared by Trivedi and asserted that the shooter was a “pro-CAA goon”. This was asserted on the basis of ‘saffron flags’ seen in the background, claimed the handle.
Political figure Salman Nizami too raised allegations against ‘BJP government’ and similarly wrote, “Goons with saffron flags fires at Delhi Police.”
Alt News contacted Saurabh Trivedi who shot the video now viral on social media. Trivedi provided us with a higher resolution video of the incident. In the course of this article, we will fact-check two claims:
1. The mob was holding saffron flags.
2. The shooter was part of a pro-CAA mob.
We analysed the videos and found that the protesters were carrying plastic crates, not saffron flags. One can clearly spot the rectangular plastic crates in a screenshot taken from the high-resolution video.
In several other frames, these crates can be spotted.
In conversation with Alt News, Trivedi explained, “These are plastic crates which were being used by the protesters as a shield.”
Multiple individuals on social media claimed that the shooter was part of a pro-CAA mob. Alt News spoke with reporters who were on the ground to verify if this were true.
Trivedi told Alt News, “This man came from the anti-CAA protesters’ side. He shot several rounds, almost eight rounds aimed towards pro-CAA protesters, and in between a single policeman was standing. He aimed the pistol at him and said, ‘run or else I’ll shoot you (bhag jao varna maar dunga)’. But the policeman stood firm, and after that, the man turned back. The policeman retreated and asked other policemen to come with him, and apprehend the shooter.”
When questioned as to how he identified the man as an anti-CAA protester, Trivedi said, “The man came from the side where anti-CAA protesters had blocked the road just outside Jafrabad Metro station. This man came out from the mob of that side. I was on the other side with the police near the temple where pro-CAA protesters were raising slogans like ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Both the sides were pelting stones at each other.”
Aishwarya S Iyer, a senior correspondent with The Quint, too witnessed the violence at Jafrabad. “On one side are anti-CAA protesters from Jafrabad & on the other side are pro-CAA protesters from Maujpur,” she tweeted.
Iyer was video-graphing the mob while walking from Jafrabad towards Maujpur during the violent clash. Speaking to Alt News, she identified the mob in her images and videos as anti-CAA protesters. In a video posted by Iyer, one can spot multiple individuals wearing skull caps.
From ground zero walking right towards the epicentre of violence between Jaffrabad/Maujpur area of north-east Delhi.
On one side are anti-CAA protesters from Jaffrabad & on the other side are pro-CAA protesters from Maujpur.
I report @TheQuint
*Deleted this by mistake. pic.twitter.com/YOuam4MFD4
— Aishwarya S Iyer (@iyersaishwarya) February 24, 2020
To establish Iyer’s location and verify that the mob pictured by Trivedi and Iyer are the same, we compared a photograph clicked by Iyer with a PTI photo of the same incident. One can spot a policeman dressed in a yellow t-shirt donning a helmet in the images compared below. The cop is facing the anti-CAA protesters. The shooter (highlighted in green) is also visible in the picture.
While Alt News cannot independently verify, the shooter has been identified as Shahrukh by a few media organisations.
Delhi Police: The man in a red t-shirt who opened fire at police during violence in North East #Delhi today has been identified as Shahrukh. pic.twitter.com/xeoI7KpBPh
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020
In conclusion, Alt News found that the shooter emerged from the side of the anti-CAA protesters. Moreover, the claim that people were carrying saffron flags was found to be untrue.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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25th February 2020 / 12:13 am / Last updated: 25th February 2020
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Delhi violence: Man seen with BJP's Kapil Mishra is not the Jafrabad shooter - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri & Kinjal
25th February 2020 / 5:18 pm / Last updated: 27th February 2020
A claim promoted by several social media users suggests that the Jafrabad shooter, reportedly identified as 33-year-old Shahrukh, was seen with BJP leader Kapil Mishra during the latter’s provocative speech in noryh-east delhi. ‘Acharya ‘Pramod Krishnam shared an image where a man behind Mishra is highlighted in red. “He is the one who making an appeal for peace on TV (ये वही नेताजी हैं जो TV पर बैठ कर बाक़ायदा “शान्ति” की अपील कर रहे हैं. @HMOIndia)” – reads his tweet suggesting that the man is the shooter.
On February 23, Mishra gave a 3-day ultimatum to Delhi police to clear the roads in Jafrabad and Chand Bagh. He threatened to take things in his own hands if the police fail. Soon after his address, violence broke out in the area.
A Facebook page ‘Imran Bankwi’ shared an infographic alleging the same. It received over 700 shares.
The text on the infographic reads, “A Pro CAA Goon Was Seen Firing On Anti CAA Protestors In Delhi. This Happened Only After Kapil Mishra’s Inflammatory Speech. From Maujpur To Jaffrabad, Goons Are Attacking Anti CAA Protestors With Weapons & Burning Public Properties.”
Therefore, the page raised two allegations – 1) Jafrabad shooter was seen with Kapil Mishra, and 2) Shooter was part of a mob supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
A Twitter wrote, “Who is the man behind Kapil Mishra – the one who has brandished a gun on the police – can anyone tell? (कपिल मिश्रा के पीछे कौन हैं – जो पुलिस पर पिस्तौल ताना है – ? – क्या कोई बता सकता है.)”
Alt News has already shown that the shooter was part of an anti-CAA mob. We spoke with reporters on the ground who identified that the shooter emerged amid the group protesting against the CAA. After multiple visual observations, we could conclude that he was part of the anti-CAA faction.
To fact check the second claim – that the shooter was seen with Kapil Mishra – Alt News compared the facial features of the man seen with Mishra and Shahrukh. As evident, there are major dissimilarities in the nose, the hair, the beard.
The two individuals are therefore not the same, unlike what is claimed on social media. Shahrukh has reportedly been arrested by Delhi police.
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25th February 2020 / 5:18 pm / Last updated: 27th February 2020
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri & Kinjal"
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Delhi Youth Congress shares old video from Malaysia as woman attacked in Delhi metro lift - Alt News
Archit
26th October 2020 / 4:33 pm / Last updated: 26th October 2020
On October 25, Delhi Youth Congress tweeted (archived link) a video of a man assaulting a woman in an elevator and wrote, “See how a predator made a life-threatening attack on a woman in Delhi Metro’s lift! @ArvindKejriwal ji and @narendramodi look at the result of women’s safety in Delhi due to your false claims.” The same video was also shared on their Facebook page.
(Translated from दिल्ली मेट्रो की लिफ़्ट के अंदर देखिये कैसे दरिंदे ने महिला पर जानलेवा हमला कर दिया! @ArvindKejriwal जी और @narendramodiजी आपके महिला सुरक्षा के झूठे दावों का दिल्ली में क्या हाल है देखे!)
दिल्ली मेट्रो की लिफ़्ट के अंदर देखिये कैसे दरिंदे ने महिला पर जानलेवा हमला कर दिया! @ArvindKejriwal जी और @narendramodi जी आपके महिला सुरक्षा के झूठे दावों का दिल्ली में क्या हाल है देखे! pic.twitter.com/ikGz9H6Hcp
— Delhi Youth Congress (@DelhiPYC) October 25, 2020
Ashok Basoya, former Congress student wing NSUI leader also posted the video. It gained over 5,000 views. (archived link)
दिल्ली मेट्रो लिफ़्ट के अंदर देखिये कैसे दरिंदे महिला पर जानलेवा हमला कर दिया और दिन में ही लूटपाट क्या @OfficialDMRC मेट्रो वाले बतायगी ? यह कब की घटना हैं ऐसे अपरधियो को तो जेल में रखना चाइए जब तक समाज में ऐसे रावण जी ज़िंदा है , हमारी बहनो को खुद ही दुर्गा बनना पड़ेगा 😡😡 pic.twitter.com/f7gp9BzN6m
— Ashok Basoya (@ashokbasoya) October 25, 2020
Similarly, this video has been shared by other Facebook and Twitter users.
Alt News performed a reverse image search on Google using InVID, a video verification tool.
This led us to a 2019 report by Stomp, The Strait Times’ citizen journalism portal. The report relied on Malaysia-based newspaper The Star to identify where the incident happened. As per The Star, it took place on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2019) at Taman Mutiara metro station in Kuala Lumpur district of Cheras.
Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Asst Comm Rusdi Md Isa told The Star that the victim suffered multiple injuries and was treated at a nearby hospital. He also added that the assailant escaped with the woman’s ATM cards and 400 Malaysian ringgit in cash.
The Daily Mail reported that MP Lim Lip Eng offered a 10,000-MYR (£1,895) reward to anyone with information that leads to the suspect’s arrest. Four days later, on February 18, the suspect was arrested by Kuala Lumpur Police as per Channel News Asia report. KiniTV reported that the suspect was of Indian descent.
Thus, Delhi Youth Congress shared a video of robbery in a metro station’s elevator in Malaysia and passed it off as a recent incident that happened in New Delhi. The video was subsequently shared on social media by other users as well.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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26th October 2020 / 4:33 pm / Last updated: 26th October 2020
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"author": "Archit"
}
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Demonetisation roll-out deeply flawed, introduction of Rs 2000 notes puzzling: Richard Thaler, Nobel Laureate - Alt News
Sam Jawed
18th November 2017 / 5:02 pm
The speculation over Nobel Laureate, Richard Thaler’s views on demonetisation has finally been laid to rest. Ever since the winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics was announced, BJP leaders and supporters led by the head of their IT cell have used Thaler’s single tweet out of a conversation as evidence of his support for demonetisation. In a rally in Amethi last month, UP Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath also joined the bandwagon and declared that “The Nobel Prize for Economics was awarded to the economist who was the first one to welcome demonetisation.” Against this backdrop, Thaler has finally clarified his view on India’s demonetisation in no uncertain terms in an email.
Instead of speculating about one cherrypicked tweet, how about asking Professor Thaler directly about his views on demonetisation? This is exactly what a Twitter user, Swaraj Kumar did. He emailed Thaler with the following question:
“After the announcement of Nobel committee, your tweet on India’s demonetization got a lot of attention and many people are quoting it to support the whole exercise.I know that you have suggested in the past to demonetize higher denomination to reduce corruption and to move towards a cashless society. But I was wondering what’s your thoughts on the execution like demonetizing 86% of the notes in circulation and only 50 days for the note exchange?”
Professor Thaler didn’t mince his words in his response. He replied, “The concept was good as a move to a cashless society to impede corruption but the rollout was deeply flawed and the introduction of the Rs 2000 note makes the motivation for the entire exercise puzzling.”
And to make sure there was no scope for any doubt about his response, he also tweeted it from his official Twitter account. You can see in the screenshot below his response when Kumar confirmed with him, “Can I quote your response publicly so that people stop using your initial support of Demonetisation to justify the whole exercise?”
Rupa Subramanya brought the email exchange to the attention of twitter users tagging Thaler who retweeted her tweet.
Desperate for positive endorsement of the demonetisation exercise, BJP IT cell had been circulating this 2016 tweet of Thaler in which he sees demonetisation as a first step towards going cashless and reducing corruption. That was before he learnt about the introduction of a Rs. 2000 note.
“Really? Damn.” was his reaction when he was told about the Rs. 2000 note in the place of the discontinued Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes. Introduction of the Rs. 2000 note, negated the objectives of going cashless and reducing corruption which he supported. This part of Thaler’s response was conveniently not disclosed by BJP IT cell while sharing Thaler’s tweet.
Even after it was repeatedly pointed out to Malviya that his tweet about the Thaler’s support of demonetisation is incorrect, he refused to delete it. The same was retweeted by many including BJP leaders and made it to WhatsApp groups and popular right wing websites like The Frustrated Indian. Thaler’s support is now even brought up in election rallies as we saw above in the case of Adityanath in Amethi.
Those clutching at the straws even after Thaler’s “Really? Damn” tweet will now be convinced that he does not support the demonetisation exercise. His message is clear. Even though he sees demonetisation as a good concept to move to cashless society and curb corruption, he believes that the roll out of India’s demonetisation was deeply flawed. He also questions the logic behind the introduction of Rs. 2000 note. And he is saying all this so people stop using his name to justify the exercise. Demonetisation cheerleaders, are you listening?
Nobody's cheerleader, I tweet at @samjawed65
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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18th November 2017 / 5:02 pm
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"author": "Sam Jawed"
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Dengue cannot be cured or prevented with homeopathic treatment Eupatorium Perfoliatum - Alt News
Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
22nd November 2019 / 5:11 pm / Last updated: 1st December 2019
Like every year, the cases for mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, have spiked in different parts of India after the end of the summer season. This year the epidemic has lasted much longer than the previous years, while a 16-year-old girl died from dengue on the 10th of November 2019 at the Delhi hospital.
In Delhi, 75 cases of dengue, 21 of chikungunya, and 131 cases of malaria have been reported until the end of August 2019. In 2017 and 2018 in Delhi, 4726 dengue cases with 10 deaths and 2798 dengue cases with 4 deaths were reported respectively. In Telangana, a severely affected state, this year alone over 4500 dengue cases have been reported with the highest outbreak in August and September. The death count due to dengue in Telangana has been estimated of above 50 which includes minors.
Dengue is a viral disease that spreads through mosquitoes with no known cures but treatable symptomatically using evidence-based medications. Previously, Alt News Science conducted a sci-Check on the evidence available for papaya, and its leaf extracts drug ‘Caripill’ for the treatment of dengue. No evidence was found to suggest that papaya or ‘Caripill’ can be effective in treating dengue or raising the platelet count.
The newly developed vaccine Dengvaxia and TAK-003 are undergoing large systematic trials for safety and efficacy before it can be available worldwide as a robust form of preventative or treatment measure.
Subsequently, many forms of alternative treatments in India have emerged that claim to cure and/or prevent Dengue. Other than using papaya, one of the most common claims include using homeopathy for dengue.
Eupatorium Perfoliatum (EP), a Homeopathic preparation is preventative and curative for high risk as well as dengue infected populations.
Along with the viral WhatsApp forwards, YouTube videos and other social media content that has been consistently making this claim, the National Health Portal (NHP), has listed Eupatorium Perfoliatum as the most commonly indicated for Dengue. EP along with 12 other homeopathic medications has been indicated as a preventative as well as a curative treatment for Dengue.
The NHP is an official portal designed, developed and hosted by the Centre for Health Informatics (CHI), set up at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.
Alt News found multiple mainstream media reports of Eupatorium Perfoliatum being given to patients by Government organisations. (1, 2, 3, 4)
In Brazil, a single dose of Eupatorium Perfoliatum was administered preventatively between January- May 2001 to 40% of the population in the most affected neighbourhood. Results from this study showed 81% reduction in dengue incidences between May-December 2001 from that neighbourhood as compared to other non-treated neighborhood. The other treated areas showed a reduction of 58%, 39%, 37% and 10% in dengue incidences during that period.
However, the study did not show the prevalence or reduction of dengue incidence in the treated areas from the previous years when no treatment was administered. A comparison of reduction in dengue can only be made if the incidences from the same area is compared with and without EP dosage. Thus, due to lack of comparative controls, it cannot be determined that EP indeed have an impact on dengue reduction.
The double blind controlled trial quoted from Novaes (2015) is a conference proceeding, not a peer review paper, repeatedly cited as conclusive proof of efficacy by many sources, but neither the data is cited nor the published paper is available for viewership.
In Pakistan, a combination of homeopathic remedies including Eupatorium Perfoliatum was given to 25 dengue patients (Hassan et al 2003). Their full blood count (FBC) including platelet count (PLT), white blood cell count (WBC) and hematocrit level (HCT) were recorded instead of the change in viral load and was compared with the non-treated group. However, the comparison was conducted at the end of the 6-day dengue infection period.
Their study quoted that, in the homeopathic treated group platelet count increased from (95.60 ± 0.04) x 10 to (311 ± 0.13) x 10/μL, while the standard maintenance therapy (control) increased platelet count from (73.44 ± 0.04) x 10 to (239.00 ± 0.04) x 10/μL.
It was claimed, in this study as well as in other reviews of this study, that the relative change from approximately 95,000 (day 0) to 311,000 (day 6) per μL in the homeopathy treated group was larger than the relative change in the control group, i.e. 73,000 (day 0) to 239,000 (day 6) per μL.
Alt News Science calculated the % change in platelets between the two groups. If the baseline platelets at day 0 for both groups is treated as 100%,
Day 6 Homeopathy = (311,000 x 100)/95,000= 327%
Day 6 Control = (239,000 x 100)/72,000= 332%
Thus, there were no significant differences in platelet increase between the homeopathy treated group and the group with standard treatment, as the platelet count increased from day 0 to day 6.
Hence, Hassan et al’s conclusion of homeopathy combination treatment group being more effective is a falsification and misrepresentation of results. Subsequently, this research study is not a proof of efficacy for EP or the combination of homeopathic remedies for dengue.
In Honduras, a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of a homeopathic combination medication, including EP, for 60 dengue patients was carried out in municipal health clinics by Jacobs et al 2007.
As per their own conclusion from Jacobs at et 2007, the results showed no difference in outcomes between homeopathy treated group vs. the placebo group, including the number of days of fever and pain as well as analgesic use and complication rate. The study did not evaluate blood count or viral load as a parameter for homeopathic treatment efficacy.
A review paper published by Raj Manchanda in 2015, The Editor in Chief, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), India listed the global studies, reviewed above, to conclude Eupatorium Perfoliatum (EP) efficacy for dengue.
Another review paper from the Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, India by Bawaskar & Shinde (2019) listed the same studies and detailed the results but did not analyse or “peer-review” the data to validate its authenticity.
The data paper published in Pakistan is a serious breach in research conduct for which the paper should not have allowed to be published or cited several times. Additionally, that Pakistani paper was cited without criticism of misrepresentation by the editor in chief of CCRH, India (Manchandana, 2015) and in another review paper from India by Bawaskar & Shinde (2019).
The limited number of studies, largely concluding efficacy in review papers, lack of empirical data as well as falsification of data presented no evidence for Eupatorium Perfoliatum (EP), or EP with a combination of other homeopathic drugs to be effective in treating or preventing dengue.
The majority of criticism towards evidence-based scientists conducting research to test homeopathy efficacy is dismissed by the homeopaths. Here, we used homeopathy research studies to reveal lack of efficacy, misrepresented and falsified data.
This does not counter that homeopathy itself is based on principles not acknowledged by evidence-based medicine. Our previous article on homeopathy as an ineffective treatment method demonstrates its lack of scientific evidence. This informed opinion about homeopathy is shared by major public health institutions across the western world.
The National Health Portal: National Health Portal
Review papers:
Data papers:
Alt News Science is no longer edited by Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
From 2017-2021, Dr. Shaikh was the Founding-Editor for Alt News Science. Her main role is as a neuroscientist researching violent extremism and psychiatry.
Follow @Neurophsyik
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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22nd November 2019 / 5:11 pm / Last updated: 1st December 2019
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Depression is not 'low mood': Misleading advice from the Ministry of Health - Alt News
Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
29th June 2018 / 4:34 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
“#Depression is a state of low mood that affects a person’s thought, behaviour, feeling & sense of well-being. One must take up activities that keep him or her boosted in order to cope with depression. #SwasthaBharat #MentalHealth #LetsTalk“.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) Twitter account posted the aforementioned text as a public awareness measure on depression. An infographic accompanied the tweet that advised a list that included ‘following a routine, travelling, being creative, taking multivitamins, thinking positively, practicing yoga, staying clean, sleeping for a minimum of eight hours, eating fruits and going for a walk’ as measures to help cope with depression.
#Depression is a state of low mood that affects a person’s thought, behaviour, feeling & sense of well-being. One must take up activities that keep him or her boosted in order to cope with depression. #SwasthaBharat #MentalHealth #LetsTalk pic.twitter.com/6eElyQe4Rm
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) June 16, 2018
The tweet also suggested that “Depression is a state of low mood that affects a person’s thought, behaviour, feeling, entrance of well-being. One must take up activities that keep him or her boosted in order to cope with depression.”
A few days later, the National Health Portal (NHP), a government body, released a statement on their website elaborating on the mental health disorders, mainly: anxiety, depression & sleep disorders.
In one of the sections, they maintained that mental exercises that included “training to ‘tune’ to the happenings inside & outside the body” is an effective way to deal with mental health illnesses. But, the NHP doesn’t mention how to practice this ‘tuning’. The NHP article states:
“It is also necessary that, for the mental faculties to grow, they must be constantly trained and tuned to the happenings inside and outside the body. Practice helps to develop our faculty and allows it to remain in a state of excellence. We know that practice makes a man perfect. And thus he is able to counter innumerable challenges which are an inevitable part of life. Be it fire or be it nanotechnology, no great invention or discovery has come without overcoming challenges and more so not without the sanity of a balanced mind. We must therefore keep facing challenges if we want our mind to remain healthy.”
The NHP article also emphasized on ‘food for thought’. It stated:
“As in the case of maintaining general hygiene for physical health, developing a healthy mind is through imbibing good food for thought or ‘ChaitikAhaar’. This food for thought can be imbibed by participating in healthy discussions, socializing, meeting new people and meditating. Good and healthy food for thought is as important as nutritious food for body.”
The NHP also blamed socio-economic problems like ‘poor socioeconomic state, a broken family and professional difficulties’ and, added that clean and positive surroundings can help heal these problems. Lastly, they also added that homeopathy can correct these issues.
WHO acknowledges that depression is the most common mental health disability. It can be as debilitating as any physical disability. Everyday actions such as going to work, or, even getting out of bed for the day, can be an effort.
Both MoH&FW and NHP suggested that mental health disorders like depression can be coped with lifestyle choices such as keeping healthy. They also suggested that depression can be caused by socio-economics which can lead to a low emotional state like sadness. Both of the aforementioned are untrue.
The contributing factors to depression are, social, psychological as well as biological. It is true that people who have undergone adverse life events can develop depression but there are a range of genetic and environmental predispositions which can act as contributing factors.
There are several studies that have identified various genes that have a major role in major depressive disorder (MDD), commonly known as depression. A study on adoption and twin studies in the America Journal of Psychiatry published in 2000, concluded that while environment was significant to the cause of depression, it is reliant on genetic heritability from biological parents. It is informative to study twins separated and raised in different environments, especially monozygotic (identical) twins as they have similar genetic makeup. The study concluded that major depression is inheritable from genes and its inheritability results from genetic influences.
Hence, depression has a distinct molecular physiology and genetics. A lowered emotional state such as sadness (due to the environment), is not the causing factor without the inherited genes that are linked with depression.
Contrarily, sadness is an emotion and can be experienced by healthy individuals. Hence, sadness alone, or from the NHP statement ‘negativity’ alone cannot be a cause of depression.
While, NHP quoted statements from WHO on mental health; WHO, nowhere suggested that mental health can be ‘maintained’ by ‘tuning’ exercises, the meaning of which is not explicitly described. A statement by WHO on mental health recognises the importance of scalable psychological interventions as well as antidepressant medications (such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants) in case of depression. In contrast, the NHP provided no suggestions of seeking professional help similar to the statements by WHO.
A study in the prestigious journal ‘Science’, published in 2018, suggested that there is a shared genetic basis or heritability in major common disorders of the brain and this heritability (inherited from parents’ genes) depended on how early the onset of the disorder started in an individual. Hence, the study concluded that genes have a huge role in not just depression, but in several other mental health disorders.
While some of the options in the MoH&FW tweet can help alleviate one’s low emotional state such as sadness; lifestyle choices, such as being creative or travelling, cannot be categorised as effective treatments for dealing with depression.
In addition to that, there was no advices for proven & effective treatments available for clinical depression. The only mention related to medications was of multivitamin pills which, according to a study, have failed to show any efficacy in treating or in decreasing its prevalence.
The NHP’s suggestion for treatment – homeopathy, is scientifically unproven to treat depression from a physiological perspective. Several studies, both as individual studies specifically for depression and a meta-analysis of several studies, conducted on homeopathic treatments, concluded that homeopathy is ineffective for depression. In an earlier article on Alt News, we have described the working principles of this unscientific model of therapy.
Although, treatments like homeopathy may have an impact as a placebo (a non-treatment or a sham treatment creating an effect like the real drug). If that is the case, a study that systematically tests homeopathic remedies against the most commonly prescribed drugs in anxiety and/or depression must be considered.
We found a thorough review in the British Medical Journal that conducted a meta-analysis of clinical trials in humans for the efficacy of homeopathy and found only one study on depression that compared the drug diazepam (not the first choice for treating depression but prescribed for clinical anxiety) with homeopathic treatment. This study, from France, which was in favour of homeopathy for depression was retracted from publication because of low methodological quality. Even though retracted, this study is still used to substantiate arguments on homeopathy till date by homeopathic websites and blogs.
In contrast, a study published in 2018, in The Lancet, compared efficacy of 21 antidepressant drugs, against placebo, for the acute treatment for major depressive disorder. This study by a collaborative team of psychiatrists and scientists across the UK, USA, France, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Japan concluded that all 21 antidepressants tested were more efficacious than a placebo drug.
The suggestions for depression in the ministry’s tweet and, also, in the statement by the NHP indicates the extent of misinformed medical advice passed from the health advisors of the ministry to the general population. Carelessly, equating socio-economics as the only cause for mental health issues, without considering the research behind these illnesses, is grave medical negligence and lack of diligence coming from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the mainstream health ministry in India.
The National Health Portal claims to be a portal to establish a single point access for authenticated health information for citizens, students, healthcare professionals and researchers. Its unconditional support for homeopathy while neglecting all the proven treatments available is irresponsible, misleading and indicates disregard for the evidence-based practice and the profession of medicine.
In conclusion, depression is a seriously debilitating illness similar to other types of disability and can lead to suicide. Although, it is important to have a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, these changes cannot cure depression. If you think you have depression, approach a medical professional for diagnosis and, if diagnosed, ask about the treatment options available. For more information, refer to WHO website pages on depression.
Alt News Science is no longer edited by Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
From 2017-2021, Dr. Shaikh was the Founding-Editor for Alt News Science. Her main role is as a neuroscientist researching violent extremism and psychiatry.
Follow @Neurophsyik
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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29th June 2018 / 4:34 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
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"author": "Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh"
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Depression: The myths & falseness of Sadhguru’s quotes - Alt News
Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
19th August 2018 / 9:27 pm / Last updated: 20th August 2018
“The main cause of depression in the world today is too much eating, not enough physical activity.” Jaggi Vasudev, a spritual guru also known as Sadhguru, frequently gives twitter sermons on depression. He confuses depression, a clinical condition with a proven biological basis (also known as major depressive disorder) with negative emotions such as sadness (experienced by healthy humans).
From his twitter account, Alt News found several misleading tweets related to depression, accounting for several widely circulated myths on depression. In this article, we will look at some of these tweets (quoted verbatim in italics) and discuss the scientific evidence on symptoms, myths, causes and treatments of clinical depression.
“Depression is a kind of agony. If you have become agony and not ecstasy, it is because a large part of your life energy is happening compulsively, not consciously. It is happening as a reaction to external situations.” (tweet)
“Depression means you are committing suicide in installments.” (tweet)
A’kin to other chronic illnesses, depression can feel agonizing but it is beyond a patient’s control to replace agony with ecstasy, or, as it was implied, shift one’s negative emotional state to a positive state.
WHO acknowledges that depression is the most common mental health disability. It can be as debilitating as any physical disability. Everyday actions such as going to work, or, even getting out of bed for the day, can be an effort.
The symptoms of depression vary on the severity of the condition: while mild depression has some impact on life and counselling therapy can help with it, severe depression makes it much harder to deal with everyday activity and can exhibit psychosis like symptoms with a larger physical component such as delusions, hallucinations, lack of self-awareness, changes in the brain structures, etc.
Mr. Vasudev’s tweet on suicide was plain insensitive and false. While depression can cause suicide, not all suicide cases are due to depression and not all depressive patients commit, or have the tendency to commit, suicide.
Lastly, depression can be of several types and there are conditions such as post-partum depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder, where depression is one of the symptoms, not the disease itself.
“The main cause of depression in the world today is too much eating, not enough physical activity.” (tweet)
“A life of excess is not a good life. Excess of anything leads to perversion and depression.” (tweet)
“Depression is becoming a pandemic; its origins are complex, from pathology to negative lifestyles. A culture of prevention is vital.” (tweet)
The tweets above suggest that excessive food and sedentary lifestyle are the causal factors for depression. While excessive food or sedentary lifestyle is both correlated to several other illnesses, there is no direct evidence of lifestyle choices as a direct causal factor for depression.
A large majority of people face adverse events, but only a proportion of them acquire clinical depression. The health of the non-affected individuals, who remain healthy following an adverse life event, is not attributed to better coping strategies such as eating healthy or exercising. These strategies may be helpful in dealing with a negative emotion, such as sadness or frustration, but as we will discuss below, depressive individuals have a biological risk factor beyond their control.
With scientific evidence, it is widely accepted that a combination of
that account for heightened rates of depression in humans.
Study on genetic causes:
There are several studies that have identified various genes that have a major role in major depressive disorder (MDD), commonly known as depression. A study on adoption and twin studies in the American Journal of Psychiatry published in 2000, concluded that while environment was significant to the cause of depression, it is reliant on genetic heritability from biological parents. The study concluded that major depression is inheritable from genes and its inheritability results from genetic influences.
Study on environmental causes:
Another study, published in 1999 in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggested that although stressful life events have a substantial causal correlation episode of major depression, about 1/3 of the association between stressful life events and onsets of depression is non-causal. This could be because individuals (biologically) predisposed to depression may select themselves into high-risk environments.
Hence, depression has distinct molecular physiology and genetics. A lowered emotional state such as temporary sadness (due to the environment), is not the causal factor without the inherited genes that are linked with depression.
Another example is that of post-partum depression, which is clearly linked with physiological changes in the mother after birth, instead of sheer sadness or grief, and have been shown to be ameliorated with robust anti-depressants. About, 13-19.8% of women experience a mental health disorder, mainly depression, after giving birth.
“Fear, anger, misery, frustration, depression, and despair are all products of a mind that you have not taken charge of.” (tweet)
The above tweet suggests that emotions such as fear, anger, misery, frustration, despair as well as depression are a result of our unguarded consciousness. However, these temporary emotions, apart from depression, are a part of everyday experience of a healthy person. On the other hand, depression is not an emotion but a long-lasting mental disease.
There are significant differences between grief and bereavement as compared to depression:
For some people, it can be difficult to distinguish between grief and depression as they share many of the same characteristics.
Grief or sadness is a completely natural and healthy response to a loss, while depression is a chronic but treatable illness.
While the onset of most depression types is positively correlated with adverse negative life events, sadness and other negative emotions are temporary and will disappear while people who are depressed constantly feel sad, unable to enjoy anything and find it difficult to be positive about the future.
“Frustration, discouragement and depression mean you are working against yourself” (tweet)
“Depression makes you cynical and is deeply self-damaging. Depressed people only hurt themselves more.” (tweet)
“Only because you have frozen your intelligence, there is room for depression.” (tweet)
The above tweets are widely circulated myths on depression. Needless to say to anyone who has experienced clinical depression knows that ‘It is not a choice’
While both negative emotions and depression are not ideal state of conditions, the tweets portray that the individual has the power to change depression. With time, negative emotions can be replaced with positive, but it is not the case with depression. The symptoms of depression are that the individual does not have the motivation to make any changes to the condition. Seeking therapy or treatments also require motivation and hence, many are left untreated.
“In yoga, depression is handled at the level of body, mind, and energies. Vibrant and balanced, you will naturally be blissful.” (tweet)
“Today being Diwali, may this period of slow-down of life lead to contemplation, meditation rather than depression.” (tweet)
While the tweets suggest depression is largely a non-physical condition (in the mind), there are studies that suggest that its effects are beyond the ‘mind’. A study published in 2000 in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggested that patients with depression had a significantly reduced (19%) hippocampus region of the brain associated with learning, memory and emotions. This result was mechanistically correlated with lowered glucocorticoid levels in depression and associated with damage to the hippocampus.
A PET scan below compares brain activity during periods of depression (left) with normal brain activity (right). An increase of blue and green colours, along with decreased white and yellow areas, shows decreased brain activity due to depression.
While research is full of literature on yoga and meditation for depression and anxiety, which is considered an effective ancillary treatment option for patients, not many studies compare effects of yoga with relaxation and/or aerobic exercise, for changes in severity of depression. A large number of these studies were found to be with high risk of bias.
A meta-analysis study, found several low-risk biased studies, that combined 12 randomised controlled trials in 619 participants. In these studies, there was only a moderate evidence found for effects of yoga as compared to usual care, and limited evidence was found for yoga compared to relaxation and aerobic exercise.
Hence, while yoga is certainly effective for mild depression, it has shown limited efficacy in comparison to relaxation or aerobic exercise.
“The rate of suicides propelled by depression & frustration in the US & several other parts of the world is alarming. Raising human consciousness is the only solution to prevent this rapidly unfolding tragedy. (tweet)
This was tweeted following the death of celebrities, Kate Spade & Anthony Bourdain, in the US. While rates of suicides are certainly increasing, more in men (3.53 x) than in women, and a large proportion (estimated at about 60%) is due to depression; frustration in healthy individuals is short lasting.
Previously Mr. Vasudev had made statements in support of mercury usage in traditional Indian medicines and Alt News had explained why this was dangerous.
While he is known for several pseudoscientific claims, such as converting liquid mercury into solid clay like substance, with his bare hands, at room temperature, the topic of depression frequently reappears.
In the light of his tweets, it is evident that Mr. Vasudev and other such spiritual gurus use Yoga, Ayurveda and other similar traditional ancient Indian practices, often completely pseudoscientific, to capitalise on the largest mental health problem of the world. Since, myths and misinformation on mental health conditions are widely prevalent, these spiritual Gurus use ancient knowledge, religious symbolism and, in this case, their fluency of the English language, to misinform the people and shaming them of their lifestyle choices.
Hence, it is imperative to raise awareness on depression as a major disorder- with intrinsic biological basis, its symptoms, causes and its robust clinical treatments that work, and its ancillary treatments such as yoga or relaxation and exercise that can help with the condition.
For more information, refer to the WHO website pages on depression. If you think you may be depressed, immediately refer to your physician.
If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or attempts, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata).
Alt News Science is no longer edited by Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh
From 2017-2021, Dr. Shaikh was the Founding-Editor for Alt News Science. Her main role is as a neuroscientist researching violent extremism and psychiatry.
Follow @Neurophsyik
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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19th August 2018 / 9:27 pm / Last updated: 20th August 2018
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"author": "Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh"
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Derogatory painting of Hindu deity Krishna from 5 years ago revived on social media - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
17th August 2020 / 9:36 pm / Last updated: 19th August 2020
On August 17, News Nation anchor Deepak Chaurasia tweeted that Akram Hussain, a painter in Assam, exhibited an offensive picture of Hindu deity Krishna in a Guwahati art gallery. “I’m sure you all remember Bengaluru riots, but we are the ones termed intolerant,” wrote Chaurasia. As of this writing, his tweet drew over 9,000 likes and more than 3,000 retweets.
[Hindi text of Chaurasia’s tweet: “असम का एक पेंटर है अकरम हुसैन उसने गुवाहाटी आर्ट गैलरी रविन्द्र भवन में भगवान श्रीकृष्ण की एक आपत्तिजनक तस्वीर का विमोचन किया है।”]
The painting has been shared in the aftermath of the Bengaluru riots triggered by an inflammatory post against Muhammed, the Prophet of Islam, allegedly made by Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s nephew Naveen. Three people were killed in police firing and over 300 have been arrested for the violence.
Prior to Chaurasia’s tweet, Krishna’s derogatory painting was tweeted by NewsX anchor Shehzad Poonawallah who tagged the DGP of Assam and the Chief Minister’s Office to take action against Hussain. The same was tweeted by ISKCON Long Island, New York. ISKCON Kolkata vice-president and spokesperson Radharamn Das requested BJP MLA Himanta Biswa to arrest Hussain.
Madhu Kishwar, who has often been found sharing misinformation via her Twitter account, retweeted Arun Pudur’s tweet alleging the same. “They are free to depict their Prophet with 72 hoors but keep their dirty hands and minds off our sacred symbols and deities,” wrote Kishwar, enraged. Several other individuals who amplified the claim include BJP OBC Morcha Haryana vice-president Maya Yadav and Twitter users Karunesh Shukla, Manisha Mishra and Roop Darak.
The incident dates back to April 2015 when the Guwahati police had registered an FIR against painter Hussain Akram on the basis of a complaint filed by the Hindu Jagran Manch. “The artist has, however, immediately removed the painting and has apologised,” said Guwahati DCP Amitabh Sinha as quoted by The Indian Express. “The police were now looking for Hussain, who reportedly hails from Goalpara. The state cultural directorate has instituted an inquiry to find out how such a painting was permitted in the State Art Gallery,” the report adds.
Taking cognisance of viral claims, Guwahati police tweeted that Hussain was arrested on May 30, 2015.
Pls refer to info shared by concerned citizens regarding an objectionable painting of Lord Shri Krishna. This incident is of 2015. Accordingly, Latasil PS Case No. 127/15 was registered, accused Akram Hussain arrested on 30/5/2015 & painting seized. It is not on display now.
— Guwahati Police (@GuwahatiPol) August 17, 2020
Following the police’s tweet, Deepak Chaurasia and ISKCON Long Island tweeted updates however their misleading tweets remain.
Hindi news organisations Amar Ujala and Punjab Kesari published the same report which said that ISKCON has demanded the arrest of Hussain Akram. The articles cite social media posts and neither clarify that the case is five years old nor that the accused was taken in custody.
A few other websites like News Track and OpIndia also revived the case however they mentioned that the incident is from 2015.
An old inflammatory painting made by Assam-based Akram Hussain was widely shared by journalists, media outlets and BJP members and supporters. Hussain was arrested in 2015 but agitated individuals on Twitter tagged the police and CMO to take action against him. It’s been less than a week since a mere Facebook post sparked violence in Bengaluru yet certain people thought it wise to revive an offensive painting from five years ago.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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17th August 2020 / 9:36 pm / Last updated: 19th August 2020
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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Despite clarification, rumour of Najeeb joining ISIS continues to circulate on social media - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
1st March 2018 / 8:35 pm / Last updated: 1st March 2018
‘Yaad hai JNU ka Najeeb? ABVP, Hinduo, Modi par lagaya gaya tha isse gaayab karne ka aarop. Isne apni ammi ko telegram app par bheja hai sandesh, “Ammi maine isis join kar li, inshallah ab Allah ke liye jihad karunga”(Remember Najeeb from JNU? ABVP, Hindus, Modi were accused of making him disappear. He has now sent his mother a message through telegram, ‘Ammi I have joined ISIS. Insallah I will now wage jihad for Allah). This message continues to circulate widely on social media despite being fake. On the Facebook page Chitkar- Meri Aawaz suno, awaz Bharat ki which has over 250,000 followers, this post has been shared more than 4000 times.
#अम्मी_मैंने_ISIS_जॉइन_कर_ली, अब अल्लाह के लिए करूंगा जिहाद”, JNU का नजीब बना आतंकी
आपको JNU का छात्र नजीब याद है ? व…
Posted by चीत्कार। मेरी आवाज सुनो। आवाज भारत की on Sunday, February 25, 2018
There are a number of other pages too which are sharing this false information about Najeeb Ahmad. Another FB page named Swarnim Hind Ka Swarnim Sapna which has more than 260,000 followers too has shared it with the message, ‘Pehchana isse? arre apna najeeb. JNU wala Najeeb. Azadi gang wala Najeeb! Vami Kami giroh ka dulara Najeeb. JNU se direct placement hua hai ISIS mein. Syria se Rahul ji aur Kejri sir ji ko salaam bheja hai’ (Recognise him. He is our Najeeb. Najeeb from JNU. Najeeb of Azadi gang. Favourite of leftists. He has been placed in ISIS straight from JNU. He sends his greetings to Rahul ji and Kejri sir ji from Syria)
पहचाना इसे ??
अरे अपना नजीब…JNU वाला नजीब…आज़ादी गैंग वाला नजीब !!
वामी कामी गिरोह का दुलारा नजीब …JNU से डाइरेक्ट प्लेसमेंट हुआ है ISIS में !!
सीरिया से राहुल जी और केजरी सर जी को सलाम भेजा है!!
Posted by स्वर्णिम हिंद का स्वर्णिम स्वप्न on Monday, February 26, 2018
On another page Narendra Modi Namo Namo which has over 110,000 followers, journalist Ravish Kumar is targeted in a post that asks why he is silent over JNU’s Najeeb joining the ISIS.
100 बार बताया कि JNU छात्र नजीब गायब हो गया मगर एक बार नहीं बताया कि वो भागकर ” Islamic State” में आतंकी बन गया। क्यों रवीश जी? डर लगता होगा न?
Posted by Narendra Modi Namo Namo on Monday, February 26, 2018
The posts we have presented here are only a sample of what is being circulated on social media. Alt News found a large number of pages and groups across various platforms which have been sharing this information.
On February 26, Alt News had reported how certain sections on social media are spreading the message that Najeeb Ahmad who went missing from JNU in 2016 had joined the ISIS.
Remember JNU Student Najeeb who went untraced?
BJP/ RSS and the whole Sangh parivar were blamed and condemned for abducting and killing him – an innocent minority!!
Now, he is traced – with ISIS.
So much for protests by Prestitudes, AAP, Commies and Congishttps://t.co/XYgThr8mYq
— Jaswant Singh (@JasBJP) February 25, 2018
The news was totally false, as the Najeeb who had joined ISIS was a 23-year old MTech student from VIT Vellore who went missing from Kerala. Moreover, this Najeeb had gone missing in August 2017, so the news itself is not recent. Yet, this Najeeb was, intentionally or not, confused with JNU’s Najeeb Ahmed and the report was circulated.
Several members of the ruling party lent credence to this rumour by spreading this fake news on social media. Among them were senior BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav, BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta and BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli who retweeted Jaswant Singh’s tweet, which has still not been deleted and has been shared over 3000 times already.
Though they later un-tweeted the tweet, the damage had already been done as these senior members of the ruling party and Govt with their extensive following gave legitimacy to a blatantly false piece of information without even basic verification. It seemingly mattered little that a missing person was maligned in the process.
Mainstream media also did not act to dispel this rumour which played on identical names to create confusion. Najeeb Ahmad is not around to defend himself, and the media that is supposed to be the voice of the voiceless, with a few notable exceptions like Indian Express has not done enough to dispel this rumour. That this fake message is still doing the rounds despite being debunked also illustrates the challenges of countering misinformation which keeps spawning on social media.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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1st March 2018 / 8:35 pm / Last updated: 1st March 2018
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Did '1st Muslim Minister of British Cabinet' lambast Nehru over education policy? - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
13th June 2018 / 6:50 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
The person in the following clip is the 1st Muslim Minister of British Cabinet. He is blunt in saying that Nehru destroyed Hinduism in India systematically. Pls spare 2 minutes to see this video.👇👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 The video accompanying this message shows an elderly gentleman criticising former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru over his education policy.
The claim that this person is the first Muslim minister in the British cabinet and the video has been shared widely on WhatsApp.
In the video, this person is heard saying, “In India, for some very weird reason they decided to take Hinduism out of the syllabus. You can’t teach Hinduism in a single Indian school. And how did this come about? I will be very blunt and honest on camera. This came about with the compliments of Nehru. This foolish man thought Hinduism should be taken out of the syllabus as its a secular world. In India, which is supposed to be a secular nation, they took Hinduism out of the syllabus.”
He goes on to say, “Now with Narendra Modi, I have been telling him put it (Hinduism) back in the syllabus. But there are lot of issues, political issues he has to fight before he can reintroduce it. But he will do it in his own time. He is a very clever politician. He will succeed.”
From WhatsApp, this video and the accompanying message have found their way on to Facebook where many individual users have uploaded it. It has been shared on Twitter as well.
The person in the following clip is the ” *1st Muslim Minister of British Cabinet* “.
*He is blunt in saying that Nehru destroyed Hinduism in India systematically.*
Pls spare 2 minutes to listen to this video.👇👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/mjzkUSgEcG
— Senthil Andavan (@NatarajaMurthi) June 9, 2018
We searched on Google with the key words ‘First Muslim minister of British cabinet’ and the result showed us that the first minister of the UK belonging to the Muslim community is Shahid Malik. He became a minister in 2007 after he was appointed by then Prime Minister of Britain, Gordon Brown. We looked for Malik’s photograph online and found several. He looks nothing like the person in the video.
Who then is the person in the video, if he is not ‘1st Muslim minister of British cabinet’ as claimed in the viral message? Alt News searched for the video on YouTube, since it is among the largest repositories for videos available online. Various combinations of words were chosen for the search. Finally, the key words ‘Nehru Hinduism Education’ revealed that this video had been posted six months earlier. We followed this link and found suggestions for more such videos which featured the same person. In this way, we found that the video now doing the rounds on social media was actually posted more than a year back, in February 2017.
The above video has been posted on YouTube by a channel called ‘Hindu Academy’. Hindu Academy is an organisation based in Britain that is involved in promoting and teaching Hinduism in schools in the UK. The website of the organisation states, “We co-ordinate and run classes teaching Hinduism at GCSE and Advanced levels in many cities in England. Over the past few years many of our candidates have scored maximum possible marks in Hinduism modules at Advanced or Advanced Subsidiary levels. Our classes are run by our volunteer teachers at local temples and community centres. These classes provide a structured study of Hinduism that benefits the Hindu community”.
The person in the video is Jay Lakhani, who describes himself on his Twitter profile as a theoretical physicist and teacher of Hinduism. There are many videos of him posted on the Hindu Academy channel on YouTube. We compared the face of the person in the video with photographs of Jay Lakhani available on the internet. We found that the two are indeed the same.
Jawaharlal Nehru continues to be vilified on social media. Alt News had earlier reported instances wherein India’s first Prime Minister has been portrayed in a derogatory manner. The fake news machinery on social media has ensured that misinformation about him keeps recurring at regular intervals and shared widely.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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13th June 2018 / 6:50 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Did a BJP leader have a clothing malfunction while campaigning? Old video, false claim - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
24th April 2019 / 4:49 pm
“Mr Rakesh Pareekh BJP candidate from Ajmer was giving a speech when his pants fell down. Poor guy is not used to wearing pants. BJP in their desperation r picking any random person & making them stand”.
With this message, Hate Story actor Bhairavi Goswami tweeted a video of a man seen in an embarrassing situation, where his trousers come off while he is addressing a public meeting. The claim suggests that the man, who was shot in this awkward moment is a BJP candidate from Ajmer named ‘Rakesh Pareekh’.
Mr Rakesh Pareekh BJP candidate from Ajmer was giving a speech when his pants fell down. Poor guy is not used to wearing pants. BJP in their desperation r picking any random person & making them stand pic.twitter.com/vF8osw3cgO
— BHAIRAVI GOSWAMI (@bhairavigoswami) April 21, 2019
This video has gone viral on Facebook with the same narrative. A post by a Facebook page, Voice of the people, has garnered close to 19,000 views at the time of writing this article.
On the contrary, some individuals have shared the video claiming that ‘Rakesh Pareekh’ is a Congress candidate.
Alt News found that the claim that the person in the video is a BJP candidate from Ajmer is false. It’s a 2018 video from Uttarakhand, where the former chairman of Jaspur Nagar Palika Parishad, Mohd Umar Siddiqui was addressing a public meeting during the Udham Singh Nagar municipal polls.
Speaking to India Today in 2018, Siddiqui had said, “I was earlier with the BSP and now with Uttarakhand Kranti Dal but have no connection with the BJP or the Congress.” He also confirmed that this incident had occurred. The video (with the accurate narrative) has been available on YouTube at least since November 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjaSQh05lYw
Last year in the run-up to the Rajasthan assembly election, the same video was shared with multiple false narratives. It was falsely claimed that the person whose trousers had come off was a BJP candidate Rakesh Parikh, while in reality, Parikh is a Congress leader. It may be reiterated that the man caught in this awkward moment is Umar Siddiqui and NOT Rakesh Parikh. Also, the video is not from Rajasthan but from Uttarakhand, and is completely unrelated to the claim.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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24th April 2019 / 4:49 pm
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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Did a British political analyst call Rahul Gandhi 'stupid'? No, its a fake account - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
3rd April 2019 / 8:28 pm
A Tweet by Brandon Davies (@BrandonDav_), a user, who joined Twitter on March 30, 2018, went viral on social media yesterday. A glance at the profile suggests that the account has garbed an identity of a ‘British Nationalist’, looking to cover the upcoming general election in India.
On April 2, Davies, who claims to be a resident of the United Kingdom tweeted, “I followed the 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 Lok Sabha elections closely. After analyzing all of them, I can say that I have never seen a PM candidate as stupid as Rahul Gandhi.”. The message tweeted by Davies claims that in his analysis of the previous general elections, he has never seen a Prime Ministerial candidate as stupid as Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The tweet attempts to mock Rahul Gandhi as a ‘stupid’ PM candidate.
Despite a small following, the tweet was retweeted over 4,000 times at the time of writing this article. It was retweeted by many prominent BJP supporters including the BJP spokesperson Tajinder Bagga.
It is surprising that this tweet was retweeted thousands of times, despite the fact that the handle has a rather small following of less than 1000 at the time of filing the article. A reverse search of the profile picture on Google establishes that the account has appropriated an identity of a British man by using a picture of a deceased person named George Mills, who died in a yacht crash in 2016.
Moreover, the account is also retweeting tweets written in Hindi. It is highly unlikely that a British National would understand Hindi.
After the account was exposed on Twitter, the profile picture was removed while the user name was changed from “Brandon Davies” to “Comrade Brandon Davies”.
Now, the fake account has changed its profile picture to a photo of Nigel Addison, a 62-year-old whose profile picture was misused to set up a racist Twitter profile in March 2018.
If they can troll then why can’t I? Hey 5 Rs. M trolls, this DP is dedicated to you all. #NewProfilePicture pic.twitter.com/y01IirmSgU
— Comrade Brandon Davies (@BrandonDav_) April 3, 2019
Vivek Shetty, founder of fake news website Postcard News also posted a screenshot of the tweet calling the fake account, “A British political analyst”. Chowkidar Yogesh Dangayach Namo, a Facebook user had also shared the screenshot with the same narrative.
A tweet from a fake account ridiculing Rahul Gandhi was shared widely. There is no ‘British political analyst’ by the name of Brandon Davies.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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3rd April 2019 / 8:28 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/did-a-british-political-analyst-call-rahul-gandhi-stupid-no-its-a-fake-account/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Did a protester ask for "Muslim rashtra" in anti-CAA protest attended by Priyanka Gandhi? Morphed image viral - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
23rd December 2019 / 10:18 pm
A photograph of anti-CAA protesters at a sit-in near India Gate with Priyanka Gandhi is being widely shared on social media. A Facebook user asked people to zoom into the picture and read the placard.
A prominently circled placard in the image reads, “कैब हटाओ इस देश को मुस्लिम राष्ट्र बनाओं (Remove CAB and make the country a Muslim nation -translated)”.
A few more individuals on Twitter posted the same image with a similar narrative.
With a Google search with keywords, “Priyanka Gandhi protest“, Alt News found several images of the Congress leader at a sit-in-protest led by the Congress party in solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and several other universities which opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019. Gandhi can be seen wearing the same attire as in the viral image.
We then searched for images and videos from the same protest and found that the placard held by a woman in a black dress actually reads, “लाठी-गोली नहीं रोज़गार-रोटी दो (Not lathis and bullets but employment and food -translated)”.
The text is clearly visible in the zoomed-in screenshot of the image posted below.
In the comparison below, we compared an original image taken from a similar angle but a different time-frame with the morphed photo. The similarities are evident.
In conclusion, a morphed image of Priyanka Gandhi sitting on a protest along with party workers is circulating on social media to a false claim that one of the protesters was holding a placard that they are against “CAB” because they want this country to become a ‘Muslim Rashtra’.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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23rd December 2019 / 10:18 pm
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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705 |
Did a Surat-based girl carry out IAF airstrikes? No, this is fake news - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
26th February 2019 / 11:23 pm
A viral message on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp claims that the pilot of the February 26 IAF airstrike on JeM camps at Pakistan’s Balakot is a girl named Urvisha Jariwala from Bhulka Bhavan school in Surat. A BJP leader from Rajasthan, Ritalba Solanki, was among those who made the assertion.
Several individual users have shared an identical claim on Facebook. Some have also circulated other photographs of “Urvisha Jariwala”, including one where she can be seen in a fighter plane.
A screenshot of the Facebook profile of “Urvisha Jariwala” has also been shared by some Facebook users.
These images are viral on WhatsApp as well.
is it true ?? It’s Viral on WA .. @zoo_bear@free_thinker @SMHoaxSlayer @boomlive_in pic.twitter.com/ai6K1pHW9j
— Mr. Shah (@s_kejul619) February 26, 2019
1. Upon searching the keywords – “Urvisha Jariwala Indian air force” and “Urvashi Jariwala Indian air force” – Google did not throw up any results. Alt News reverse-searched the woman’s image on Google and found that she is actually IAF pilot Sneha Shekhawat.
According to a 2015 Times of India report, “Sneha Shekhawat made history as the first woman pilot to lead an IAF contingent in the 63-year history of the Republic Day parades.”
2. We were also able to locate the second image – the one of the woman pilot on a fighter plane – on an NBC News article from 2014. The woman in the photograph is the first female fighter jet pilot of UAE, Al Mansouri.
3. About the screenshot of the Facebook profile of “Urvisha Jariwal”, we found that an account by that name did exist but is now deactivated or deleted. A Google cache link still shows the profile ‘Urvisha Jariwala (urvi)’.
Boomlive spoke to an unnamed source with the Indian air force who said the names of operatives involved in the airstrike have not been revealed due to confidentiality. “We have not released any names of any officers. In fact, there has been no official statement from the IAF except what the foreign secretary made. All such claims are rubbish,” they told Boomlive.
The same claim of “Urvisha Jariwala” being the IAF pilot who led the attack on Jaish camps has also been circulated with the image attached below.
Upon reverse-searching the photograph on Google, we found that the woman is Avani Chaturvedi, the first Indian woman pilot to fly fighter jet MiG-21 Bison.
We found one more photograph that was captioned as “Urvisha Jariwala”.
However, the woman in the image is IAF fighter pilot Mohona Singh.
The aftermath of IAF’s airstrike on Jaish camps in the early hours of February 26 saw a surge in misinformation circulated not only on social media (1, 2) but also on mainstream media.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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26th February 2019 / 11:23 pm
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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Did a TMC leader pull-out a gun on live TV? No, it was a mike - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
25th April 2019 / 5:11 pm / Last updated: 21st May 2019
A video clip viral on social media is being shared with the claim that it shows a TMC worker pull-out a revolver at a BJP worker during a live debate on Zee News. “बंगाल में TMC के कार्यकर्ता ने BJP के कार्यकर्ता के ऊपर रिवाल्वर निकाला वह भी लाइव जी न्यूज़ के डिबेट में.? (In Bengal, a TMC worker pulled out a revolver at a BJP worker during a live Zee News debate.)” – used the caption used by one MItali Shah (@mitalishah121) to circulate the clip.
बंगाल में TMC के कार्यकर्ता ने BJP के कार्यकर्ता के ऊपर रिवाल्वर निकाला वह भी लाइव जी न्यूज़ के डिबेट में.?😭😭 pic.twitter.com/uwNod24iNx
— Mitali शाह मिताली (@mitalishah121) May 20, 2019
The video is also doing rounds on Facebook. A page ‘पोल खोल. कॉम polkhol. com’ shared it with the caption, “TMC प्रवक्ता ने zee news live बंगला में bjp प्रवक्ता पर रिवाल्वर तानी । (TMC spokesperson pulled up a revolver at a BJP spokesperson during Zee News live.)” The video drew 23,000 shares at the time of writing this article.
TMC प्रवक्ता ने zee news live बंगला में bjp प्रवक्ता पर रिवाल्वर तानी ।
Posted by पोल खोल. कॉम polkhol. com on Saturday, 18 May 2019
It is viral on both Facebook and Twitter.
The same clip was posted by Twitter user Chowkidar Piyush (@piyushsinghk) on April 25. He shared it with the claim that it depicts a TMC leader pulling out a gun during a live debate. Piyush is followed by railway minister Piyush Goyal and BJP Delhi spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, and his video received over 27,000 views and nearly 3,000 retweets (archive).
TMC MLA pulls out Gun during live TV debate. This is happening in India and we are talking of intolerance.
Unbelievable but not shocking !#MamtaKeGunde
CC : @KailashOnline @BJP4Bengal @TajinderBagga @me_locket pic.twitter.com/H4FCJCILm2
— Chowkidar Piyush (@PiyushSinghk) April 25, 2019
Several ‘chowkidar’ handles retweeted Piyush’s tweet.
The video was also viral on Facebook, with several individual users posting it with the identical claim.
Several people commented on Piyush’s tweet that the TMC leader had picked up a mike and not pulled out a gun. A careful analysis of the video revealed that this was indeed true. The live debate was organised by Zee News in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar. The TMC leader who lost his cool and picked up a mike was state minister Rabindra Nath Ghosh. The slow-motion video posted below clearly shows that the object in the hand of the TMC leader is a mike.
A photo montage of relevant portions also shows Ghosh holding a mike.
While the TMC leader’s conduct was undoubtedly inappropriate for national television, the claim that he pulled out a gun/revolver during a live debate is completely false. Such cases of misinformation, unlike clipped or doctored videos, can be easily debunked with a careful glimpse.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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25th April 2019 / 5:11 pm / Last updated: 21st May 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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707 |
Did Aaditya Thackeray remove 'Minister' from Twitter bio? False claim by media, journalists - Alt News
Abhishek Kumar
22nd June 2022 / 5:01 pm / Last updated: 23rd June 2022
Amid the political stir in Maharashtra caused by the dissidence of a section of Shiv Sena leaders led by MLA Eknath Shinde, multiple media organisations and BJP leaders claimed that MLA Aaditya Thackeray removed the word ‘Minister’ from his Twitter bio.
RSS mouthpiece ‘eOrganiser Weekly’ shared a screenshot of Aaditya Thackeray’s Twitter profile to support the claim. (Archive link)
‘Jan Ki Baat’ also shared a screenshot of Aaditya Thackeray’s profile, claiming that he has removed the word ‘Minister’ from his bio. (Archive link)
Economic Times tweeted the alleged news on June 22. (Archive link)
Similarly, BJP Haryana IT cell head Arun Yadav, political strategist and commentator Amitabh Tiwari, The Pune Mirror’s journalist Ali Sheikh, The New Indian Express’s journalist Sudhir Suryavanshi, Zee News’s journalist Sanjay Yadav, News Agency ANI’s editor Payal Mehta, Deputy Editor and Anchor of News18 UP Astha Kaushik and many media organisations like The Times of India, News9, Pune Mirror, Mid-Day and Vibes of India, First India News, Navbharat Times, Punjab Kesari, Zee 24 Taas reported the same.
We searched the Twitter profile of Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray, a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government, on the Internet Wayback Machine and found that his current Twitter bio has not changed. Looking at several old archives of his Twitter profile, it is clear that the word ‘Minister’ wasn’t present in his Twitter bio. For example, below is a screenshot of an archive of Aaditya Thackeray’s Twitter profile dated June 13, 2022. The current political crisis erupted on June 20. There is no difference between his bio from June 13 and his present bio.
In fact, this was his bio even after his appointment as the cabinet minister for tourism and environment in the Maharashtra government in December 2020. The screenshot below is an archived link to his Twitter bio from March 2020. It is exactly the same as his present bio.
Several BJP leaders, journalists, and media organisations falsely claimed that Aaditya Thackeray removed the word ‘Minister’ from his Twitter bio amid the political crisis in Maharashtra. His bio has remained unchanged. The word ‘Minister’ wasn’t present in the bio.
Abhishek is a senior fact-checking journalist and researcher at Alt News. He has a keen interest in information verification and technology. He is always eager to learn new skills, explore new OSINT tools and techniques. Prior to joining Alt News, he worked in the field of content development and analysis with a major focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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22nd June 2022 / 5:01 pm / Last updated: 23rd June 2022
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/did-aaditya-thackeray-remove-minister-from-twitter-bio-false-claim-by-media-bjp-leaders/",
"author": "Abhishek Kumar"
}
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Did Abu Dhabi Crown Prince chant 'Jai Siya Ram'? Old video, false claim - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
18th October 2019 / 3:54 pm
“Abu Dhabi Crown Prince chanting Jai Siya Ram and Muslim lady from UAE carried Ramayana on her head Worshipped by millions of Hindus, This is how Lord Ram is worshipped across the globe.”
A 45-second video clip has been shared on social media, with the claim that it shows the crown prince of Abu Dhabi chanting ‘Jai Siya Ram’, and a Muslim lady from the UAE carrying the Ramayana on her head. In the video, Ram Katha preacher Morari Bapu can be seen.
#मंदिर_वहीं_बनाएंगे
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince chanting Jai Siya Ram
and Muslim lady from UAE carried Ramayana on her head
Worshipped by millions of Hindus, This is how Lord Ram is worshipped across the globe.#ThursdayThoughts #ThursdayMotivation #AyodhyaVerdict pic.twitter.com/xvOSgYoH6g
— Geetika Swami (@SwamiGeetika) October 17, 2019
The above tweet is by a user Geetika Swami, who is followed on Twitter by the office of Nirmala Sitharaman. It has been retweeted over 750 times so far. On Facebook too, the video has been shared with this narrative.
#मंदिर_वहीं_बनाएंगे
Abu Dhabi #Crown_Prince chanting “Jai Siya Ram”
and Muslim #lady from UAE carried #Ramayana on her head
Worshipped by millions of Hindus, This is how Lord Ram is worshipped across the globe.
#ThursdayThoughts #ThursdayMotivation #AyodhyaVerdict https://t.co/xvOSgYoH6g
Posted by Sandeep Chavan on Wednesday, October 16, 2019
The claim accompanying the video is false. The person seen in the video is NOT the crown prince of Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan), but a United Arab Emirates-based columnist and commentator on Arab affairs named Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi. His profile may be accessed here.
The video in question is from Abu Dhabi, and dates back to September 2016. The complete video, uploaded on Morari Bapu’s official YouTube channel, can be seen below. In his opening remarks, an unknown speaker is heard announcing a list of guests. However, the name of the Crown Prince is not announced. Moreover, he cannot be visually spotted in the guests that were present for the event. Hence, it is evident that Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was not present at the event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=377&v=zAGS74ELjtU
The same video clip had been shared on social media earlier in 2019, with the claim that the video showed the Sultan’s wife carrying the Ramayana on her head as she walked towards the first Hindu temple constructed in Abu Dhabi. The narrative was false at multiple levels. The first temple in Abu Dhabi is still under construction. The foundation stone laying ceremony was held in April 2019.
* सुल्तान शेख मोहम्मद ने अबू धाबी में, प्रधान मंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी से अपने वादे के अनुसार पहला हिंदू मंदिर बनवाया।
* सुल्तान की पत्नी बेगम सिर पर पवित्र रामायण की प्रति लेकर मंदिर की ओर जा रही हैं, और साथ में सुल्तान शेख मोहम्मद, राम कथा वाचक एच। पी। मोरारी बापू भी दिखाई दे रहे हैं। *
* सच में अद्भुत दृश्य। view *
Posted by Sagar Verma on Wednesday, May 15, 2019
In February 2018, Alt News had debunked another video pertaining to the same event, where it was falsely claimed by leading news channels – Times Now and Zee News – that Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the Ram Katha of Morari Bapu in Abu Dhabi. Later, it was found that the person is not the crown prince but a UAE columnist and commentator on Arab affairs named Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi.
It may be reiterated that the video in question does not show the crown prince of Abu Dhabi chanting ‘Jai Siya Ram’.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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18th October 2019 / 3:54 pm
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Did Amit Shah call Baniyas 'thieves' and 'cheaters'? Fake newspaper clip viral - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
10th December 2018 / 10:46 pm / Last updated: 18th March 2019
A purported newspaper clip viral on social media claims that BJP chief Amit Shah called the Baniya community ‘thieves’ and accused them of profiteering. It is being suggested that Shah made this statement while rallying ahead of Rajasthan elections in Bundi. The earliest instance of this viral clip, that Alt News found, was circulated by Twitter handle @KedarKansanaINC.
साथियों..भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष अमित शाह की यह भाषा सिर्फ सत्ता का नशा है!चिंता मत करो बनिया ही तुमारे सत्ता के नशा को 2019 में उतारेंगे..@RahulGandhi @INCIndia @INCMP pic.twitter.com/v5wglqjeJ8
— Kedar Kansana (@KedarKansanaINC) December 9, 2018
The clip was also shared by Sanjay Yadav, the political advisor to ex-deputy CM of Bihar, Tejasvi Yadav.
चोरी और मुनाफ़ाखोरी बनियों की आदत। किसानों की बर्बादी का मुख्य कारण बनिया ही है:- अमित शाह
लेकिन बनिये तो बनिए है वो बिगड़ते थोड़े ना है।अमित शाह कितनी भी गाली दें बनिए बीजेपी से मुहब्बत करते है। प्रेम में गाली खाना बनियों को मुबारक..@ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/av123AzWRp
— Sanjay Yadav (@sanjuydv) December 10, 2018
A user who describes himself as an SP leader and another who calls himself an AAP supporter shared the clip as well.
Similar claims are also viral on Facebook.
Searching the newspaper clip with different keywords did not bring up any results. It is improbable that a statement where Amit Shah calls members of the Baniya and business community ‘cheaters’ and ‘thieves’ was unreported by mainstream media.
Moreover, Alt News looked at news reports and the video of Shah rallying in Bundi. We found that the BJP chief made a speech in Bundi on December 3 however, he did not utter the statements as claimed in the viral newspaper clip.
लाइव : श्री अमित शाह की बूंदी में जनसभा। #राजस्थान_री_शान_भाजपा https://t.co/Ffd8rLu9Yx
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 3, 2018
While the headline termed the Baniya community ‘habitual thieves’, if one goes through the entire Hindi article it has made two other claims.
A sub-section in the article claimed that Amit Shah said in his speech that “these businessmen” will be replaced in retail and wholesale markets with big investment. The government, as claimed in the article, is working on a model to acquire foreign investments in this regard.
The concluding paragraph of the article claimed that Prime Minister Modi also compared businessmen and the Baniya community with “thieves”. The newspaper clip suggested that PM Modi, while on a foreign trip, said that demonetisation was undertaken as a move against the black money hoarded by businessmen. It claimed that the PM called them the biggest source of black money because of incessant profiteering.
As fact-checked earlier in this report, Amit Shah did not make the statements attributed to him in the viral clip. The entire clip is thus fake, pointing at the elaborate attempt to malign the BJP chief.
The recent Twitter feud between BJP and AAP over Baniyas might have given birth to the fake clip.
Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs Vijay Goel tweeted on December 8 that people of “Baniya community from Delhi are upset because CM Arvind Kejriwal and AAP think that they are stupid (translated)”.
दिल्ली के बनिए इस बात से नाराज़ हैं कि @ArvindKejriwal और उनकी पार्टी बनियों को बेवक़ूफ़ समझती है | क्या वैश्य समाज इस बात पर विश्वास करेगा कि भाजपा ढूंढ-ढूंढ कर उनका वोट काटेगी? जबकी सच तो यह है कि दिल्ली से दो वैश्य नेता केंद्र सरकार में मंत्री हैं |
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) December 8, 2018
To this, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that BJP cut Baniya votes in Delhi by 50%.
आपने मेरे प्रश्न का जवाब नहीं दिया???
भाजपा ने दिल्ली के 50% बनियों के वोट क्यों कटवाए? .@VijayGoelBJP https://t.co/bnzxdL8Gev
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 8, 2018
The spar continued further with both Goel and Kejriwal accusing each other of not satisfying the needs of the Baniya community.
This isn’t an isolated instance of fake newspaper clip attributing false statements to a political leader. Alt News had debunked in the past a morphed clip according to which Kejriwal said that India should give up Kashmir. Another fake newspaper cutting claimed that Sonia Gandhi is the fourth richest woman in the world.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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10th December 2018 / 10:46 pm / Last updated: 18th March 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Did Amit Shah exhort crowd to not vote for Meenakshi Lekhi? Ajay Maken tweets clipped, misleading video - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
3rd May 2019 / 10:37 pm
Its very strange-BJP President Sh Amit Shah himself says that do not vote for Meenakshi Lekhi! Then why should anyone vote for Lekhi ji?
With the above message, Congress leader from Delhi Ajay Maken tweeted a video on May 2 of BJP president Amit Shah speaking at a rally. The video clip is 18 seconds long. In it, Amit Shah can be heard appealing to the audience not to vote for the two BJP candidates present on the dais- Meenakshi Lekhi and Ramesh Bidhuri. Maken has also tagged Vishal Kundra, a Congress leader, crediting him for the video.
Its very strange-BJP President Sh Amit Shah himself says that do not vote for Meenakshi Lekhi!
Then why should anyone vote for Lekhi ji?
Please watch this video sent by @Kundra_Vishal 👇 pic.twitter.com/VaRXUBbiXA
— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) May 2, 2019
The exact words of Amit Shah in this video clip are,
“Magar hamare dono sansad pratyashi hain, behen Lekhi hain aur Ramesh Bidhuri hain, ye ek bhi kaam ke liye in dono ko vote mat dena, main kehta hoon aap ko, bhajpa ka adhyaksh hokar kehta hoon mere dono pratyashi ko ye ek bhi kaam ke liye vote mat…”. The video clip ends abruptly.
Translation: “But our two parliamentary candidates- Behen Lekhi and Ramesh Bidhuri, dont give them your vote for any of this work, I am saying this, as BJP president I am saying that for my two candidates, don’t vote them for any work…”
The video clip of Amit Shah has been mischievously edited and taken out of context, to make it seem as if Shah is bizarrely appealing to the crowd to not vote for his own party candidates. The video was streamed live by the Bharatiya Janata Party on its YouTube page on May 2, 2019. Shah was addressing a rally at Vasant Kunj in Delhi. The capital votes on May 12, in the sixth phase of polling.
The entire video has been posted below. The relevant portion begins from 1:20:05 and ends at 1:21:00, placing Amit Shah’s words in context.
Amit Shah says,
“Mitron, Narendra Modi ki sarkar ne dher saare kaam kiye, gareebon ke liye bahut saare kaam kiye, ghar diya, bijli diya, shauchalay diya, gas ka connection diya, shuddh pine ka paani diya, Dilli ke liye bhi bahut saari cheezein di, Magar hamare dono sansad pratyashi hain, behen Lekhi hain aur Ramesh Bidhuri hain, ye ek bhi kaam ke liye in dono ko vote mat dena, main kehta hoon aap ko, bhajpa ka adhyaksh hokar kehta hoon mere dono pratyashi ko ye ek bhi kaam ke liye vote mat dena, Dilli ke liye 1 lakh crore rupiya Modi ji ne kharch kara hai, uske liye bhi vote nahi dena hai, nahi dena hai, inko vote zaroor dena, Modi ji ne desh ko surakshit kiya hai isliye vote dena…”
Translation: “Friends, Narendra Modi’s govt has done a lot of work, a lot of work for the poor, (we) gave house, (we) gave electricity, (we) gave toilets, (we) gave gas connections, (we) gave clean drinking water, we have given a lot to Delhi, but our two parliamentary candidates- Behen Lekhi and Ramesh Bidhuri, dont give them your vote for any of these works, I am saying this, as BJP president I am saying dont vote for them for any of these works, Modi ji has spent 1 lakh crore rupees for Delhi, don’t vote for that either. Vote for them certainly, Modi ji has secured the country, vote for that.”
To sum it up, Amit Shah was appealing to the crowd to vote for the BJP candidates, not for the supposedly stupendous work done by the Modi govt, but on the issue of national security. One bit from this video was mischievously edited, and shared by no less than a senior leader like Ajay Maken, whose tweet has been retweeted close to 300 times. Maken’s tweet is still online, hours after it was pointed out to him that the video is misleading.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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3rd May 2019 / 10:37 pm
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Did Amitabh Bachchan promote Modi via poetry? Poem recited by the actor on KBC in 2018 viral - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
28th March 2019 / 4:53 pm / Last updated: 28th March 2019
“Wow! @SrBachchan Amithabh has openly lent his voice to promote Modi. He has promoted Gujarat ever since Modi was its CM, but this is the first time, I think, he’s promoted Modi himself,” is a claim accompanying a video viral on social media that features photographs of PM Modi appearing successively to the tune of a poem recited by Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.
BJP MP and the party’s treasurer for Jharkhand, Mahesh Poddar, was among those who shared the video (archive).
Wow! @SrBachchan Amithabh has openly lent his voice to promote Modi. He has promoted Gujarat ever since Modi was its CM, but this is the first time, I think, he’s promoted Modi himself.👌🏻👏🏻 @BJP4India @BJP4Jharkhand @AnupamPKher @KirronKherBJP @dreamgirlhema @akshaykumar pic.twitter.com/C7EnHuIZst
— Chowkidar Mahesh Poddar (@maheshpoddarjhr) March 14, 2019
Several other social media users and pages have shared the video claiming that Bachchan lent his voice in support of PM Modi. The Hindi poem recited by Bachchan starts with the words – “मुट्ठी में कुछ सपने लेकर , भरकर जेबों में आशएं ..दिल में है अरमान यही, कुछ कर जाएँ, कुछ कर जाएँ…”
Wow! Amithabh has openly lent his voice to promote Modi. He has promoted Gujarat ever since Modi was its CM, but this is the first time, I think, he’s promoted Modi himself.
👌🏻👏🏻 🙏🕉🇮🇳
Posted by Rajni Patel on Thursday, 21 March 2019
We found that the video was also shared with Kannada and Nepali captions. It seems to have been circulating on WhatsApp as well.
Alt News looked by a few words of the poem on Google and found that it was recited by the Bollywood actor in 2018 during the opening episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati season 10. Bachchan can be heard reciting the same poem in the video below, which was uploaded by SonyLIV on September 3, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGmDshKa3B8
The actor had also shared a photograph of himself recording the poem two years ago.
.. the best place to be at midnight .. after finishing shoot for the day at KBC – a recording studio in front of a mike .. “मुट्ठी में कुछ सपने लेकर , भरकर जेबों में आशएं .. दिल में है अरमान यही , कुछ कर जाएँ , कुछ कर जाएँ …”
A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) on
Furthermore, we were unable to locate any reports in the media claiming that Bachchan recited the said poetry in support of the Prime Minister. The assertions on social media are, thus, baseless.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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28th March 2019 / 4:53 pm / Last updated: 28th March 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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Did angry commuters force BJP leader to deboard train over Kathua, Unnao incidents? - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
19th April 2018 / 6:25 pm / Last updated: 11th July 2018
Amidst the public outrage following the recent incidents of rape in Kathua and Unnao, a video is being circulated on social media with the claim that a BJP leader was asked by the public to deboard a local train he was travelling in, in Mumbai. The video shows angry passengers heckling political activists. The text accompanying the video says, “It happened in Mumbai, Bjp leader was travelling in a train, suddenly passengers are shouted and said ‘bahar nikalo, bahar nikalo bcz 10 year old girl is travelling in this train”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaQzT4lNsRY
The video has been shared by a number of users on Facebook and many pages and groups too have posted it with the aforementioned claim. The Facebook page Hyderabad Deccan with over 550,000 followers uploaded this video on April 16 which was viewed over 380,000 times and shared more than 15,000 times. It has also been shared widely on YouTube and WhatsApp.
What is the truth?
At Alt News, we have observed that the popular tactic is to take a video out of context and circulate it with a claim that is false. This is one such instance. The video in question is indeed from Mumbai and the men being heckled are BJP workers, but the anger of the passenger is NOT related to the incidents of Kathua and Unnao.
The incident is of April 6, 2018. The ruckus took place after BJP activists had barged inside an air conditioned local train to attend BJP President Amit Shah’s rally in Mumbai. Travelling without tickets, they got into an argument with commuters when questioned. They were later asked to deboard after a complaint was lodged with Railway officials.
Such videos with false claims seek to manipulate public sentiment. Social media users are advised to be cautious and not to believe such information without verifying. A search on Google reveals that this incident took place in a different context and has no relation to the recent incidents that have caused public anger.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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19th April 2018 / 6:25 pm / Last updated: 11th July 2018
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Did Arnab Goswami call the people of Kerala "shameless"? - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
27th August 2018 / 11:59 am / Last updated: 27th August 2018
On August 25, Republic TV hosted its routine late night program ‘The Debate’ where Arnab Goswami invited panelists to discuss the Rs 700 crore relief aid that was allegedly promised to the Kerala government by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s Office tweeted on August 21 about the aid, which was later denied by the UAE. The CM, however, stood by his claim and all eyes are now turned to the UAE-based Malayali billionaire who was the only source of the information, as clarified by Vijayan.
Goswami’s show titled ‘#FloodAidLie’ attempted to discuss the purported fake news. However, soon after it was aired, the journalist received a lot of backlash on social media as many claimed that he called the people of Kerala “shameless”.
Both individual users and social media pages posted a 30-second clip of Goswami’s show where he can be heard saying, “This group is shameless. It’s the most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen. They have gone around spreading the lie religiously. I don’t know what they get for it, whether they get paid money. Do they get paid money for abusing their own country? Are they part of a group? Who are they funded by? The point is it’s a conspiracy to malign India.” The video shared by Facebook page Beef Janta Party has been shared over 2,800 times.
#OMKVArnab
WOW!!
Arnab Cowswamy, unofficial spokesman of the sanghis, just called the suffering people of Kerala “the most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen”!!
This is Republic’s Onam gift to Malayalis.
This is why we call this sanghi hatemonger a media terrorist.
Posted by Beef Janata Party on Saturday, 25 August 2018
The clip is also widespread on Twitter. It has been retweeted over 500 times from C.J. Werleman’s timeline.
India: Arnab Cowswamy, unofficial spokesman of the sanghis (RSS), calls victims of Kerala floods “the most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen.”
Kerala’s cohesive multicultural society (50% Hindu, 28% Muslim, 18% Christian) threatens the Hindu fascist project. pic.twitter.com/C4UlQKdcbu
— CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) August 25, 2018
Many others on social media have also expressed their anger at Goswami’s alleged statements.
Republic TV has uploaded the full version of the video on its website. If one were to watch the minutes preceding the viral clip on social media, the show takes a dig at Congress and the Left for spreading the alleged lie of Rs 700 crore aid from UAE. Before panelists come on screen, Goswami introduced the debate saying, “Biggest fake news story of the year. The UAE goes on record to deny the 700 crore flood aid fake story to Kerala. And the conspiracy was of the Congress party, Congress netas, trolls.” He also goes ahead to say that Republic TV has “exposed the troll army deployed by Congress to promote the flood aid lie.”
Seconds before Goswami begins his “this group is shameless” monologue, the program shows a clip of CM Vijayan talking about the purported relief fund. It then flashes this question on the screen – “Politicians lied on flood aid?”, and the debate begins thereafter. A screengrab of the frame just before Goswami’s statements is attached below.
The clip posted on social media does not show the first few minutes of the debate. Many viewers believed that he was referring to Keralites with his “this group of shameless people” remark. Even though Goswami did not single them out, they weren’t completely at fault for making the assumption. He kept referring to an imaginary bunch of people who conspired to spread an alleged lie. But the news originated from the Chief Minister’s Office, was carried out by multiple media outlets, including Republic TV and then shared by citizens on social media.
If the aim was to target politicians and Congress IT cell members, screaming the words “tukde tukde gang”, “anti-nationals”, “vultures” and “carnivores” throughout the length of the show was unnecessary and left space for ambiguities. Goswami might not have used the word “Keralites” but the debate was filled with hyperboles attempting to target anybody who was critical of government efforts at a time of great need.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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27th August 2018 / 11:59 am / Last updated: 27th August 2018
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Did Arnab Goswami say "kill thousands" after dilution of Article 370? No, old clip shared on social media - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
7th August 2019 / 10:27 pm
A video of Republic TV managing director Arnab Goswami has surfaced on social media where he can be heard saying – “Now operation elimination will start. We have to eliminate all these people. These traitors, the sloganeering brigade, you think we have not given you chance? We now need to have a tough military option. And I’m saying as a proud Indian, I am prepared for collateral damage. Kill thousands.”
While millions of people in Kashmir are under a military siege, Arnab Goswami says, “As a proud Indian, I am ready for collateral damage….kill them…kill them in thousands”.
Prime Time journalists in India are baying for the blood of Kashmiris. #StandWithKashmir
Posted by Bhakton ka RADAR on Wednesday, 7 August 2019
The video was first put out by a Twitter handle ‘With Kashmir (WithKashmir_)‘ but was later taken down (archive). It was shared with the caption – “While millions of people in #Kashmir are under a military siege, Arnab Goswami says, “As a proud India, I am ready for collateral damage.”
The video was quote-tweeted by several journalists, including Rituparna Chatterjee and Abhinandan Sekhri. The former has now deleted her tweet. @WithKashmir_’s tweet was also retweeted by Anoo Bhuyan, Omar Waraich and Mahwash Ajaz.
Actress Gauhar Khan referred to the contents of the video in a recent tweet.
The video, while in context of Kashmir, was not broadcast after the government’s decision to deem provisions of Article 370 ineffective. It was broadcast on February 24 after the Pulwama attack where panellists debated on the topic – “Will Pro-Azadi Gang Unite Against Pakistan?”
In the video below, Goswami can be heard saying at 1:07:47 onwards, “I am saying that we now need to have a tough military option and I’m saying as a proud Indian, I am prepared for collateral damage to take on terrorists within Jammu and Kashmir and their supporters because now operation elimination will start and we will have to eliminate all these people.” At about 55:12, he says, “Kill thousands, kill them,” with regard to stone-pelters in Kashmir. A little further into the debate Goswami suggests that the only solution for Kashmir is the use of force and strong military action. He also says that the sole fix for the problem of stone-pelters is to round them up, hold them by their hair and thrash them up.
The video doing rounds on social media, while replete with hate-filled and provocative language, is not recent and was broadcast post-Pulwama attack.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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7th August 2019 / 10:27 pm
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Did Arvind Kejriwal celebrate his birthday after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's death? - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
17th August 2018 / 7:29 pm
“Right after Atal ji’s death in the evening, Kejriwal celebrated his birthday,” reads a post by Facebook page Yogi Adityanath – True Indian, following the death of former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The text, accompanied by a photograph of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cutting a cake, was posted at 8:30 PM on August 16 and has been shared by over 10,000 people. It bears several comments condemning the CM’s “insensitivity”.
सड़ा हुआ आम आदमी
Posted by Yogi Adityanath – True Indian on Thursday, 16 August 2018
“Impudence itself has more shame than Kejriwal,” reads another post shared by Facebook page I Support Namo that has a following of over 1.5 crores. Kejriwal’s image shared by the page on the night of August 16 attracted over 11,000 likes and 6,700 shares.
बेशर्मी भी जिनसे शर्मा जाए वो है केजरीवाल…
Posted by I Support Narendra Modi on Thursday, 16 August 2018
Facebook page ModiNama posted the image as well and it was shared over 5,500 times. But the photograph of Kejriwal cutting a cake is not limited to Facebook; it is widespread on Twitter as well. A handle @AMIT_GUJJU, followed by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal’s office, shared Kejriwal’s image juxtaposed with an ABP News tweet, which said that the CM cancelled his birthday celebrations.
दुनिया का सबसे घटिया आदमी।@ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/l0sL6JJ9lO
— AMIT (@AMIT_GUJJU) August 16, 2018
Several individual users too circulated the image, claiming that Kejriwal was busy with celebrations at a time of grief.
A website called “Actual News” wrote an article on Kejriwal’s alleged hypocrisy and insensitivity. “Despite the sombre news of Atal ji’s demise, Kejriwal did not shy away from celebrating his birthday with immense pomp and joy (translated),” reads an excerpt from the article.
Social media strategist of AAP Ankit Lal tweeted on the night of August 16 that a photograph of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal taken in the morning and was being circulated as him cutting the cake in the evening to portray him as celebrating his birthday after Vajpayee’s demise.
सुबह की तस्वीर को शाम का बता कर घृणा फ़ैलाने वालों, जनता देख रही है। #Atalji को गए कुछ घंटे भी नहीं हुए, पूरा देश शोकमग्न है, एक दिन तो धैर्य धरो।
— Ankit Lal (@AnkitLal) August 16, 2018
To verify Ankit Lal’s claim, we looked for other images taken during the event and stumbled upon one that was taken from a different angle. A wall clock and a wristwatch are clearly visible in the photograph and upon careful observation, one can also tell the time. Both read a little past 11 AM. The announcement of Vajpayee’s demise was made after 5 PM, hence, Kejriwal could not have been celebrating his birthday after the former PM’s death.
The official Twitter handle of Aam Aadmi Party posted a video of the Chief Minister at 12:09 PM where he can be heard saying, “Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee is admitted at AIIMS hospital in critical condition. At such circumstance, I do not feel like celebrating too much.” Addressing the crowd of party workers, the CM then says that he along with Deputy CM Manish Sisodia will visit Vajpayee at AIIMS following the address.
Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal opts not to celebrate his birthday due to critical health of #AtalBihariVajpayee Ji & the floods in Kerala.https://t.co/cAZGIpbDtn
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) August 16, 2018
There were also several media reports that reported Kejriwal cancelled his birthday celebrations in view of the former PM’s deteriorating health. ABP News tweeted the same at 12:56 PM on August 16.
Kejriwal cancels birthday celebrations over former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s critical health#AtalBihariVaajpayee @ArvindKejriwal https://t.co/NzFMvbiloM pic.twitter.com/4sta9c4jta
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 16, 2018
An article published by The Indian Express that same day at 1:50 PM reported that “the Chief Minister along with his Deputy Manish Sisodia visited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) this morning to inquire about Vajpayee’s health.”
The aforementioned sequence of events clearly shows that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not celebrate his birthday after former Prime Minister Vajpayee’s death. He cut a cake at around 11 AM, announced an hour later that he does not wish the celebrations to proceed and visited Vajpayee at AIIMS between 1 to 2 PM.
It is commonplace for narratives to be manufactured on social media for political one-upmanship. Unverified information on social media, especially related to an emotionally-charged affair, should always be double-checked.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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17th August 2018 / 7:29 pm
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Did BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters fabricate reports of unrest in Kashmir? - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri & Pratik Sinha
13th August 2019 / 10:53 pm / Last updated: 14th August 2019
On August 10, BBC News had reported that thousands of protesters had taken to the streets in Soura, Srinagar against the government’s decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. The media outlet claimed that it “witnessed the police opening fire and using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Despite that, the Indian government has said the protest never took place.” BBC Punjabi claimed that live rounds were also fired at the protestors.
Al Jazeera had also reported about the massive agitation in Srinagar where a large crowd defied government orders of a lockdown. The organisation said that the protestors were met with live fire, tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets.
According to Reuters, at least 10,000 had participated in the August 9 protest against the dilution of Article 370. The publication claimed to have spoken to a police source, an official source and eyewitnesses.
Soon after these reports, the Home Ministry put out a statement claiming that the news suggesting 10,000 people protested in Srinagar is “fabricated and incorrect” and only a “few stray protests” were carried out where “not more than 20 people” were involved.
A news report originally published in Reuters and appeared in Dawn claims there was a protest involving 10000 people in Srinagar.
This is completely fabricated & incorrect. There have been a few stray protests in Srinagar/Baramulla and none involved a crowd of more than 20 ppl.
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) August 10, 2019
The Home Ministry has now clarified that widespread protests indeed took place in Soura, Srinagar.
Stories in media on a said incident in Soura region of #Srinagar.
On 09/08, miscreants mingled with people returning home after prayers at a local mosque. They resorted to unprovoked stone pelting against law enforcement forces to cause widespread unrest.@diprjk @JmuKmrPolice
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) August 13, 2019
MHA’s clarification came three days after its earlier statement. By this time, the claim that news reports of the protests were “fabricated” had already become fodder for many – Republic TV, Retd Major Gaurav Arya, Mohandas Pai, Abhijit Iyer Mitra and OpIndia.
BBC had tweeted that the publication stood by its reportage but none, especially journalists, who had spoken against its broadcast, provided any evidence to back their accusations or support the government’s claim.
BBC statement on #Kashmir coverage pic.twitter.com/XJfLOrh9nQ
— BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) August 11, 2019
Some on social media also floated the unsubstantiated idea that the video was not shot in India.
This video is not of India. This is of Pakistan. Some in BBC can never reconcile that India is a growing power which British once ruled https://t.co/OXVcpjyr1Q
— Aviator Anil Chopra (@Chopsyturvey) August 10, 2019
The following were the claims raised against BBC’s reportage by the government and individuals on social media.
At multiple places in the videos, the protestors can be seen holding up a poster that says – “Abrogation of Article 370 is not acceptable for us Jammu and Kashmir”.
The government of India stripped J&K of its special status only recently. The presence of this banner indicates that the footage is not old. Moreover, the Home Ministry itself has confirmed that protests did take place.
There have been several claims on social media that the no protests erupted in Kashmir. Many others claimed that the unrest did not occur in India. However, several visual cues in the footage establish that the scenes were shot in Srinagar.
A mosque is visible from 1:31 to 1:57 in the BBC footage. The same mosque – which has a green dome with white stripes and white and green coloured towers on the side – is also visible in the Al Jazeera footage from 0:27 to 0:36.
Alt News looked for mosques in Soura and found that the one featured in the videos is Jenab mosque located in Anchar, Soura.
The mosque is more clearly visible in another video of the protest broadcast by Al Jazeera.
At 0:57 into the BBC footage, a hoarding that says ‘Ramzan Memorial’ is visible. This is an educational institute in Soura, Srinagar.
A board that says ‘Nice Bakery’ is seen from 00:59 to 1:08 in the BBC footage. This is also located in Soura near Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences or (SKIMS) Hospital.
Google Maps show that all the three establishments – Jenab Saeb mosque, Ramzan Memorial Educational Trust and SKIMS Hospital – are within walking distance.
In the first few seconds of the BBC footage, where people can be seen running helter-skelter and shots can be heard in the background, we noticed a board (possibly an advertisement) on a lamppost. However, due to the poor quality of the video, the board is not legible. Alt News contacted BBC News and was sent stills from their raw footage where the board is more clearly visible. As evident in the photo montage below, the board says – ‘Sharp Sight’ – which is an Eye Hospital in Chanpora, Srinagar.
This fact-check thus confirms that the videos broadcast by BBC and Al Jazeera were shot in Soura, Srinagar. The “abrogation of Article 370” banners suggest that the unrest was sparked by the government’s recent decision to scrap J&K’s special status and the large gathering of people proves that MHA’s earlier claim that not more than 20 people had agitated is incorrect. While BBC’s reportage claimed live rounds were fired to push back the crowd and the media organisation reiterated that they stand by their report, Alt News was unable to independently verify the same. However, the Indian government has repeatedly denied the usage of bullets.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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13th August 2019 / 10:53 pm / Last updated: 14th August 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri & Pratik Sinha"
}
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717 |
Did Bharat bandh protesters set ablaze truck belonging to a Sikh? - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
12th April 2018 / 8:20 pm / Last updated: 11th July 2018
“Sikhs never asked for reservation. A nation develops through hard work and not through reservation” (translated). This message, along with a photograph of a charred truck with a Sikh gentleman along side is being shared widely on Facebook. On April 3, this message was posted on the Facebook page Agle 20 saal tak Modi which has over 6 lakh followers. The caption accompanying this photograph and the message said, “What lumpen activity in the name of the great Ambedkar. Please go and read Ambedkar first”.
महान आंबेडकर का नाम लेकर किस तरह की यह गुंडागर्दी। जाओ पहले आंबेडकर को पढ़ो।
Posted by अगले २० साल तक मोदी. on Monday, April 2, 2018
The timing of this post is significant, coming only a day after Bharat bandh was declared on April 2 by Dalit groups to protest against the March 20 Supreme Court verdict that diluted the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This post on the page Agle 20 saal tak Modi has been shared more than 2,700 times. It has also been posted on the Facebook group We Support Narendra Modi which has over 26 lakh members.
Did this incident occur during Bharat bandh protest on April 2?
This incident had occurred during the Jat agitation for reservation that had rocked Haryana in February 2016. This particular photograph was carried by the Indian Express in an article dated April 26, 2016.
This photo was posted earlier as well on March 10 by the Facebook page Nation First, and the share count stood at a staggering 167,000.
Reservation is a contentious issue that has sharply divided opinion on social media and otherwise. Regardless of the merits or demerits of the reservation policy which is a matter of endless debate, sharing fake messages only serves to intensify this divide. This photograph is in no way related to the Bharat bandh protests of April 2.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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12th April 2018 / 8:20 pm / Last updated: 11th July 2018
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Did BJP lose 36 seats by a margin of less than 2000 votes in Delhi assembly elections? - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
12th February 2020 / 9:47 pm
On February 12, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Satyadev Pachauri alleged that his party lost 36 seats in the recently concluded Delhi assembly elections by a margin of fewer than 2000 votes. He tweeted, “Add this to the seats won:8 It comes to 44 seats 3% more voting could have changed the entire game.” It may be noted that the BJP procured eight out of 70 assembly seats in the recently concluded Delhi polls and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was re-elected to form government. The tweet has now been deleted (archive).
The same message was shared by many other individuals on Twitter. One Biswajit Roy tweeted the same claim.
A relevant keyword search on Twitter led us to a tweet by the official handle of Sudarshan News. The TV channel had posted similar information as Pachauri at 10:57 am on February 11. It said, “भाजपा के आशा के कारन (Reasons of hope for BJP)”. The assertion that BJP lost with a margin of 2000 votes from 36 seats originated from this tweet. However, it is important to note that the channel’s claim was about the party trailing with those many numbers of votes before the final result was declared.
भाजपा के आशा के कारन।
१०० से कम मतों का अंतर ८ स्थानों पर।
१००० से कम मतों का अंतर १९ स्थानों पर।
२००० से कम मतों का अंतर ९ स्थान। #DelhiResults #DelhiBanayGaKhalistan2020 #DelhiElections #Delhi @BJP4India @AamAadmiParty @INCIndia
— Sudarshan News (@SudarshanNewsTV) February 11, 2020
“The Delhi assembly elections saw a close fight in at least 13 constituencies where victory margins ranged from below 7,000 votes to as low as 753,” stated an article by Hindustan Times on February 12. According to the report, poll data suggests that there was a close fight on at least nine assembly seats where the margin between the winner and the runner-up was less than 5000 votes.
We then cross-checked with the data available on the official website of the Election Commission of India and confirmed the findings of the report. Only two BJP candidates – Sat Prakash Rana from Bijwasan (753) and Raj Kumar Bhatia from Adarsh Nagar (1589) – lost the elections with a margin below 2000 votes.
A day after the final results of the assembly elections was declared, BJP MP Satyadev Pachauri falsely claimed that 36 BJP candidates lost with a margin of fewer than 2000 votes. Whereas, in reality, only two candidates witnessed such neck-and-neck competition.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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12th February 2020 / 9:47 pm
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Did BJP MLA torture a man tied upside-down? No, old video from Maharashtra viral - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
1st October 2019 / 11:00 pm / Last updated: 1st October 2019
On September 28, Facebook user Benoy Abraham posted a video of a man stripped off his clothes except for his underwear tied upside-down. The man is seen surrounded by a crowd of people, one among whom seems to insert a rod inside the man’s private parts. The message shared along with video attributes the gruesome act to ‘BJP MLA Anil Upadhyay’. It alleges, “B.j.p. എംഎൽഎ അനിൽ ഉപാധ്യായയുടെ ഈ പ്രവൃത്തിയെക്കുറിച്ച് മോദി എന്ത് പറയും, ഈ വീഡിയോയെ വൈറലാക്കി മാറ്റുക, അതിന് ഇന്ത്യ മുഴുവൻ കാണാനാകും. (What will Modi say about this act of BJP MLA Anil Upadhyay. Make the video viral so that it gets watched across the country -translated)”.
A few more people on Facebook shared the video with the identical narrative.
Alt News has also received several requests on its mobile application to fact-check a similar claim circulated along with the video in Hindi.
The claim is false and this is debunked at the onset of our fact-check as there is no BJP MLA named ‘Anil Upadhyay’. My Neta, a website that contains details about state and central legislators, does not include any information about any person that goes by this name and is a part of the BJP.
To find the origin of the video, Alt News performed a Google search with the keywords, “man inserts rod private parts video”, and found an article where the victim was identified as Vicky Aglawe.
Subsequently, we found reports by mainstream media outlets which said that the incident took place in Maharashtra. Akhil Pohankar, the owner of Waddhamna-based transport service, and fellow transporter Amit Thakre were arrested on July 28, 2019, for torturing a driver by hanging him upside-down from a ceiling. “The clips were allegedly prepared at the office of Pohankar, also office-bearer of a political party, a day before to teach the 23-year-old driver Vicky Aglawe a lesson. Aglawe was given Rs 30,000 cash by Pohankar as expenses for taking his truck, loaded with glass consignment, to Thiruvananthapuram on July 26. Aglawe apparently spent the money on liquor, clothes and feasting. He also did not turn up despite repeated calls by Pohankar,” reported The Times of India on July 29.
It was further added that the most gruesome part of the video allegedly showed another driver Omprakash Choure inserting a rod into the private parts of Agawle after removing his inner-wear.
According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, Akhil Pohankar was Shiv Sena’s youth wing Yuva Sena tehsil chief from Nagpur district.
On July 29, three more including Choure were arrested in the matter for abetting the crime. This video was earlier debunked by BOOM.
#Nagpur: Omprakash Chaure, S Ithankar and C Parasmore, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in abetting Akhil Pohankar and his co-transporter Amit Thakre to torture driver Vicky Aglawe. The five were remanded for a day after being produced before court.
— SoumitraboseTOI (@soumitraboseTOI) July 29, 2019
In conclusion, an old video of a man tortured by Shiva Sena’s youth wing tehsil chief was falsely shared as brutality perpetrated by ‘BJP MLA Anil Upadhyay’. It may be noted that there is no MLA in the BJP who goes by this name. Earlier, the same name -‘Anil Upadhyay’- was used to target both Congress (1, 2) and BJP.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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1st October 2019 / 11:00 pm / Last updated: 1st October 2019
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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Did BJP MP Vijay Goel say people from UP-Bihar should be banned from Delhi? Old, misleading report - Alt News
Jignesh Patel & Pooja Chaudhuri
5th October 2019 / 5:30 pm / Last updated: 9th October 2019
A video of a news report by India News on a statement given by BJP MP Vijay Goel is doing the rounds on social media. The statement was made with regard to the influx of migrants in Delhi from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. According to the report, Goel said that in order to fix issues in Delhi, people from UP-Bihar should be prevented from entering the capital. The anchor attributed a quote to Goel according to which the BJP MP said that these people settle in slums and subsequently convert them into illegal colonies.
Facebook user Kamlesh Yadav posted the video with the message, “बीजेपी संसद विजय गोयल का विवादित बयान बिहार और यूपी वालो को दिल्ली आने से रोकना होगा अब बोलो भक्तो इस पर आपकी क्या प्रतिक्रिया है (BJP MP Vijay Goel’s controversial statement on preventing people in UP-Bihar from coming to Delhi. Now, what will bhakts comment on this -translated)”. At the time of writing this article, the post had garnered more than 2,300 shares.
बीजेपी संसद विजय गोयल का विवादित बयान बिहार और यूपी वालो को दिल्ली आने से रोकना होगा अब बोलो भक्तो इस पर आपकी क्या प्रतिक्रिया है
Posted by Kamlesh Yadav on Thursday, 3 October 2019
A few more on Facebook shared the video with the identical text.
Alt News found that the news report is at least five years old. The official YouTube channel of India News had published the video on August 1, 2014, titled, “BJP RS MLA Vijay Goyal gives controversial statement, UP, Bihar people to be banned to enter Delhi.”
BJP MP Vijay Goel’s statement was presented in a misleading manner by India News. While the politician indeed remarked that an increased inflow of migrants was causing issues in Delhi, he also stated that the reason for the influx was lack of opportunities for jobs and education in the neighbouring states. He did not single out people from UP-Bihar for the problem. “No one leaves their village willingly but is forced because they are burdened with earning daily food. They come here thinking they’ll get jobs. But finance minister, our first burden on Delhi is that these six lakh people do not come here and we arrange for the same. But this can only be achieved if NCR and other states are developed,” he said, further suggesting that branches of Delhi University should be opened in other states to stop the influx of migrants. Here, he not only mentions UP-Bihar but also Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The six lakh figure was given by Goel with regard to the 1982 Asian Games when, according to the MP, labourers from across the country came to Delhi. They were supposed to stay in holding zones and go back but never did. “Gradually slums began developing in Delhi. Since then, six lakh outsiders come every year and a majority of them are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,” Goel can be heard stating. This portion of his speech was misrepresented by India News. The BJP MP did not say that people from UP-Bihar should be banned from coming to Delhi but that a majority of the migrants living in Delhi are from these states.
As far as his statement regarding illegal colonies is concerned, Geol did not blame UP-Bihar residents for being solely responsible. “There are 40-50 lakh people who are living in unauthorised colonies but this isn’t their fault. Delhi hasn’t been developed in the past 50-60 years. Housing problems haven’t been solved…They were forced to build these colonies because the government did not provide amenities. I will not call them unauthorised colonies but self-made colonies,” Goel can be heard saying from 1:35 minutes onward in the video posted below.
A five-year-old misleading report by India News was circulated on social media, giving the impression that BJP MP Vijay Goel made derogatory remarks against people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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5th October 2019 / 5:30 pm / Last updated: 9th October 2019
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"author": "Jignesh Patel & Pooja Chaudhuri"
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Did Bombay Stock Exchange billboard read 'Dont Vote For Modi'? Satirical image goes viral - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
21st April 2019 / 3:37 pm
A photograph of the Bombay Stock Exchange has been circulated widely on multiple social media and messaging platforms, which shows the electronic billboard of the exchange displaying the text ‘DONT VOTE FOR MODI’.
Mumbai ke share bazaar ne bhi ab likh diya
Don’t vote for Modi
Zoom karo aur dekho
Posted by Deen aur Duniya on Thursday, April 18, 2019
The above post is by a Facebook page Deen aur Duniya, and has been shared a whopping 14000 times since it was posted on April 1. The page has over 480,000 followers. The same image with the identical message has been posted on some other pages as well. The image has been shared widely on WhatsApp. Several followers reached out to Alt News seeking confirmation about the veracity of the picture.
The picture of the Bombay Stock Exchange which has been circulating on social media is photoshopped. It was tweeted by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on April 14.
These photos are as real as Modiji’s promises… pic.twitter.com/zEBOUxyLKJ
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) April 14, 2019
Kamra had tweeted several photographs which were photoshopped with the words ‘Dont Vote for Modi’, in a dig at the Prime Minister and the ruling party. The photos were in the nature of sarcasm, as Kamra had tweeted them with the words “These photos are as real as Modiji’s promises…”. Some of the other motifs that Kamra had used included the recent image of the black hole, and a photograph of protests against the Simon Commission, of 1927 (posted below).
Kamra’s humour however has not gone down too well with the BSE, which has tweeted that it “reserves the right to take appropriate legal action”.
A fake morphed photo against a political party using BSE building has been shared by @kunalkamra88.BSE is extremely disappointed at unfortunate,unauthorized & illegal use of BSE buildg fr nefarious activities.BSE reserves right to take appropriate legal action agnst @kunalkamra88
— BSE India (@BSEIndia) April 19, 2019
In response, Kamra has clarified that the photograph was meant to be a joke.
This is the original tweet, Clearly a joke
~https://t.co/HDjU75bz4L
Sensex of humour is down by many points 😂😂😂
PS – Do they have WiFi in jail? https://t.co/KVO1xAiohW
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) April 19, 2019
The comparison of the original image vs the photoshopped one can be seen below.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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21st April 2019 / 3:37 pm
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Did 'bus full of Muslims from West Bengal' hoist Pakistani flag? - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
9th June 2018 / 5:56 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
“A bus full of Muslims from West Bengal ( Didi’s Raj ) reached Punjab ( Capt. Amarinder’s Raj) with a Pakistan flag hoisted on the bus. Just listen what the Punjab police did when they saw the Pakistan flag”. A video has gone viral on social media in the last few days with the aforementioned message. In this video, an elderly person is being abused. According to those who are abusing him, it is because he has hoisted a Pakistani flag on a bus.
See below a tourist bus came from West Bengal of ‘Didi’. It was full of ‘M’s’. A Pakistan flag was placed on the front.
When it reached Punjab, it was ‘suitably’ treated by the public there pic.twitter.com/d6yNuTlMjG
— नारदमुनि (@NaMuGC) June 3, 2018
Twitter account @ExSecular was among those who shared this video. This user is followed on Twitter by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The video is 1 minute, 35 seconds long. A green coloured flag can be seen hoisted on a bus. The elderly person seen in the video is greeted with filthy abuse and asked to take down the flag, which he then does. “Buddhe teri akal mari ja rahi hai hindustan mein reh ke kya kar raha hai yeh? Batao kyun lagaya Pakistan ka jhanda?” (You old man, are you out of your mind? Living in India and what are you doing? Why did you hoist the flag of Pakistan?- translated), the men can be heard telling the old man. The elderly man is then asked to step on the flag and chant ‘Pakistan murdabad’. The bus seen in the video has the vehicle registration number of West Bengal.
This video has been shared in large numbers by Facebook users. They have uploaded it on their individual profiles which suggests that the video has been circulating on WhatsApp and has subsequently found its way to Facebook. It has also been shared on Facebook groups and by many users on Twitter.
If one looks closely at the flag that was hoisted on the bus, and compares it with the flag of Pakistan, it is clear that the two are different. The flag hoisted on the bus for which the elderly man was abused, is NOT the flag of Pakistan. We have juxtaposed the two flags below for comparison.
As can be seen in the picture above, the national flag of Pakistan has a white patch on the left side. The flag shown in this video is a generic flag that is used as a religious symbol by the Muslim community in the subcontinent. Also, there is no text on the Pakistani flag, whereas the flag on the left has text embedded on it.
A video was uploaded on YouTube on March 20, 2018 in which this same bus has been shown being chased by some men in a car. The men in the car had shot this video, which was subsequently uploaded. This video is then followed by the video that is now viral on social media. The video of the chase has been posted below. It is from Haryana and not from Punjab as claimed. Lallantop had published an article on March 21, 2018 about the truth of this video.
Earlier as well, such instances have been reported wherein Pakistani flags were allegedly raised. For example, on the eve of Karnataka election when it was alleged that the Pakistani flag was waved at a rally by the Congress party, or the allegation that the flag of Pakistan was raised at a rally in the aftermath of the Bhima-Koregaon incident in January. In each of these instances, it was found that the flags raised were not Pakistani flags.
In recent times, it has been observed that nationalism is being used as a key political tool to polarise citizens. The confusion due to the similarities between the Pakistani flag and the banner used by Muslims in the subcontinent has been used to the hilt by anti-social elements, and has been instrumental in creating a climate of intimidation, such as this incident of an elderly man being abused, bullied and threatened, the video of which has been online for over two months.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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9th June 2018 / 5:56 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
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723 |
Did Congress 'disrespect' saffron at Udaipur conclave? Misleading image viral - Alt News
Archit
16th May 2022 / 7:05 pm
Congress party’s three-day conclave, Chintan Shivir, began in Udaipur on May 14. It was held to strategise about the next round of assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On the same day, several social media users shared an image from the event and alleged that the Congress party promoted the colours of the Pakistani national flag by installing green and white cloth on the roof of the tent and saffron-coloured carpets on the floor.
Ambuj Bharadwaj, a journalist at RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya, wrote, “Pakistani national flag’s both colours are above bhagwa colour.”
ऊपर पाकिस्तान के झंडे का दोनों रंग और नीचे भगवा रंग!
ये राजस्थान के उदयपुर में चल रहे कांग्रेस पार्टी के चिंतन शिविर की तस्वीर है !! pic.twitter.com/ErpmSfzoOI
— Ambuj Bharadwaj (@Ambuj_IND) May 14, 2022
BJP Delhi’s spokesperson Anuja Kapur quote-tweeted Bharadwaj’s tweet. (Archived link)
ऊपर पाकिस्तानी रंग और नीचे भगवा , कांग्रेस शिविर की सच्चाई https://t.co/VfNcr0K3fN
— Anuja Kapur (@anujakapurindia) May 14, 2022
Several pro-BJP Facebook accounts have made this claim as well, including BJP politician Virendra Pal.
The viral image shows Congress leaders sitting in a roundtable setting. They are sitting underneath a tent set up. The colours visible in the viral image are the roof (green and white), backdrop and seating arrangement (white), and carpet (saffron).
On May 14, Congress tweeted several images and video from the same conclave. One of the tweets includes the viral image besides three other images. The fourth image shows the entire roof of the tent, which includes all three colours of the Indian flag.
Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi presides over a meeting of AICC General Sectaries, In-charges, PCC Presidents & CLPs. pic.twitter.com/f36hChOv85
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 14, 2022
A comparison between the viral image and another image by Congress shows the identical elements (in number stamps) and the presence of saffron roof shade in the latter (highlighted using an arrow).
BJP members and supporters, therefore, falsely claimed that Congress disrespected the colour saffron (associated with Hinduism) and installed a tent that comprised the colours of Pakistan’s national flag.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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16th May 2022 / 7:05 pm
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724 |
Did Congress govt in Rajasthan object to Saraswati temples in schools? No, BJP leaders mislead - Alt News
Kalim Ahmed
27th April 2022 / 4:28 pm
A screenshot of a report by Dainik Bhaskar that says, “शिक्षा विभाग ने मांगी जानकारी – स्कूलों में सरस्वती मंदिर किस आदेश से बनाया” (Education Department seeks information – under which order were Saraswati temples built in schools) was shared by BJP leader Rajkumar Thukral on Facebook stating that a “Tuglaki” order was passed by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s government in Rajasthan.
He wrote that after the process of removing temples from police stations, the Congress government in the state has started questioning the presence of Saraswati temples in schools. He further accused Congress of appeasing a “certain community”.
Rajasthan BJP MLA, Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary, has also shared the clipping on Facebook with the claim that the Gehlot-led Congress government has an objection to the existence of temples of the Hindu deity Saraswati in schools.
On Twitter, multiple users have amplified similar claims.
This clipping is being shared at a time when both BJP and Congress have accused each other of razing a 300-year-old temple of Hindu deity Shiva in Rajasthan’s Alwar. Rajasthan BJP unit claimed that the demolition was the Gehlot government’s ‘revenge’ for the drive undertaken recently in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri. It must be noted that the demolition in Alwar took place at least a week prior to the Jahangirpuri drive.
Removal of temples in police stations
According to a report published in The Hindu on October 2021, Additional Director General of Police (Police Housing), A. Ponnuchami, stated in a circular that the Rajasthan Religious Places and Buildings Act, 1954, disallowed the religious use of public places. This circular was issued due to a rise in the trend of the construction of places of worship in police stations with public participation.
Speaking to The Times of India, Ponnuchami said that they had received complaints about shrines being constructed inside police buildings through public participation hence, the order was a reminder to all senior officials to strictly follow the law. The police also clarified that the order will not impact existing structures.
Alt News reached out to DGP M. L. Lather who told us this was an old order passed in 2021. He further reiterated that as per the Rajasthan Religious Places and Buildings Act, 1954, no religious construction can be carried out in public spaces without prior permission. This applies to religious structures of all religions.
Hence, the claim that the government ordered the removal of temples from police stations in Rajasthan is misleading. The circular was issued by the ADGP to remind senior police officials that the religious use of public places is illegal. Moreover, the order did not apply to existing structures inside police stations.
Temples of Hindu deity Saraswati in schools
It is important to note that the Dainik Bhaskar clipping shared by BJP leaders has a subheading that clearly says that the circular issued by the Bhilwara Chief District Education Officer (CDEO) was based on a request filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The article does not state that the government has objected to the presence of Saraswati temples in schools but sought information regarding the same after an RTI request was filed by a private individual.
We performed a keyword search and came across a news report that said one Motilal Singhania had sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 regarding the number of Saraswati idols installed in schools on February 14 in Bhilwara. This RTI was filed with the Bhilwara Chief District Education Officer (CDEO). Based on Singhania’s RTI, on March 22, the CDEO issued a letter to all Chief Block Education Officers (CBEO) of the district seeking information on the matter. A copy of the circular issued by the CDEO is provided in this report. It is also available on Twitter.
Alt News contacted Bhilwara CDEO Brahma Ram Choudhary who confirmed that based on the RTI, a circular was issued on March 22. He said, “We did not have data on Saraswati idols installed in schools so a circular was issued. These idols are not installed as per government orders, but the installation is based on suggestions that the school committees receive. It is up to them [the committee] to decide whether to accept the suggestions or not. There is no government involvement in the matter.”
Choudhary added, “Our departments did not have data on the matter therefore, on April 23, we issued a reply to the RTI stating the same. We also dismissed the previously issued circular [seeking information from CBEOs] the same day.”
Below we have attached a copy of the response provided to the RTI request as well the order dismissing the circular issued on March 22.
Hence, a circular by the CDEO of Bhilwara issued to block officers based on an RTI request was falsely shared by BJP leaders as the Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan has raised an objection to the presence of Saraswati temples in schools.
Kalim is a journalist with a keen interest in tech, misinformation, culture, etc
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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27th April 2022 / 4:28 pm
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"author": "Kalim Ahmed"
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Did Congress make citizens take oath against voting for BJP? Mischievously clipped video viral - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
4th October 2018 / 6:00 pm / Last updated: 5th October 2018
A video viral on social media is being circulated with the narrative that Congress made people take a pledge to not vote for the BJP. From a Twitter handle Ultimate Dangerous (@KING_OF_TROLL_) the video was shared on October 3 at 6:11 pm and has since received 200 retweets.
dirty politics by congress, they are making people to promise to not vote BJP, shameless creatures. pic.twitter.com/M7b8VC5mgC
— Ultimate dangerous (@KING_OF_TROLL_) October 3, 2018
BJP supporter Shubharastha also retweeted the video with the caption – “Looks like Hitlers’ pledge! Bloody Fascists! Anti Democracy Emergency Fame Fascists! Die Congress!” Her tweet was liked over 800 times and was retweeted nearly 500 times.
Looks like Hitlers’ pledge! Bloody Fascists! Anti Democracy Emergency Fame Fascists! Die Congress! @INCIndia doesn’t deserve survival in a democracy. Crying shame on our free political culture! https://t.co/SkXch8oLwN
— Shubhrastha (@Shubhrastha) October 3, 2018
The video has been shared by individual users on Facebook as well. It shows a group of youth taking a pledge saying – “I will not vote for Bharatiya Janata Party in the elections. I will also not provide any support to any worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party. I pledge that I will make at least three people take this oath. I will also spread awareness about the corruption and injustice of the Bharatiya Janata Party to the people of my village and my district.”
Alt News found that the video did not pertain to a recent event and was being shared with a false narrative. Furthermore, its first few seconds were clipped. In the original video, which was reported by several media outlets, the youth can be heard saying, “Till online examinations are not closed, I will not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party…”
#WATCH Teachers of Vijaylaxmi Industrial Training Institute in Itarsi ask students to take pledge not to vote for BJP in the upcoming elections & support it in any manner until it stops online examinations #MadhyaPradesh (26.01.18) pic.twitter.com/PY3S721Mbq
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018
The identical video viral on social media does not include the ‘online examination’ part to veil the fact that these were students protesting for a cause. The incident took place on January 26, 2018, Republic Day, in Vijaylaxmi Industrial Training Institute, Itarsi ahead of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly Elections. The students were protesting online examinations, demanding that they are scrapped. The Times of India, Outlook, India Today, NDTV, News18, Dainik Jagran, Firstpost, Punjab Kesari and The Wire were among the many media outlets that had reported the incident. None of these reports mentions the Congress’ involvement in the incident.
A subsequent article published by Dainik Bhaskar in February reported that the college was sent a notice for removal of accreditation by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The reason cited by the government was that the institute’s facilities were not at par with the necessary parameters. The Dainik Bhaskar report further mentioned that the decision to derecognise the college was taken after a complaint was filed by BJP state spokesperson Rahul Kothari.
The video of an unrelated, old incident was clipped to facilitate the creation of a false narrative. With multiple state elections approaching there will be a spike in such motivated propaganda, as it has been observed in the past. Social media users are advised to always be alert.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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4th October 2018 / 6:00 pm / Last updated: 5th October 2018
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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726 |
Did 'Gaganjot' replace 'Shoaib'? Airtel's response to bigoted customer request causes social media storm - Alt News
Alt News Desk
19th June 2018 / 5:12 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
“Dear Shohaib, as you’re a Muslim and I have no faith in your working ethics because Kuran may have different version for customer service, thus requesting you to assign a Hindu representative for my request. Thanks”. This statement was tweeted by an Airtel user who refused to be served by a Muslim employee after making insulting and prejudiced statements about his religion. What should an organization do in such a situation? What should its policy be? Should it stand by its employee when he faces discrimination because of his religion? Should it make a strong statement that such behavior towards its employees is unacceptable? It seemed that Airtel complied with the request and a ‘Gaganjot’ took over the case, replacing ‘Shohaib’.
Airtel’s response caused huge outrage on social media. Faced with a backlash from angry netizens, it sought to stem the damage. The customer care team sent out a follow-up response from a team leader to the customer stating “we absolutely do not differentiate between customers, employees and partners on the basis of caste or religion. We would urge you to do the same.” It may be noted that Airtel responded to this controversy several hours after it was pointed out on social media.
Dear Pooja, at Airtel, we absolutely do not differentiate between customers, employees and partners on the basis of caste or religion. We would urge you to do the same. Both Shoaib and Gaganjot are part of our customer resolution team. (cont) https://t.co/lbwhRE95vm
— Bharti Airtel India (@Airtel_Presence) June 18, 2018
A report by The Hindu has quoted the spokesperson of the company who said, “At Airtel, we do not differentiate between customers or our employees/partners on the basis of caste or religion. If a customer contacts us again for an ongoing service issue, then the first available service executive responds in the interest of time. We request everyone not to misinterpret and give it unnecessary religious colour. The said customer has been responded to.”
The social media user in question, Pooja Singh (@pooja303singh) describes herself as a management professional who is a “Proud Indian/ Proud Hindu/ Nation First/ Love our army”. As is the case with many such “proud nationalist” profiles, this user too is followed on Twitter by prominent leaders of the ruling party.
Just to add this girl is followed by delhi BJP mp and MLA and Bagga. ☺☺ pic.twitter.com/pYdJ1Z4JE1
— Rahul Aggarwal (@imRahulAggarwal) June 18, 2018
Singh has since retweeted several tweets of like minded people who have come out in her support. She has also posted a screenshot of selected responses to her tweet alleging abuse.
Dear Abusers,
I simply made a request to change representative from Muslim to Hindu as my experience in past was not good and that’s my right as well. After that, the kind of abuse I’m facing are beyond imagination and that in itself PROVES that I was right at very first place🙏 pic.twitter.com/lcCH2QpKo1
— Pooja Singh 🇮🇳 (@pooja303singh) June 18, 2018
The Airtel incident comes on the heels of a similar incident involving Ola cabs. When a customer canceled his booking because the driver was a Muslim, Ola’s response to him won it many accolades.
Ola, like our country, is a secular platform, and we don’t discriminate our driver partners or customers basis their caste, religion, gender or creed. We urge all our customers and driver partners to treat each other with respect at all times.
— Ola (@Olacabs) April 22, 2018
Both the responses of Ola Cabs and Airtel will go down as management case studies on how to handle racial / religious abuse by customers. The values that a brand stands for are demonstrated not by lofty statements on a ‘Vision Document’ but by its responses in real-time to the challenging situations it faces.
Follow @free_thinker
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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19th June 2018 / 5:12 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2018
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Did Germany send £130 billion bill to China for 'coronavirus damages'? - Alt News
Archit
22nd April 2020 / 2:06 pm / Last updated: 22nd April 2020
Express.co.uk, the digital arm of the UK-based Daily Express and Sunday Express, published a report with a controversial headline which read “Germany sends China £130billion bill for ‘coronavirus damages’ – sparks fury in Beijing”. The report was published on April 20.
Since then several media outlets published a report with a similar headline including – IIndia TV News, The Outlook, Orissa Post, Amar Ujala, Punjab Kesari and The Economic Times. The Outlook and The Economic Times have attributed the report to news wire agency IANS.
Ashutosh Muglikar (archive link), who writes for right-wing propaganda website OpIndia and Rohit Gandhi (archive link), editor-in-chief at Democracy News Live, also shared the report by The Express on April 20. Muglikar’s tweet was retweeted over 800 times.
It turned out that the headline by The Express was grossly misleading. The first line of the article reads, “Germany has sparked outrage in China after a Bild, the tabloid newspaper in the country, put together a £130bn invoice that Beijing “owes” Berlin following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.” Therefore, the bill was not generated by Germany but by a tabloid newspaper in Germany.
More than 25-hours later, The Express updated the erroneous headline was to “China furious as leading German newspaper writes out £130BN bill for coronavirus damages”. It is pertinent to note that the article was the most read article in the ‘world’ category, as per the website.
Alt News performed a keyword search – Bild China Rechnung (German for invoice) on Google – a found Thoibao, a Vietnamese blog published an article which included a screenshot (attached below) from Bild’s report that generated the invoice for China. On April 15, Bild published an article with the same headline as seen in the screenshot below – ‘Was China uns jetzt schon schuldet (Translates to What China already owes us)’.
On April 18, Germany-based news channel DW, published a YouTube report on Bild’s report showcasing the itemised invoice. According to the report, the article was published on April 15 (Wednesday).
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QUdrYyftdY?start=15]
DW reported some of the items on the invoice included — £24 billion loss of revenue in tourism, £7.2 billion loss of revenue to the film industry, £1 million per hour loss faced by German airline Lufthansa and £50 billion loss for small businesses.
Moreover, Full Fact, a UK-based fact-checking website, reported on April 20 that the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that it is quite illusory to demand money from China in an interview with Bild.
On April 15, the Chinese embassy in Berlin responded to the media allegations in the form of an open letter to Bild‘s editor in chief Julian Reichelt. Tao Lili, the spokeswoman for the Chinese embassy in Germany, addressed two allegations – coronavirus spread because Chinese leadership suppressed important information for weeks and China is legally responsible for the economic consequences.
In order to establish that China didn’t hide information, Lili shared a link by the World Health Organisation which shows the time of important events with respect to coronavirus. Lili also questioned journalistic due diligence and accused Bild of fueling nationalism, prejudice and xenophobia.
Two days later Reichelt responded to Lili’s open letter in a tongue-in-cheek 3-minute video. In the video, he questioned China’s domestic policies like surveillance and censorship. One of the points he made was, “You shut down every newspaper and website that is critical of your rule, but not the stalls where bat soup is sold. You are not only monitoring your people, but you are also endangering them – and with them, the rest of the world.”
China‘s embassy in Berlin wrote me an open letter because they weren‘t too happy with our Corona coverage. I responded.
Posted by Julian Reichelt on Saturday, April 18, 2020
Therefore, several Indian media outlets led by UK-based The Express carried a misleading report which implied that Germany is seeking compensation from China for Covid-19. While the truth was that German tabloid Bild had published an opinion piece which included an itemised bill charging China for the damages due to coronavirus.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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22nd April 2020 / 2:06 pm / Last updated: 22nd April 2020
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Did government officials in Gujarat pledge to boycott Muslim-owned shops? - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
4th November 2018 / 5:17 pm / Last updated: 19th March 2019
A video of a group of people taking an oath to boycott shops owned by Muslims is circulating on social media. In the video, people can be heard saying in Gujarati, “હું હનુમાનજી મહારાજની સૂક્ષ્મ હાજરીમાં શપથ ગ્રહણ કરું છું કે આજથી મુસ્લિમ સમાજની એક પણ દુકાનેથી કોઈપણ ચીજવસ્તુની ખરીદી નહીં કરું ખરીદી નહીં કરું ખરીદી નહીં કરું (In the presence of Hanuman Maharaj, I take an oath that starting today, I won’t buy any goods from shops owned by members of the Muslim community. -translated)
CJ Werleman, who according to his Twitter bio is a columnist with Middle East Eye, tweeted the video suggesting that group of people are government officials.
In a later tweet, Werleman added a clarification that the subjects in the video are members of the BJP.
This video and accompanying text was circulated by other social media users. Another Facebook Page, Musalmano Jaago aur Jagaao had shared this video with a message, “Gujrat main gujraati log kasam kharahe hai KE woh log aaj se musalmaan ki dukaan see maal nahi kharidenge.” It has been viewed more than 6,000 times.
We found a Facebook post condemning the boycott of Muslim shops which was posted by Muslim Ekta Manch Tasnim. In this post, they identify the members of the group as belonging to Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The post includes a formal letter written on the letter head of Muslim Ekta Manch, Gujarat. In the letter, Bhavnagar Superintendent of Police was requested to probe and take necessary actions.
હાલ સોશિયલ મિડીયામા ફરી રહેલા મુસ્લિમ સમાજ ના બહીષ્કાર ની વાત કરતા તળાજા ના વિવાદાસ્પદ વિડીયો બાબતે આજે મુસ્લિમ એકતા મંચ…
Posted by Muslim Ekta Munch Tasnim on Thursday, 1 November 2018
In conversation with Alt News, Imtiyaz Pathan, convener of the Muslim Ekta Manch said, “I had spoken to our friends in Bhavnagar. According to them, the man leading the group is Kirit Mistry, a VHP leader from Bhavnagar. Our members (Muslim Ekta Manch) have also identified a few more people in the group. I have submitted this letter to the Bhavnagar SP Pravin Mal, proposing it to be taken as a complaint and register an FIR on it.”
Confirming this, Mustufa K Kachaliya, chairman of the Congress Bhavnagar District Minority Department said, “The group includes people who are associated with Bharatiya Janata Party, Bajrang Dal, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The man leading the oath is a VHP member named Kirit Mistry.”
Furthermore, an article published by Sandesh Bhavnagar edition on November 2, 2018 reported, ” Bhavnagar SP Pravin said that after the murder of Mahuva VHP president, a rally under the leadership of VHP by Bhavnagar VHP leader Kirit Mistry was organized. An application letter was given to the Talaja Mamlatdar and then people present in the rally took an oath to not buy any item from a shop owned by a Muslim. Hence asking people to economically boycott the Muslim traders.”
Alt News also contacted the Bhavnagar SP Pravin Mal to inquire about this incident. He said, “They have submitted an application and on basis of which DySP Mahuva is probing the matter. Prima facie, these are not the government officials according to the application.” Police are investigating the matter further.
Werleman’s initial claim about members of Indian Government participating in the boycott is untrue. However, his clarification that they were BJP members is closer to reality as the group of people consisted members of BJP, and VHP all of whom are part of the larger Sangh Parivar.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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4th November 2018 / 5:17 pm / Last updated: 19th March 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/did-government-officials-in-gujarat-pledge-to-boycott-muslim-owned-shops/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Did gun toting men force people to participate in TMC's mega rally? No, its an old India Today broadcast - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
23rd January 2019 / 5:43 pm / Last updated: 23rd January 2019
A video of an India Today broadcast showing masked men waving guns at people has gone viral on social media. Masked men in the video can be seen brandishing guns and directing a crowd. “This is how people were brought into the mahagatbandhan rally in Kolkata. Imagine the government in their hands tomorrow”, reads the message circulated along with the video posted by a Facebook page भारत: An Untold Story. It has been viewed close to 3000 times from the page alone.
Several other individual users have shared this on Facebook and Twitter.
Twitter users, Pinky Sudhir Mishra and @ExSecular have tweeted the video with an identical narrative. These two tweets have garnered close to 1500 retweets combined. @ExSecular is followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter.
Alt News did a Google search with keywords, “Masked men West Bengal India Today”, and found a India Today broadcast from April, 2014. According to the broadcast, the masked man in the video were brandishing guns at the local during the last day of filing nominations for Panchayat election in Bankura district of West Bengal.
Watch how masked men openly brandish guns to intimidate locals in Bankura district on the last day of filing nomination papers for #Bengal panchayat elections. #ReporterDiary pic.twitter.com/sVcBh36MpC
— India Today (@IndiaToday) April 23, 2018
Moreover, an article published by India Today on April 24, 2018 also stated, “The day-long extension for filing nominations for West Bengal panchayat election was once again marred by violence. One person was killed and several others were injured in a clash that erupted in various districts between ruling TMC and opposition members.” This claim was earlier fact-checked by Times of India.
In conclusion, the video pertains to the violence that broke out before the West Bengal Panchayat elections in April, 2018 and the claim that the masked men were threatening people to participate in the Opposition’s United rally is false. Earlier as well, misinformation around the United India rally was circulated on social media with the false claim that Mamata Banerjee was exclusively promoting Islam and Urdu at the rally. A doctored video of Arvind Kejriwal’s speech was also circulated which portrayed him stating that the duo of Modi and Amit Shah will ruin Pakistan, if voted back to power.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
In the wake of the alleged murder of Shraddha Walkar by his partner Aftab Amin…
The video of a group of people stopping an e-rickshaw with BJP flags attached to…
Last week during the G20 summit in Bali, world leaders were informed of a missile…
Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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23rd January 2019 / 5:43 pm / Last updated: 23rd January 2019
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Did IIT Varanasi students ditch black gowns in favour of traditional attire at convocation? - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
16th May 2019 / 6:42 pm
“Students from IIT Varanasi & other Universities discarded traditional European black gown cap and chose truly Indian attire for the Convocation Ceremony”, reads the text inscribed above an image which has been shared more than 46,000 times on Facebook. A photo of students dressed in traditional attire was shared by a Facebook page India 360 with the narrative that students are shedding the colonial relic of black gowns worn at the time of graduation.
The same image was viral in 2018 and is still being shared by several individuals on Twitter and Facebook.
Earlier in 2017, the same photograph was quote-tweeted by academician Madhu Purnima Kishwar and Hindutva ideologue Rajiv Malhotra as of IIT BHU students ditching the colonial practice.
Alt News found that the photograph of men dressed in traditional clothes pertains to the convocation of International Institute of Information and Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad and NOT IIT Varanasi. This picture was taken during the institute’s 15th annual convocation in 2016.
A saga ends. Another begins!
Pictures from the 15th annual convocation of IIIT Hyderabad on 13th August, 2016. pic.twitter.com/RmkAvoZq7y
— IIIT Hyderabad (@iiit_hyderabad) August 14, 2016
Furthermore, the claim about students forsaking the colonial ritual of dressing up in black gowns at the graduation ceremony is also untrue, because the students of IIIT-Hyderabad have been sporting traditional dress at convocations at least since 2011. A photo of the 2013 convocation can be seen below, for instance.
Alt News found a notice on the official website of the institute from 2012. It states, “Dress Code: The trend that has been set last year will continue. We are going to have the dress code that suits our ethos. The following is the dress code for convocation 2012:”
From the above, it is likely that the college itself has institutionalized this trend, and is not the initiative of students as claimed on social media. Insofar as the claim that this was done in order to discard a colonial relic, there are no media reports regarding the same, and neither has it been mentioned in the notice issued by the institute, which stresses merely on traditional ethos.
It may be noted that IIT-BHU students had ditched the old colonial black gown and cap in favour of traditional attire at the graduation ceremony in 2013.
In conclusion, an old photograph of a convocation of an institute was shared with a narrative that the students ditched the colonial practice of wearing gowns at the ceremony.
Jignesh is a writer and researcher at Alt News. He has a knack for visual investigation with a major interest in fact-checking videos and images. He has completed his Masters in Journalism from Gujarat University.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
In the wake of the alleged murder of Shraddha Walkar by his partner Aftab Amin…
The video of a group of people stopping an e-rickshaw with BJP flags attached to…
Last week during the G20 summit in Bali, world leaders were informed of a missile…
Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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16th May 2019 / 6:42 pm
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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731 |
Viral: Fake news about INC K'taka candidate threatening ‘unending bloodshed of Hindus’ if voted to power - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
3rd May 2018 / 4:30 pm / Last updated: 11th July 2018
‘Bangalore Congress candidate (chamarajpet) Zameer Ahmed promises unending bloodshed of Hindus if Congress is voted to power and when he becomes minister’. This provocative message accompanies a video that is currently circulating widely on social media. In the video, Congress candidate for the Karnataka assembly election Zameer Ahmed Khan is seen addressing citizens in Urdu on his campaign trail. The video along with this message was first posted on Twitter by a user Kamal Lochan Mahanta. Mahanta according to his Twitter profile is a self-proclaimed Hindu nationalist residing in Chicago who is ‘blessed to be followed by PM @narendramodi’.
Although Mahanta later deleted the video, Alt News managed to retrieve a copy of the same, which has been posted below.
As can be seen and heard in the video posted above from 00:51 to 1:00, Zameer Ahmed Khan is saying, “लिखवा लेना, मेरे को मिनिस्टर बनाया तो 5 साल के अन्दर ऐसे ऐसे कारनामे करके दिखाऊंगा गिनीज रिकॉर्ड में नाम आएगा” (Get it in writing, if I am made a minister, in five years I will do such work that my name will appear in the Guinness record. (approximate translation). Instead, what is being claimed is that the Congress candidate is promising bloodshed of Hindus if Congress comes to power and he becomes a minister.
This video with the accompanying false claim was shared by right-wing users on Twitter. It has also been circulated widely on Facebook. The page PMO India: Report Card which has a massive following of over 1.5 million users too had posted this video, which was later deleted. The Twitter handle of PMO India: Report Card is followed by senior office bearers and BJP members like Piyush Goyal, Maheish Girri, Sambit Patra, Radha Mohan Singh, Giriraj Singh, Amit Malviya among others.
We’re posting two videos, especially for people of Karnataka. All of you must see and must share it.
Video 1: Zameer Ahmed promises unending bloodshed of Hindus in Karnataka if Congress is voted to power… https://t.co/LQ0gBi3MDX
— PMOIndia-ReportCard (@PMOIndia_RC) May 2, 2018
On Facebook, many individual users have shared the video widely with angry messages.
Social media users pointed out that the information is fake and tagged the police commissioner of Bengaluru and Bengaluru City police seeking action.
I hope @BlrCityPolice and @CPBlr has noted this down. Fake information meant to instigate communal violence. Here’s the offending tweet pic.twitter.com/D4vpTUqmaG
— Yeh Log ! (@yehlog) May 2, 2018
Social media is a crucial battle ground for political parties as they look to sway potential voters in their favour. The upcoming assembly election in Karnataka is perceived as a critical event, the outcome of which will set the course for the 2019 general election. The run up to this election has witnessed a whirlwind of misinformation/disinformation over the past few months (1, 2, 3, 4). Disturbingly, much of the narrative has focused on communal division. Alt News will keep tracking such misinformation on social media.
Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.
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Recently, several prominent BJP leaders claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intervened to stop…
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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3rd May 2018 / 4:30 pm / Last updated: 11th July 2018
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/did-inc-ktaka-candidate-promise-unending-bloodshed-of-hindus-if-voted-to-power/",
"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
}
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732 |
Video from 2019 shared with false claim that army men raised anti-BJP slogans - Alt News
Kinjal
9th September 2021 / 5:39 pm
A 15-second video of what appear to be army officers shouting violent slogans has been circulating on social media platforms. Users are sharing the footage and claiming that army personnel was raising anti-BJP and anti-RSS slogans. Facebook user Priya Banga shared the visuals with the same claim. (Archive link)
ਮੋਦੀ ਨੇ ਤਾ ਆਰਮੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਧਰਨੇ ਲਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਲਾ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਹੋਇਆ ਕਰੋ ਸ਼ੈਅਰ
Posted by Priya Banga on Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Another Facebook user posted this video and accompanying claim.
ਹੁਣ ਤਾਂ ਫੌਜੀ ਵੀ ,ਬੀ ਜੇ ਪੀ ,ਤੇ ,RSS, ਦੇ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਾ ਗੲੇ,fouji vi aage BJP and R S S de virodh vich
ਹੁਣ ਤਾਂ ਫੌਜੀ ਵੀ ,ਬੀ ਜੇ ਪੀ ,ਤੇ ,RSS, ਦੇ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਆ ਗੈ,fouji vi aage BJP and R S S de virodh vich
Posted by Jagdish Warwal on Friday, June 18, 2021
Several other users have also been sharing the video on the platform.
Alt News performed a keyword search and came across a PIB fact-check article dated February 10, 2020. It states that no anti-BJP slogans were raised at the gathering in question and also contains a TikTok video. Alt News was able to access the Tik Tok video using TOR browser. There were no anti-BJP or anti-RSS slogans raised at the rally. In fact, the people donning army uniforms were chanting, “देश के गद्दारों को गोली मारों ** को, जो नहीं है साथ में चूड़ी पहनो हाथ में.” (Those who are traitors to the nation, shoot them dead. Those who don’t stand with us put bangles on your wrist.) You can watch the TikTok video below.
Alt News performed another keyword search which led us to a few photos posted on Facebook. A closer look confirmed that the person seen in these images is also seen in the viral video wearing the Indian flag around his shoulders. These photos were posted on Facebook by user Vishal Chauhan on February 16, 2019.
Both the TikTok video and the picture found on Facebook contain:
1) The same man wrapped in the Indian flag
2) People in the background wearing yellow garlands around their necks
We then looked through Vishal Chauhan’s Facebook timeline and found a similar video posted on February 16, 2019. Here too, the crowd was raising the same slogans as the Tik Tok video, “जो नहीं है साथ में चूड़ी पहनो हाथ में.” (Those who don’t stand with us put bangles on your wrist.)
पुलवामा (कश्मीर ) मे आतंकी हमले के दौरान हमने अपने CRPF देश के वीर बहादुर बेटो को हमने खोया है जिसके कारण पूरा देश रो रहा हे और चिल्ला -चिल्ला कर कह रहा हे “हमे निंदा नही चाहिए एक भी आतंकी जिंदा नही चाहिए,
देश के गद्दारो को गोली मारो एक भी गद्दार और आतंकी जिंदा बचना नही चाहिए।
“देश के वीरो को नमन करेंगे खुन का बदला खुन से लेंगे,
“बहुत हुआ अब नही सहेंगे इस पूरे आतंकवाद और आतंकियो को साफया करके रहेंगे,
वीर शहीद अमर रहे।
वीर शहिद अमर रहे।
वीर शहीद अमर रहे।
वीर शहीद अमर रहे।
जय हिन्द जय भारत।
INDIAN BOY
Posted by Chauhan Chauhan Vishal on Saturday, February 16, 2019
Boomlive spoke to Chauhan regarding this video. He was quoted as saying that the gathering was held in Haridwar in honour of the Pulwama martyrs. “No one raised any anti-BJP or anti-RSS slogans in the rally. I was part of it. It was organised in Haridwar between the Bhumanand Hospital and Har Ki Pauri,” he said.
A video of a Haridwar rally commemorating Indian soldiers martyred in Pulwama in 2019 was edited to falsely claim that army personnel was raising anti-BJP and anti-RSS slogans.
Kinjal Parmar holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. However, her keen interest in journalism, drove her to pursue journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. At Alt News since 2019, she focuses on authentication of information which includes visual verification, media misreports, examining mis/disinformation across social media. She is the lead video producer at Alt News and manages social media accounts for the organization.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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9th September 2021 / 5:39 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/did-indian-army-took-a-rally-against-bjp-and-rss-no-video-viral-with-false-claim/",
"author": "Kinjal"
}
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733 |
Did Indian Coast Guard intercept boats with narcotics and weapons headed to Kerala? - Alt News
Archit
30th March 2021 / 6:05 pm / Last updated: 28th June 2021
A video has been shared on social media with the claim that drugs worth Rs 3,000 and arms and ammunition were seized in Minicoy Islands in Lakshadweep when they were being illegally shipped to Kerala.
3000 crore worth of drugs, 4 AK47 rifles and a thousand rounds of ammunition were seized from Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep.
Doesn’t the news seem simple? But what main stream media and Kerala Govt forgot to mention is it was caught while they were illegally shipped to Kerala! pic.twitter.com/Dl6MkBQPqR
— Usha (@mauna_adiga) June 22, 2021
Alt News has received verification requests for the claim on its WhatsApp helpline number (+91 76000 11160).
The claim was also widespread earlier in March ahead of assembly elections in Kerala. On March 18, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted three Sri Lankan fishing boats near Lakshadweep islands and seized a huge cache of drugs and weapons. A week later several social media users claimed that the boats were trying to smuggle illegal goods into Kerala and shared an image of stacks of drugs.
Drugs worth 3000cr, machine guns and 1000 bullets were caught when tried to smuggle to Kerala frm Lakshadweep.
You heard all the numbers right. But its not a news in Kerala as all main stream media didnt shown it. They hided the news to stop people frm knowing it. Secular Kerala. pic.twitter.com/BMmjMDTrNo
— Pratheesh Viswanath (@pratheesh_Hind) March 26, 2021
A similar claim was made by @meelogsin.
Coastguard apprehended drugs worth 3000cr, machine guns and 1000 bullets being smuggled into Kerala frm Lakshadweep. But no media coverage by the sickulars in Kerala?!?
— Meelogsin (@meelogsin) March 26, 2021
Several Facebook users made this claim as well. Alt News had also received multiple requests to verify this on WhatsApp.
Image and video verification
The image shared along with the viral claim was published in a 2020 Al Jazeera report. As per the story, the image shows several 1 kg packages of drugs busted by Marshall Islands police. The Marshall Islands are a chain of volcanic islands and coral atolls in the central Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and the Philippines.
The total stockpile weighed 649 kg and its worth was estimated to be about $80m. As per Al Jazeera, this was the nation’s largest-ever haul of cocaine. The drugs washed up on Ailuk atoll after drifting on the high seas in an abandoned boat.
The video currently viral indeed pertains to the drug bust in Minicoy Islands. The video was uploaded by Kanak News in March however, the channel hasn’t claimed that the boats were ‘headed’ to Kerala.
Indian Coast Guard’s press release
On March 18, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) tweeted that three boats were intercepted off Minicoy islands carrying five AK-47 rifles with 1,000 live rounds and 300 kg of heroin. It further said that the boats are being escorted to the nearest port for further joint investigation.
In a swift sea-air coordinated operation,#ICG intercepted 03 suspected boats off #Minicoy Island carrying 05 AK-47 rifles with 1000 live rounds and 300 Kg of Heroin. Boats being escorted to nearest port for further joint investigation.@DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) March 18, 2021
ICG also issued a press note on the interception which has no mention of the destination of the boats. Public Relations Officer ICG Commandant Anoop Kumar told Alt News, “The destination of these boats cannot be shared until the investigation is completed.”
The press note identified the boats as Sri Lankan Fishing Boat Ravihansi. “All the three boats along with 19 crew escorted to Vizhinjam, Kerala for a further joint investigation,” it stated.
This was the second major anti-drug trafficking operation undertaken by ICG on the west coast of India within a fortnight. On March 5, 2021, Sri Lankan boat Akarsha Duwa with six crew was intercepted by ICG off Minicoy Island. The Hindu reported that Akarsha Duwa and two other Sri Lankan boats apprehended on March 5 were also brought to Vizhinjam for further investigation. The Coast Guard Station at Vizhinjam is one of the three stations in Kochi.
Several social media users made a baseless claim that the Indian Coast Guard apprehended drugs and weapons on boats en route to Kerala. The claim was made after ICG apprehended narcotics from Sri Lankan fishing boats on March 18. ICG did not state that the boats were headed to Kerala but that the matter will be investigated in Vizhinjam where a Coast Guard Station located.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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30th March 2021 / 6:05 pm / Last updated: 28th June 2021
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/did-indian-coast-guard-intercept-boats-with-narcotics-and-weapons-headed-to-kerala/",
"author": "Archit"
}
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