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Media misreports bike submerged in a gutter in Jalna as Chembur, Mumbai - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
9th July 2019 / 4:29 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2019
Mumbai is yet again in the news as heavy rainfall and poor drainage have left parts of the city paralysed. At least 35 citizens have reportedly died in rain-related incidents, with the BMC receiving falk over its repeated inability to contain the situation every year. A video has been shared on social media with claims suggesting that it shows a motorcycle swallowed by a manhole in Chembur, Mumbai.
#MumbaiRain Gaping manhole swallows a bike in Chembur!#MumbaiRainsLiveUpdates #MumbaiRains pic.twitter.com/nmeZOeB6vr
— Newsroom Post (@NewsroomPostCom) July 8, 2019
The video shows four men pulling out the submerged two-wheeler. A section of the media reported that the video was shot in Chembur, Mumbai. Initially, Scroll published an article based on a tweet by journalist Sourav Sanyal, titled, “Watch: Two-wheeler sinks into open manhole during Mumbai rains”. Later, the report was updated with a denial from the BMC that the clip was not from the city.
News18 had also tweeted the same video claiming that it was from Chembur. Journalist Sucheta Dalal quote-tweeted the video criticising Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This video was later deleted by News18 without issuing any clarification for the same.
Mumbai Mirror published the video with a disclaimer saying, “Mirror cannot independently verify the authenticity of this video”.
Other media outlets like NDTV India, Punjab Kesari, Jagran group’s Nai Dunia, Nyooz TV and Newsroom Post also claimed that the incident took place in Chembur, Mumbai.
Alt News found that Abhijit Deshmukh, a journalist based out of Pune, was one of the earliest to post the video on social media claiming it to be from Jalna, Maharastra. He had posted the video on July 3, 2019.
So good to see the drought areas of Maharashtra recieving good rainfall. Video from my hometown #Jalna #Maharashtra#Rain pic.twitter.com/wVzJOQhpFG
— Abhijit Deshmukh (@iabhijitdesh) July 3, 2019
Alt News contacted Deshmukh to confirm that the clip was from Maharastra’s Jalna. Deshmukh informed us that he knows the exact location where the clip was shot as Jalna is his hometown. He later uploaded a video of the same spot on Twitter on July 9 as proof that the clip was shot in Jalna.
@mybmc proof that manhole video claimed to be of Chembur, is actually Jalna, Maharashtra. If Anyone has doubts about it, pls visit near SB high school, Jalna, Maharashtra and confirm it again. Credits of this video to my nephew Vedant Deshmukh who has recorded it on my request. pic.twitter.com/MDpnZTSo12
— Abhijit Deshmukh (@iabhijitdesh) July 9, 2019
In the comparison posted below, the image on the left is a screengrab from the video published by several media outlets, while the one on the right is from the video tweeted by Deshmukh on July 9. The juxtaposition corroborates that the location in both the videos is the same – a roadside in Jalna.
India Today’s Aaj Tak was among the media outlets that had initially reported that the video was from Chembur, Mumbai. This was pointed out by Deshmukh.
I was expecting it, Aaj tak has picked the video that I’ve posted on twitter. They have accepted it as a Chembur video and not from Jalna, Maharashtra. Really? That’s what authenticity of such a credible news channel. If things goes in this way, it will be difficult to trust such news channel.
Posted by Abhijit Deshmukh on Monday, 8 July 2019
The video also found a mention in an article published by India Today based on an individual’s tweet. The article was subsequently updated with a correction that the video is from Jalna. Ironically, India Today later published a fact-check on the video, where it called out Scoopwhoop’s misreport, however, failed to point out its own faux-pas.
In conclusion, several media outlets misreported a video from Jalna, Maharastra as Mumbai. Jalna is about 400 km away from the capital city of Maharashtra. It is also noteworthy that while the bike was claimed to have been swallowed by a manhole, the two-wheeler was submerged in an overflowing gutter.
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 July 2019 / 4:29 pm / Last updated: 9th July 2019
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1,847 |
Media misreports: BJP MLA's daughter Sakshi Mishra and her husband kidnapped outside Allahabad HC - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
16th July 2019 / 4:31 pm
On June 15, several media outlets reported that Sakshi Misra, the daughter of BJP MLA Rajesh Misra, and her husband Ajitesh Kumar were kidnapped outside the Allahabad High Court. This came at the backdrop of the couple recently posting video messages where they alleged threat to life from Sakshi’s father because they had entered into an inter-community marriage – Sakshi belongs to the Brahmin community while Ajitesh hails from the Dalit community. The duo had also asked for police protection in another video message, claiming that Rajesh Misra disapproved of the marriage.
Another video of the couple requesting help. pic.twitter.com/S9Uc63Zqc4
— Saurabh Trivedi (@saurabh3vedi) July 10, 2019
Mainstream media outlets like Hindustan Times, The Times of India, One India, News X and Dubai-based Gulf News, published articles based on a syndicated-feed by Indo Asian News Service (IANS) claiming that Sakshi and Ajitesh were kidnapped outside the Allahabad HC.
A few hours later, the above-mentioned news organisations updated their stories which now talked of a different couple that was kidnapped outside the court. However, only India Today had clarified about the misreporting.
Free Press Journal had also claimed that Sakshi and Ajitesh were kidnapped and the publication is yet to update its article. The current version says, “In a sensational turn of events, the couple from Bareilly, who have been making headlines since last week claiming to be under threat from a BJP MLA over their inter-caste marriage, was on Monday kidnapped at gunpoint by armed men from outside the Allahabad High Court, where they had gone to seek protection.”
The couple who was kidnapped was not Sakshi Misra and her husband. A Muslim couple who hails from Amroha district was kidnapped outside the Allahabad High Court and was later rescued by the police. The duo is now in police custody.
According to the police, the car used to take them hostage was seized under the jurisdiction of Kalyanpur police station in Fatehpur district. Prayagraj police rubbished the claims about the abduction of Sakshi and Ajitesh terming them baseless. “Rumours and false news are being shared on social media that Sakshi and Ajitesh were kidnapped. But this is baseless. Sakshi and Ajitesh are completely safe inside the court’s premises with police protection. The couple who was kidnapped is also in the custody of Fatehpur police,” reads the English translation of Prayagraj police’s July 15 tweet.
सोशल मीडिया पर अफवाह/भ्रामक खबर फैलाई जा रही है कि प्रयागराज में साक्षी,अजितेश का अपहरण कर लिया गया है, जो निराधार है| साक्षी, अजितेश कोर्ट कैंपस के अंदर पुलिस अभिरक्षा में पूरी तरह सुरक्षित हैं|
जिस प्रेमी युगल का अपहरण किया गया था वह भी इस समय फतेहपुर पुलिस की हिरासत में है| https://t.co/WEJNjrFXec
— PRAYAGRAJ POLICE (@prayagraj_pol) July 15, 2019
In a statement given to Firstpost, Fatehpur SP Ramesh said, “After verification, we got to know that this Muslim couple went to the Allahabad High Court today (Monday) from where they were abducted by the father and the uncles of the girl. The couple, who hailed from Amroha district, was rescued by the police. Prayagraj police, along with the Amroha police, will look into the matter”.
According to India Today‘s updated report, Sakshi and Ajitesh were in the high court seeking police protection at the time of the kidnapping, which led to the confusion. “The incident took place at 8.30 am outside the Allahabad High Court. The timing of the incident led to confusion. Around the same time, Sakshi Misra, the daughter of the BJP MLA Rajesh Misra, and her husband Ajitesh Kumar were at the Allahabad High Court seeking protection.”, said the report.
India Today later added a clarification saying, “News agency IANS reported that the couple kidnapped from outside the court were Sakshi and her husband Ajitesh. However, India Today later found out that Sakshi and Ajitesh were safe and attended the court proceedings”.
A misreport by IANS was republished by several media outlets without fact-checking. The false news dominated mainstream media and social media for the better part of July 15 thus, misleading numerous readers.
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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16th July 2019 / 4:31 pm
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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1,848 |
Media misreports: Claims a monk was beaten by Muslim men for praising Yogi Adityanath - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
26th March 2019 / 9:59 pm
An incident of a monk beaten up by two Muslims was reported by two leading Hindi dailies this week. With a photograph of a badly bruised monk, it was reported that the monk was thrashed by men from Muslim community for praising the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. On March 24, Dainik Jagran published a report titled, “दौलतपुर में योगी की तारीफ करने पर संन्यासी को किया मरणासन्न (A monk in Daulatpur on death’s door for praising Yogi -translated)”.
Dainik Jagran reported, “A case of a monk being beaten up for praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the area of Sajeti police station in Daulautpur village has come to the fore. On Thursday night, louts from one community/side in an inebriated state had entered the temple and thrashed the monk black and blue with sticks. A villager who took the saint to the hospital on Friday was also beaten up. Villagers are furious about the incident. -translated”
According to the Dainik Jagran’s report, Manoj Baba, a monk who resides in a hermitage located in the premises of Kali Devi temple, was addressing a group of people outside the Hanuman temple, where he praised the Chief Minister for the arrangments in the Kumbh Mela. People from one side/community were also present (Muslim) at this location, according to the report.
According to the article, the monk said that as he was moving towards the monastery, some people came to the temple and attacked him suggesting that he was spreading enmity by praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. On Friday, Rambabu Nishad, who took the monk to a private hospital was also beaten by the rowdies, according to the report. The article further stated that Manoj Baba has given a statement to the police and filed a complaint. The article also stated that a search operation to find the accused Noor Baksh and Noor Ali is underway.
Rajasthan Patrika too reported the incident with an identical narrative but later updated the story with a tweet from Kanpur Nagar Police. While the headline was changed accordingly, the hyperlink of the article still reads, “some-villager-beaten-to-saint-due-to-praises-of-the-yogi”. A screenshot of the initial version of the article can be seen below.
Kanpur police busted the narrative about the monk beaten up by Muslims for praising Yogi Adityanath. The official Twitter handle of Kanpur Nagar Police tweeted, “During the night of 21-03-19, the monk, who was in a state of intoxication had hurt himself by dashing his head on the temple. Next morning, Chunna, Suresh and Rambabu took him to a hospital for medication. On their way back, they were involved in a fight for which an NCR has been registered and action under section 151 of the CrPC has been initiated by the police. Other charges are false.”
दि0 21-03-19 की रात मे पुजारी द्वारा नशे की स्थिति में स्वयं को मंदिर पर सिर पटकने से चोटआयी थी जिन्हे सुबह छुन्ना, सुरेश व रामबाबू द्वारा दवा दिलाने गये थे,लौटते समय रास्ते में झगड़ा हुआ था जिसमे थाना सजेती पर NCR पंजी0 कर धारा 151 CrPCकी कार्यवाही की गयी है।अन्य आरोप असत्य है।
— Kanpur Nagar Police (@kanpurnagarpol) March 25, 2019
Alt News contacted Sajeti police station to inquire about the incident. In conversation with Alt News, Station Officer at Sajeti police station, Amarendra Bahadur Singh said,
“The narrative about the monk thrashed at the monastery, which was reported by the media is false. According to the statement of Manoj Baba given to the police, that night he was trying to climb/hang on to a branch in an inebriated state where he had fallen down and got injured. He had passed out at the same place and was only woken up by the villagers the next morning. The villagers including one Rambabu [Nishad] took him to the hospital the next morning while on their way back from the hospital, they got involved in a scuffle with the villagers. This all happened after their vehicle nearly rammed into some kids playing in the area following which the villagers got angry over Rambabu, who was intoxicated and driving the car. Rambabu was beaten up by the crowd and later he (Rambabu) took him (Manoj Baba) to the police to file a complaint. Rambabu wrote an application and had asked him to sign it, which he did. But later, he refused to go for a medical check-up regarding the case as he denied that he was ever attacked at the monastery in the first place. He has said on record that the narrative about him being beaten up the two Muslim boys was all cooked-up by Rambabu. This was an attempt to communalise the issue.”
In a video statement posted by a Samir Abbas, executive editor at TV9 Bharatvarsh, the monk can be heard reiterating the same series of events, which were narrated to Alt News by the Station Officer.
#SadhuKaSach Part-3
अब ख़ुद सुनिए कानपुर देहात के उस साधु के मुँह से जिसको मोहरा बनाकर मज़हबी उन्माद फैलाने की कोशिश की गई..वो ख़ुद बता रहाँ है कि कैसे वो नशे में था..उसे चोट आई और फिर रामबाबू निषाद ने झूठ फैलाया, अली और नूर को फँसा कर इसे साम्प्रदायिक रंग देने की कोशिश की गई pic.twitter.com/ffg8fT88Lo
— Samir Abbas (@TheSamirAbbas) March 25, 2019
A copy of the statement given to police was also tweeted by Samir Abbas. In the below statement, Manoj Baba has vehemently rubbished the claims saying that he was never beaten up by Muslims. Moreover, he has also emphasised the fact that Rambabu falsely took his thumb impression on a paper.
#SadhuKaSach Part-2
ये है कानपुर के दौलतपुर गाँव में पुलिस को दिया गया उस साधु का पत्र जो आपस में नफ़रत फैलाने की पूरी साज़िश का ख़ुलासा करता है..साधु का कहना है कि नूर और अली ने उसके साथ कोई मारपीट की ही नहीं..चोट पेड़ से गिरने से लगी और रामबाबू निषाद ने फ़र्ज़ी ख़बर छपवा दी pic.twitter.com/0dnZxYhw5x
— Samir Abbas (@TheSamirAbbas) March 25, 2019
A cooked-up story of Muslims beating a monk for praising Yogi Adityanath was reported by mainstream media outlets – Rajasthan Patrika and Dainik Jagran. While Rajasthan Patrika has updated their story, albeit without a clarification, Dainik Jagran‘s story still carries the misinformation at the time of writing this article.
Vikas Saraswat, a writer at Swarajyamag also tweeted the same article by Rajasthan Patrika, which has the predating headline. Tweeting the article, Saraswat said, “Noor and Ali, SP workers alongwith their supporters brutally attack a Hindu saint who was praising CM Yogi Adityanath for arrangements at Kumbha. Ran away from scene after believing him to be dead”. Saraswat’s tweet has got significant engagement on Twitter with more than 6,400 retweets.
Noor and Ali, SP workers alongwith their supporters brutally attack a Hindu saint who was praising CM Yogi Adityanath for arrangements at Kumbha. Ran away from scene after believing him to be dead. Lets see how many media houses cover the story? https://t.co/WRcz2g4STS
— Chowkidar Vikas Saraswat (@VikasSaraswat) March 24, 2019
Sanjay Dixit, a serving IAS officer quote-tweeted Saraswat’s tweet with a message, “He doesn’t have an Arabic name, so the crime is secular and not worth the attention of our mainstream media.”
He doesn’t have an Arabic name, so the crime is secular and not worth the attention of our mainstream media. https://t.co/PSC5vX36P8
— Sanjay Dixit ಸಂಜಯ್ ದೀಕ್ಷಿತ್ संजय दीक्षित (@Sanjay_Dixit) March 25, 2019
A right-leaning website, Rightlog has also published an article with the communal narrative. Interestingly, the narrative reported by the website is based on Rajasthan Patrika’s article which has now been updated as stated before.
Two more websites – Breaking Tube and E-Postmortem have reported the incident in a similar fashion. Both the websites went a step further and portrayed the brothers as convicts rather than accused – indicating that two brothers, Noor Ali and Noor Baksh had attacked the monk.
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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26th March 2019 / 9:59 pm
|
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1,849 |
Media misreports image from 2015 as photograph of Hyderabad encounter - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
6th December 2019 / 8:55 pm
In the early hours of December 6, news emerged that the four accused in the Hyderabad rape and murder case were gunned down in a police encounter, close to the scene of the crime. Reporting on the development, several TV news channels broadcast a picture, claimed to be the first visual of the site of the encounter.
The above image is a screenshot of a broadcast by Zee News, which flashed the picture with a watermark, ‘FIRST ON ZEE NEWS’, accompanied by the anchor stating, “Watch these pictures, first broadcast on Zee News. After shooting the perpetrators, Zee News brings you these visuals of police action (translated from Hindi).” The video is posted below.
Another prominent news channel which broadcast the image as an ‘exclusive’ visual was the Gujarati news channel TV9Gujarati.
Other news organizations which broadcast this image as a photograph of the encounter include the Telugu news channel ABN Telugu and TV9BharatVarsh.
The image has also been shared by social media users as a photograph of the recent encounter.
Finally justice has been done.all four accused in Hyderabad vet rape and murder case shot dead..#JusticeForRoja Rape & Murder Criminals…#Encounter pic.twitter.com/o2gs59dKOd
— கலைவாணி (@imKalaiv) December 6, 2019
Alt News found the image in question does not represent the recent encounter in Hyderabad. It was published in 2015.
Upon reverse-searching the image, Alt News found a news article published by The Hindu published in April 2015, titled ‘20 woodcutters from TN gunned by A.P. police‘. According to the report, these men were shot dead in an alleged encounter in the Seshachalam forest at the foot of the Tirumala hills where they were found felling red sandalwood.
The image in question dates back to 2015. This however did not prevent several TV news channels from broadcasting it as ‘exclusive’ and ‘first’ visual of the Hyderabad encounter. The story was earlier fact-checked by Boom.
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 December 2019 / 8:55 pm
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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1,850 |
False media reports claim Jyotiraditya Scindia removed 'BJP' from his Twitter bio - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
9th June 2020 / 8:02 pm / Last updated: 9th June 2020
A section of the media claimed that BJP leader and former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has removed ‘BJP’ from his Twitter account and written ‘public servant’ and ‘cricket enthusiast’. Some of the media outlets which published the news are – Times Now, Business Today, Deccan Herald, Saamana, Amar Ujala, News Nation and Prabhat Khabar.
The aforementioned media organizations used a screenshot of Jyotiraditya Scindia’s Twitter bio in their reports. Without stating what was written earlier in the bio, the reports claimed that he removed ‘BJP’. However, Jyotiraditya Scindia had never written ‘BJP’ in his Twitter bio. He joined the BJP in March 2020, but the Twitter bio shown by media outlets is the same since at least January 2020.
The screenshot above has been taken from the website Wayback Machine where users can save links as archives. Apart from this, the website takes automatic screenshots at different times. In the case of Jyotiraditya Scindia, when we searched his Twitter profile, it was revealed that a total of 54 screenshots have been taken between August 21, 2015 and May 17, 2020. These screenshots are of the home page of his Twitter account where his bio clearly reads “public servant, cricket enthusiast”. The search Alt News performed for retrieving archives of Scindia’s Twitter homepage can be viewed below.
Furthermore, we also found many screenshots after January where the same bio is visible. Some examples are attached below. The first screenshot was taken before he joined BJP in March 2020. The only alteration is his display picture. He can be seen sporting a scarf of the Indian National Congress in the picture before March 2020 and BJP’s scarf after he joined the party.
Therefore, Jyotiraditya Scindia has not made any changes to his Twitter bio recently. But a section of the media reported that he has removed BJP from his bio. Deccan Herald later updated its report and turned it into a fact-check without clarifying that the outlet had also shared the false news.
Following the misreports, Scindia tweeted, “Sadly, false news travels faster than the truth.” He also retweeted a tweet which says that social media claims are completely baseless.
Sadly, false news travels faster than the truth.
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) June 6, 2020
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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9th June 2020 / 8:02 pm / Last updated: 9th June 2020
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"author": "Priyanka Jha"
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1,851 |
Media misreports linking Bareilly violence to Jamaat not taken down a month after police clarification - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
13th May 2020 / 11:29 pm / Last updated: 14th May 2020
Last month, ABP News anchor Rubika Liyaquat during the show ‘Seedha Sawal’ aired a video of policemen charging a group of men with lathis. She claimed that the police action was sparked by miscreants who attacked cops in search of members of Tablighi Jamaat in Izzatnagar’s Karampur in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. “Police visited Izzatnagar to save the area’s izzat,” said Liyaquat. Hindi word ‘izzat’ means respect in English. “The police had gone there to enforce quarantine, to save [people] from coronavirus and to search for Jamaatis. But stones were pelted at them,” she continued.
Another mainstream media outlet that carried a similar report was TV Bharatvarsh. “Who are the ones crossing all limits? Is there even a treatment for them? How can uncivilized Jamaat be controlled because this is the community which has defamed Muslims in India,” said the concerned anchor. The channel subsequently played a video of policemen threatening locals to come out of their residences and face them. The cop with the loudspeaker can also be heard referring to an incident where two policemen were attacked.
While this video is played, the ticker on TV screens reads — “The lockdown needs to end, uncivilized Jamaatis need to be controlled.” TV9 suggested that people associated with the Islamic organisation were behind the incident in Bareilly.
https://youtu.be/0rejGvpkTdQ
Dainik Jagran played both the clips — the one aired by ABP News and the other broadcast by TV9. The channel claimed that cops had visited Bareilly’s Karampur Chaudhary area to search for Tablighi Jamaat members. However, locals thrashed the policemen and denied providing any details. The locals subsequently attacked cops and also tried to immolate the nearby police station, the channel claimed.
There were essentially two claims raised by the media:
1. Bareilly police had visited Karampur Chaudhary area in search of members of Tablighi Jamaat – ABP News, Dainik Jagran, OneIndia, Republic Bharat and Asianet News.
2. Policemen were beaten by Jamaatis – TV9 Bharatvarsh.
Dainik Bhaskar’s report carries a video statement of Ravinder Kumar, SP City, Bareilly, who said, “About 200-250 residents of Karmapur reached the police station and misbehaved with cops.” He subsequently gave the reason for the scuffle which does not match with the media reports.
“The issue started after our cheetah mobile police visited the village [Karampura Chaudhary] to enforce the lockdown on-ground. The police were telling people to go back to their homes and not flout the curfew. Seeing the presence of only two policemen, villagers attacked the cops who then fled to the police station. The villagers surrounded the police station and engaged in violence,” Kumar further said, adding that the police later went to the village to retaliate and arrested several people. Towards the end, he claimed that the villagers had also attempted to burn down the police station. “We are also investigating if people from outside were involved and if any of them was coronavirus positive,” were his concluding words. The statement can be heard a minute into the report.
On April 6, the official Twitter handle of Bareilly police tweeted the statement of SSP Sailesh Pandey. “Our police teams are scattered at different points in the district to enforce the lockdown…Our cheetah team had visited Karampur Chaudhary village. A group of young men gathered at an area [in the village] were advised by the cops [to stay home] and they were removed from the spot following which the team came back to the police station. Someone instigated the locals, gathered 70-80 people and a huge crowd assembled at the police station. A boy was also brought before the police and [locals] claimed that he was beaten by cops. The SHO immediately took the boy and his family members to the hospital. When the doctors examined the boy they found that he had no injuries and was pretending [to be hurt]. Amidst all of this, we were informed that a lot of people had gathered at the police station. Cops reached the police station and dispersed the crowd using necessary force because it is our prime responsibility to enforce social distancing and lockdown…We have arrested 43 people till now,” said Pandey.
SSP-BRY @ShaileshP_IPS द्वारा थाना इज्जतनगर के चैाकी बैरियर-1 क्षेत्र में हुए घटनाक्रम का मौके पर पहॅुच कर जायजा लिया गया एवं महोदय द्वारा घटना के परिपेक्ष में बाईट दी गयी। @Uppolice @dgpup @adgzonebareilly @igrangebareilly @AmarUjalaNews @JagranNews @htTweets @ETVUPpolitics pic.twitter.com/TBTpvypo7W
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) April 6, 2020
While there are inconsistencies in both police statements, none of them either claims that cops were patrolling the village in search of members of Tablighi Jamaat or the ones who attacked policemen were associated with the Islamic organisation.
On April 7, Lallantop had published a fact-check article on the incident where the outlet spoke with local journalists who also debunked the false claims. One month hence, none of the mainstream media outlets, with viewership in lakhs, has taken down erroneous stories or provided clarification for the false reportage. It is unfortunate that the above example isn’t a one-off case. TV9 Bharatvarsh had earlier aired a flimsy broadcast claiming that an underground tunnel runs through Nizamuddin Markaz. The channel provided no evidence for the same. ABP News had communalised the Bandra migrant crisis, falsely claiming that a crowd had gathered at the railway station instigated by the mosque. Republic Bharat had falsely claimed that a Tablighi Jamaat member flouted guidelines and infected his family with coronavirus before his own death. Mainstream media, which should be at the forefront of rightly informing citizens at a crucial time such as this, has taken the role of the misleader. The media’s demonisation of the Muslim community during a pandemic will have repercussions for years to come. We have already witnessed on-ground effects of misinformation — Muslim vendors attacked on streets, people promoting a boycott of the community and collective animosity against minorities.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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13th May 2020 / 11:29 pm / Last updated: 14th May 2020
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Media misreports: Nirmala Sitharaman claimed demonetisation had no impact on economy - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
4th July 2019 / 5:42 pm
On July 2, multiple news organisations reported that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on the floor of the Rajya Sabha, had said that demonetisation had no impact on the Indian economy.
The above is a screenshot of an article published by the magazine Outlook. The article states, “Days before she presents the Union Budget, Finance Minister on Tuesday claimed in the Rajya Sabha that India continues to be the fastest growing economy and “demonetisation had no effect on the Indian economy.” Other media organisations which reported the same include The Economic Times, NDTV, Scroll, Deccan Herald, The Quint, The Print, Bloomberg Quint and Hindu Business Line. NDTV’s headline was later altered.
The fact of the matter is that the Finance Minister NEVER stated in the Rajya Sabha that demonetisation has had no effect on the Indian economy. Alt News searched the Rajya Sabha website for questions asked by members on the floor of the House. Congress leader and MP Digvijaya Singh had inquired about the impact of demonetisation on the Indian economy, MSMEs and employment, to which the Finance Minister replied that no specific study has been conducted in this regard.
In fact, the Finance Minister herself tweeted a clarification in response to a tweet by NDTV quoting Ms. Sitharaman.
Where did this heading come from? Not certainly from my answer in the Rajya Sabha. Your story, based on my answer, also, does not have this line. Please watch my answer in the RS or read your copy(sourced from @PTI_News?) itself.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) July 2, 2019
In response, NDTV stated that the headline of the article was sourced from the Press Trust of India (PTI). It further added that the article had been updated accordingly, and the news agency had been intimated regarding the same.
Respected Ma’am, this was @PTI_News headline, which we immediately changed after you brought this to our notice. Have raised your concerns with PTI so they can make corrections as their headline and story are being used by many other sites. We regret any inconvenience caused.
— NDTV News feed (@ndtvfeed) July 3, 2019
On the basis of this erroneous report, the Congress party took potshots at Ms. Sitharaman via a tweet.
Alt News could not find any speech made by the Finance Minister in the Rajya Sabha in the ongoing monsoon session. The news articles quoting Ms. Sitharaman are on the basis of a written reply given to Anand Sharma who had inquired about the slowdown in the Indian economy.
It may be reiterated that Ms. Sitharaman has NOT said in the Rajya Sabha that demonetisation has had no impact on the Indian economy. Instead, she has stated that no specific study has been conducted on this issue.
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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4th July 2019 / 5:42 pm
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Fact-check: Was the bridge that collapsed in Bihar part of Rs 264 crore Sattarghat project? - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
18th July 2020 / 8:01 pm
On July 16, the country woke up to the news of Sattarghat bridge in Bihar collapsing a month after it was inaugurated. Flooding in Gandak river damaged the bridge reportedly built over a span of eight years at a cost of Rs 264 crore. The bridge was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar through a video conference on June 16.
#WATCH: Portion of Sattarghat Bridge on Gandak River that was inaugurated by CM Nitish Kumar last month in Gopalganj collapsed yesterday, after water flow increased in the river due to heavy rainfall. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/cndClJHIAa
— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2020
Almost every media outlet carried the same news — water flow increased due to heavy rains, causing a part of Sattarghat bridge to collapse.
Tejaswi Yadav, leader of opposition in Bihar, tweeted a video of the bridge collapsing and targetted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He wrote, “On June 16, Nitish ji inaugurated Sattarghat bridge of Gopalganj, built at a cost of 263.47 crore in 8 years. This bridge collapsed 29 days later.”
8 वर्ष में 263.47 करोड़ की लागत से निर्मित गोपालगंज के सत्तर घाट पुल का 16 जून को नीतीश जी ने उद्घाटन किया था आज 29 दिन बाद यह पुल ध्वस्त हो गया।
ख़बरदार!अगर किसी ने इसे नीतीश जी का भ्रष्टाचार कहा तो?263 करोड़ तो सुशासनी मुँह दिखाई है।इतने की तो इनके चूहे शराब पी जाते है pic.twitter.com/cnlqx96VVQ
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 15, 2020
This fact-check will look at two aspects — First, media reports claiming that Sattarghat bridge, which was completed a month ago, collapsed. Second, the Bihar government’s claim that the news is false and the Sattarghat bridge is completely safe. The government claims that the bridge which collapsed is situated 2 km away and is part of an approach road of a different 18-metre bridge.
1. Did Sattarghat bridge collapse?
Bihar’s Information and Public Relations Department tweeted that the media is running false news that Sattarghat bridge collapsed. A notice issued by the Road Construction Department stated, “The access path of a small bridge of 18 metres in length towards Gopalganj, about 2 km from the Sattarghat main bridge, was damaged.”
It was further informed, “This has happened due to water pressure. There is no loss in the structure of the small bridge due to this erosion. The main Sattarghat bridge which is 1.4 km long is completely safe.”
मीडिया में सत्तर घाट पुल के क्षतिग्रस्त होने की झूठी खबर चल रही है। इस मामले में सही तथ्य निम्नवत है।@RCD_Bihar@amritlalmeena89 pic.twitter.com/XAvy5sVfOp
— IPRD Bihar (@IPRD_Bihar) July 16, 2020
Bihar’s Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav shared a video on his Facebook page and Twitter handle, saying that the news that Sattarghat bridge was damaged is false. He tweeted a video from one end of the 1.4-km-long Sattarghat bridge which does not show any damage.
नेता प्रतिपक्ष #सत्तर_घाट_पुल के क्षतिग्रस्त होने की झूठी खबर फैला रहे हैं।
इस मामले में सही तथ्य निम्नवत है।
सत्तर घाट मुख्य पुल से लगभग दो किमी दूर गोपालगंज की ओर एक 18 मी लम्बाई के छोटे पुल का पहुँच पथ कट गया है। यह छोटा पुल गंडक नदी के बांध के अन्दर अवस्थित है। @ANI pic.twitter.com/GwUe5RS6iK
— Nand Kishore Yadav (@nkishoreyadav) July 16, 2020
Yadav further stated in two other tweets that the pressure of water in the Gandak river is more towards Gopalganj. Due to this, a portion of the access road of the bridge collapsed.
गंडक नदी में पानी का दबाव गोपालगंज की और ज़्यादा है । इस कारण पुल के पहुँच का सड़क का हिस्सा कट गया है।
यह अप्रत्याशित पानी के दबाब के कारण हुआ है।
इस कटाव से छोटे पुल की संरचना को कोई नुक़सान नहीं हुआ है।
मुख्य सत्तर घाट पुल जो १.४ किमी लंबा है बह पूर्णतः सुरक्षित है।#Bihar
— Nand Kishore Yadav (@nkishoreyadav) July 16, 2020
We spoke to a local journalist who informed that there has been no damage to Sattarghat bridge. “The approach road which is at some distance from the bridge has sunk. It’s called Ram Janaki Bridge and comes 1 km before Sattarghat bridge. This road, the smaller bridge and Sattarghat bridge were built simultaneously by the same company for Rs 264 crore. It is not the bridge but the approach road that has sunk.”
2. The part that collapsed
Additional Chief Secretary of Road Construction Department Amrit Lal Meena claimed in a video statement that the access path of a small bridge of 18-metre length was damaged towards Gopalganj, about 2 km from the Sattarghat main bridge. This small bridge is located inside the dam of the Gandak River. This video statement was posted on the Facebook handle of the Information and Public Relations Department.
सत्तरघाट पुल क्षतिग्रस्त
अमृत लाल मीणा,अपर मुख्य सचिव, पथ निर्माण विभाग ने सत्तरघाट पुल क्षतिग्रस्त होने की खबर का खंडन करते हुए कहा कि यह खबर बिल्कुल झूठी और भ्रामक है। सत्तरघाट पुल पूरी तरह सुरक्षित है। गोपालगंज छोर की ओर तीन छोटे-छोटे पुल बनाये गये हैं पानी के तेज बहाव के कारण सबसे अंतिम पुल का एप्रोच पथ कट गया है।
Posted by Information & Public Relations Department, Government of Bihar on Thursday, 16 July 2020
Meena further said in the video that the distance between the two embankments of the Gandak river is about 9 km. The 1.4-km-long Sattarghat bridge has been built on its mainstream and three small 18-metre bridges have been built towards the Gopalganj end. The access path of the last bridge broke due to heavy rains in the command area of Gandak and consequently more water discharge in Gandak.
As per the information on the website of Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation, besides the 1.4 km long Sattarghat bridge, 9 km of the surrounding road is also part of this project which was completed in the last eight years. The name of this project is ‘Construction of H.L. P.S.C cast in situ bridge over river Gandak in between Sattarghat and Faizullahpur in District Motihari (Bihar)’.
According to the Bihar government’s project report of July 2019, construction of 72% of the approach road was ready by then. The recently damaged 18-metre bridge is a part of this project.
According to a local news channel, the damaged bridge is called Ram Janaki Pul. The channel also spoke with locals who said that the bridge was inaugurated by the Chief Minister one month ago. They can be heard saying that this route used to go to Lala Chappra and the connection is now lost. The map attached earlier in the report shows that the road leading to Lala Chappra is also a part of this project.
Therefore, a part of the small bridge connecting Chhapra and Sattarghat main roads in Baikunthpur’s Faizullapur, Gopalganj district has fallen. Several media outlets reported that Sattarghat bridge collapsed. It is noteworthy that this 18-metre small bridge was constructed as part of the Rs 264 crore Sattarghat bridge project and inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on June 16.
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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18th July 2020 / 8:01 pm
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"author": "Priyanka Jha"
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Media misreports, politicians outrage on IAS officer's sarcastic tweet on Gandhi - Alt News
Alt News Desk
4th June 2019 / 4:15 pm
IAS officer Nidhi Choudhari has triggered a massive row ever since her tweet on Mahatma Gandhi went viral. Congress and AAP leaders expressed shock, NCP leader, Jitendra Awhad called for her immediate suspension and Sharad Pawar wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister demanding ‘exemplary action’ against her. She has been issued a show-cause notice as well as transferred. Choudhari had tweeted, “What an exceptional celebration of 150th birth anniversary year is going on. High time we remove his face from our currency, his statues from across the world, rename institutions, roads named after him! That would be a real tribute from all of us. Thank you Godse for 30-1-1948.” The tweet has now been deleted.
Chaudhary had posted her controversial tweet on May 17, one day after BJP MP, Pragya Thakur called Gandhi’s assassin, Godse, a “desh bhakt” (patriot). As per Choudhari’s clarification, her tweet was sarcastic and misunderstood by people. “I bow before him [Gandhi] with deepest regard & will do till last breath,” she wrote.
I have deleted my tweet of 17.05.2019 w.r.t. GandhiJi because some people misunderstood it
If only they had followed my timeline since 2011 they would’ve understood that I would NEVER even dream of insulting GandhiJi
I bow before him with deepest regard & will do till last breath pic.twitter.com/CSjaKHF9BJ
— Nidhi Choudhari🕉☪️✝️☸️ (@nidhichoudhari) May 31, 2019
If one were to read through the complete thread, it is evident that Choudhari’s tweet was indeed sarcastic.
Choudhari’s Twitter timeline is also a testament to the fact she is a devout follower of Gandhi.
In April, she had tweeted about Gandhi’s ‘My Experiments with Truth’ being one of her favourite books. In another tweet from 2018, she thanked Gandhi for giving meaning to the principles of truth and non-violence.
I have known no distinction between relatives & strangers, countrymen & foreigners, white & coloured, Hindus & Indians of other faiths, whether Mussalmans, Paris, Christians or Jews
I may say that my heart is incapable of making any such distinctions#GandhiJi#TuesdayMorning pic.twitter.com/SDzEFEtBKh
— Nidhi Choudhari🕉☪️✝️☸️ (@nidhichoudhari) April 9, 2019
ThankU Mahatma for giving truth & non-violence a meaning that no dictionary can actually explain
ThankU for enriching the spiritual fabric of India & her millions of people
Bless us with a heart full of love, forgiveness & peace#Gandhiji #BapuAt150 #MahatmaGandhi #GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/Fpbmc6OqXh
— Nidhi Choudhari🕉☪️✝️☸️ (@nidhichoudhari) October 2, 2018
In several other tweets, the IAS officer had posted Gandhi’s quotes. “Gandhi Ji inspires me daily and I keep posting his quotes very regularly… His tweets are needed more today than any other time,” was her reply to a person who asked her why she was sharing so many of his quotes.
GandhiJi inspires me daily and I keep posting his quotes very regularly…
His values are needed more today than any other time..
— Nidhi Choudhari🕉☪️✝️☸️ (@nidhichoudhari) April 9, 2019
In conversation with Alt News, Choudhari reiterated that her tweet was sarcastic in nature. “I have been dragged into this controversy unnecessarily because my tweet on Gandhiji posted on May 17 was pure sarcasm and written with deep grief as clear from the weeping emoji in the tweet. It has been misinterpreted as an insult because some people didn’t understand the real meaning. I have deleted that tweet once I realised that people are reading it wrong. I, however, have explained in great detail on Twitter that I post about Gandhiji very frequently and have never insulted The Mahatma. In fact, I am deeply saddened by the unfolding of events.”
However, the mainstream media has either ignored Choudhari’s clarification or only mentioned it briefly, keeping the focus on her misinterpreted tweet and the reactions it generated.
ANI reported Awhad’s statement demanding action against Nidhi Chaudhary for her “derogatory” tweet without carrying her clarification.
NCP leader Jitendra Awhad in Mumbai: We demand immediate suspension of IAS officer Nidhi Choudhari for her derogatory tweet against Mahatma Gandhi. She gloried Nathuram Godse, this should not be tolerated. (pic of tweet by IAS Nidhi Choudhari on May17,she later deleted the tweet) pic.twitter.com/Ir2lMldQmW
— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2019
Several media outlets added to the outrage by headlines like “woman IAS officer insults Gandhi, hails Godse, wants Bapu pictures from notes”. Many others carried her clarification deep into the reports, with the titles misleading worded with terms such as “anti-Gandhi” and “derogatory”.
The misleading reportage was also picked up politicians like Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia and Congress MLA Randeep Surjewala.
The incident highlights the perils of social media, where statements can often be taken out of context. Nidhi Choudhari’s tweet was taken at face value as there was no way for a reader to comprehend that it was meant to be sarcastic without going through her timeline to understand her actual views on Gandhi. The outrage has unfortunately continued even after her clarification, with the media helping little to clear the doubts.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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4th June 2019 / 4:15 pm
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Media misreports: Promotional video on Balakot airstrikes broadcast as "real" footage - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
4th October 2019 / 7:07 pm / Last updated: 4th October 2019
On October 4, the Indian Air Force (IAF) released a promotional video on Balakot airstrike which was carried out in February this year in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack. Subsequently, several media outlets reported the representational video as “real” footage or “evidence” of the IAF’s airstrike in Pakistan.
Republic TV played the footage as “IAF’s Balakot proof”. Its consulting editor Major Gaurav Arya welcomed the IAF’s move and said, “it is high time we start speaking about what we have done…in today’s world where social media and mainstream media are so active, it was also a weapon of war…I have not seen the video but I am aware of its content…They should make more such videos and spread awareness among the people and also amongst the enemies because they have been fed a certain diet of propaganda…”
IAF releases Balakot video, Major Gaurav Arya calls it a positive move https://t.co/pS7EPFlQEv
— Republic (@republic) October 4, 2019
Ironically, while neither the anchor nor Arya mentioned that the video is representational in nature, the channel flashed “promotional video” a few times on the screen while also terming it “proof” of Balakot airstrike.
ABP News called the video “exclusive footage” and asserted, “Pakistan used to say that only trees were fallen but you can see the extent of damage caused by the IAF in terrorist camps…this video is proof. (translated from Hindi)” However, a disclaimer flashed by the channel for a fraction of a second, inadvertently or not, specified that the video is promotional.
Zee News also carried the misinformation. Its tweet and article headline called the video the “first footage which gives proof” of Balakot airstrike. Zee News has now updated their story with the article correctly reflecting “promotional” however, a clarification for the same was not provided.
बालाकोट में एयर स्ट्राइक का पहला VIDEO जारी, वायुसेना की फिल्म में हमले के सबूत#AirStrike #Balakot @IAF_MCC https://t.co/3wcum52tyM
— Zee News Hindi (@ZeeNewsHindi) October 4, 2019
Zee MP-Chhattisgarh and Zee Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand called the footage “exclusive video”. Oneindia Hindi called it “evidence” of IAF’s attack.
Punjab Kesari wrote a headline in Hindi – “Airstrike video released. See how we entered Pakistan and killed terrorists.” The word “promotional” found a subtle mention inside the article.
#Balakot एयर स्ट्राइक का #Video जारी, देखिए कैसे पाकिस्तान में घुसकर मारे थे आतंकी https://t.co/dpFrK3dPMX #IndianAirForce #BalakotAirStrike .@IAF_MCC
— Punjab Kesari (@punjabkesari) October 4, 2019
A PTI copy published by media outlets like Firstpost and Business Standard claimed, “Ahead of the press conference, the IAF also showed video clips of the Balakot strikes.” The word “promotional” appeared nowhere in the article.
Gujarati media outlets Gujarat Samachar and TV9 Gujarati also carried reports with no mention of “promotional” in their titles. While the former claimed in its article that the video was indeed promotional but included “real” footage, TV9 Gujarati asserted throughout its report that the video depicted the actual airstrike. Incidentally, the YouTube and Facebook posts by the channel mentioned the word “promotional.”
A few Marathi media outlets – News18 Lokmat and Loksatta – also gave credence to the misinformation.
A broadcast by India Today, while terming the video “promotional”, also called it “proof” of Balakot airstrike.
The Tribune’s Ajay Banerjee described the footage as – “graphic shot of its [IAF] planes destroying terror camp at Balakot.”
“.@IAF_MCC releases Balakot video. ‘Doubters’ didn’t believe PM @NarendaModi. Will they also doubt Uniform?,” tweeted Times Now with a poster of its daily prime time show with Rahul Shivshankar.
.@IAF_MCC releases Balakot video. ‘Doubters’ didn’t believe PM @NarendaModi.
Will they also doubt Uniform?
Watch Rahul Shivshankar on INDIA UPFRONT at 8:30 PM. | Tweet with #IAFBalakotProof pic.twitter.com/vSeOYNWKxy
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) October 4, 2019
A defence correspondent with WION, Sidhant Sibal, tweeted that the Air Chief clarified during the press conference that there were “no shots of Balakot strikes in the video.”
Video shown ahead of Air Chief PC talking about Balakot strikes. Its a promotional video. Air Chief has also clarified in the PC, “no shots of Balakot strikes in the video” pic.twitter.com/urhni4CFFJ
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) October 4, 2019
BBC journalist Jugal R Purohit also ascribed similar statements to the Air Chief in a tweet.
Everyone, pls calm down. The IAF didn’t release a ‘Balakot video’. A promotional film being shown at the start of his press conference was misreported. Air Chiefs words, “All that had to be released has been released. This is NOT that footage”.
— Jugal R Purohit (@jugalrp) October 4, 2019
ANI had uploaded the footage released by IAF, specifying that it is a promotional clip showcasing the Balakot aerial strike.
#WATCH Indian Air Force showcases the story of the Balakot aerial strikes in a promotional video at the annual Air Force Day press conference by Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria. pic.twitter.com/GBRWwWe6sJ
— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2019
A representational video released by the IAF on the occasion of Air Force Day, due October 8, was broadcast by a plethora of mainstream media outlets and their regional branches as the actual footage of Balakot airstrike. While most of these news organisations failed to mention “promotional” video, the word found a scanty mention inside some of the reports, with the headlines not specifying the same. Ironically, a few other media outlets broadcast contradictory reports – terming the footage “proof” of the attack on one hand and also calling it “promotional” on the other.
[Update: A misleading tweet by Times Now, posted after this fact-check was published, has been added to the story.]
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 2019 / 7:07 pm / Last updated: 4th October 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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1,856 |
Media misreports: Rags to riches story of a mason who secured 53rd rank in UPSC 2018 - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
11th April 2019 / 8:58 pm
On April 7, the Hindi news channel ABP News interviewed Sumit Kumar Vishwakarma, a mason who had secured 53rd rank in 2018 UPSC with his own effort without any coaching. This interview came after the Union Public Service Commission declared the final result for the Civil Service Examination 2018 on April 5. The interview, which has now been deleted from the ABP News website, can be seen below. In the video, the interviewer asked, “what was your subject?”, to which he replied, “general studies and after 10th (class) Maths and Science”. The interviewer again asked, “what were your subjects in UPSC preparation”, and then he answered, “my base was General studies and English”. The interviewed was centred around the fact that he did masonry work and was still able to clear the exams.
Multiple media outlets including Zee News, The Lallantop, Times Now Hindi and Dainik Bhaskar had reported the story with the same narrative that Sumit Vishwakarma from Madhya Pradesh has attained 53rd rank in CSE 2018. The story published by Dainik Bhaskar and Times Now Hindi has now been deleted without a clarification. Several mainstream outlets had also reported that the boy, who did masonry work, has now cleared the prestigious exam.
Zee News has updated their article with a completely different narrative and story altogether, but their hyperlink still stated, “sumit-vishwakarma-cleared-upsc-civil-services-exam-with-53rd-rank”. The report is now titled, “भारत की विकास गाथा का हिस्सा बनना चाहता था : UPSC टॉपर कनिष्क कटारिया”. This completely refurbished article fails to mention that it was updated with a different story.
Alt News found that the list of 759 candidates recommended by the UPSC includes Sumit Kumar (AIR 53) and not Sumit Kumar Vishwakarma.
Furthermore, we found a Facebook post by the successful candidate Sumit Kumar from Bihar calling out the fake news that Sumit Kumar Vishwakarma from Madhya Pradesh has secured 53rd rank in the recently declared result of UPSC. The post said, “A fake news has been circulating in media covered by ABP news that a person named “Sumit Kumar Vishwakarma” has got rank 53 in civil services examination (CSE), 2018.” The post, which was earlier public, has now been made private.
Moreover, we found the Facebook profile of the successful candidate and were able to establish his identity based on a picture posted in 2014, which matches with his photo attested in the UPSC application. For privacy reasons, we are obfuscating his profile picture in our screenshots.
Sumit Kumar, the successful candidate had also cleared the prestigious exam in 2017, where he had secured 493rd rank. He is currently serving as Officer Trainee at the Indian Defence Estates Service.
In conversation with Alt News, Sumit Kumar from Bihar, who has secured 53rd rank in the CSE 2018, said, “I had put out a Facebook post after I was informed that media has misreported [someone else as me]. Now, I have made my Facebook post private as my contact details were also there in the screenshots, [of the application form] which I had posted”.
According to a fact-check published by TOI, news agency IANS had also reported that Sumit Kumar Vishwakarma, who had attained 53rd rank in UPSC, is a mason. The agency has now published a clarificatory story acknowledging it as a case of mistaken identity.
Speaking to TOI, Sumit Kumar Vishwakarma, who was mistakenly interviewed by ABP News as the successful candidate said that he was misinformed about clearing the exam and making the cut. Explaining the series of events, he said that ‘media personnel’, who allegedly informed him of clearing the exam, were waiting for him at Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur, his native place to interview him. He said, “I just saw his [Sumit Kumar’s] admit card. We share the same name and that created the confusion”. When Vishwakarma was asked to provide a copy of his admit card, he said, “That’s the whole issue. I can’t find my admit card nor do I remember my roll number”.
The Lallantop had also reported the story but unlike other media outlets, they have issued a clarification in their fact-check article. This claim was earlier debunked by NDTV.
All that was required was a perusal of the UPSC website where the result has been published, and it would have been clear that the name of the successful candidate is Sumit Kumar and not Sumit Kumar Vishwakarma, as reported by several news organisations.
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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11th April 2019 / 8:58 pm
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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1,857 |
Media misreports rejection of Nirav modi’s third bail plea that was never made - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
4th May 2019 / 2:25 pm
On April 30, reports emerged that fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi will appeal for a third bail application in London on May 8, 2019. This report directly contradicted the news stories that had earlier emanated from a section of the media. On April 26, multiple media outlets had reported that Westminster magistrates’ court had rejected Nirav Modi’s bail plea for the third time. How could Nirav Modi then apply for his third bail plea, when it was already rejected on April 26?
The contradictory reportage wasn’t limited to one news outlet. Let’s look at what was presented as breaking news on April 26th by numerous news organisations, and what are the facts of the matter.
At 2:47 PM on April 26, News 18 broke the news on Twitter, “UK Government Refuses to Grant Bail to Nirav Modi, Custody Extended Till May 24th”.
#Breaking | UK Government Refuses to Grant Bail to Nirav Modi, Custody Extended Till May 24th pic.twitter.com/Ibw8Bcpz4t
— News18.com (@news18dotcom) April 26, 2019
Within a minute, ANI reported that the London court has rejected Nirav Modi’s bail and the next date of hearing in the case is May 24.
Fugitive Businessman Nirav Modi’s bail rejected by London Court, next date of hearing in the case is May 24. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/m3Nv7vQWew
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2019
This was followed by many media outlets sharing the same narrative, i.e Nirav Modi’s bail plea rejected for a third time. This included Deccan Chronicle, The Asian age, Republic TV, Money Control, CNBC-TV18, TOI, BTVI, News 24 India, ET Now, HTN Tiranga TV, NDTV, The New Indian Express, The Quint, TV9 Bharatvarsh, ET NOW, Hindustan Times, Zee BusinessThe Indian Express, Money Control, Scroll, Business Today, One India and ABP News. The stories were largely sourced to ANI or PTI.
The official handle of Enforcement Directorate also tweeted, “Today Nirav Modi was produced before the Westminster Court, London through Video Link for bail hearing. His Bail was rejected & judicial custody has been extended by the Court till 24.05.2019.”
Today Nirav Modi was produced before the Westminster Court, London through Video Link for bail hearing. His Bail was rejected & judicial custody has been extended by the Court till 24.05.2019.
— ED (@dir_ed) April 26, 2019
No bail application was ever filed by the legal team of Nirav Modi on April 26. Modi’s remand was extended for another 28 days on that day. We were able to corroborate this with reports by London correspondents for Hindustan Times, India Today, TOI and The Hindu. Naomi Canton, a London correspondent, who reports for The Times of India had pointed out the case of misreporting.
I was at the Nirav Modi court case this morning. Would like to point out that NiMo did NOT have his bail rejected for the third time. This is incorrect and has been misreported.@AltNews
— Naomi Canton (@naomi2009) April 26, 2019
According to a TOI report published on April 30, under the Bail Act of 1976, requested persons in the court cases (in Britain) can only apply for bail twice. Nirav Modi’s legal team had already exhausted the two chances of bail application available at his disposal on March 20 and March 29 respectively. A third bail application can only be made in the court once a change of circumstance is proven. On May 8, Modi is expected to cite new grounds at the hearing before the judge.
Alt News contacted the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to verify the fact of the matter. In an email response, Yasser Mehmood, the CPS press officer said, “He [Nirav Modi] has had his 2 bail applications in the lower court. He can only make a third application if he can persuade the court that there has been a change in circumstances. He is arguing a change of circumstances based on new evidence. The next hearing will be at 2 pm on 8 May. On 8th May he will have to seek to persuade the Judge that this constitutes a change of circumstances and that he should be permitted to make another bail application.”
Of the multiple media outlets which reported that Nirav Modi’s bail plea was rejected, Times Now and Mirror Now were the ones which stood out with facts. At 2:54 PM, Times Now reporter in a broadcast said, “He [Nirav Modi] didn’t make a plea for bail, the court didn’t take up the plea for bail”. Ironically, Hindustan Times and India Today accurately reported that no bail plea was moved by Modi while they had earlier tweeted and reported otherwise i.e. the third bail plea was rejected.
Nirav Modi Bail: Extradition trial begins. @NikunjGargN with the details. pic.twitter.com/HxNWOrTiNs
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 26, 2019
A section of mainstream media, which on April 26 had reported that Nirav Modi’s third bail application was rejected also published reports on April 30 suggesting that Modi will apply for bail a third time. The extension of Nirav Modi’s custodial remand was misreported with a reference to the bail plea, which was never made in the first place.
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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4th May 2019 / 2:25 pm
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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1,858 |
Media misreports that Pak PM was called 'welder from Bronx' by American anchor - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
3rd October 2019 / 9:08 pm / Last updated: 4th October 2019
A video of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s interview with American television network MSNBC has been massively circulated with the claim that the anchor told the Pakistani PM that he sounds like a “welder from Bronx.” Former Indian cricketer Virendra Sehwag shared the 36-second clip on October 3. It drew nearly 2 lakh views and over 25,000 likes at the time of writing this article (archive).
You sound like a welder from the Bronx, says the anchor.
After the pathetic speech in the UN a few days ago , this man seems to be inventing new ways to humiliate himself. pic.twitter.com/vOE4nWhKXI
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 3, 2019
Republic TV published an article (archive) on Sehwag’s tweet writing, “Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan humiliated himself on a US television show on which he was called ‘a welder from the Bronx’ by an anchor.”
Virender Sehwag hits ‘welder from Bronx’ Pakistan PM Imran Khan for 6 https://t.co/L9QNOeyihI
— Republic (@republic) October 3, 2019
Media outlets ANI, Moneycontrol, NDTV and Hindustan Times also carried similar reports based on Sehwag’s tweet. NDTV’s story was a syndicated ANI feed.
ANI wrote, “…in the latest gaffe, he [Imran Khan] has been humiliated by American anchors on live television.”
Republic TV’s Major Gaurav Arya, IAS officer Sanjay Dixit and Pakistani-Canadian author Tarek Fatah also tweeted the video.
Alt News found that the earliest instance of the video shared on Twitter with the ‘Bronx welder’ claim was by Pakistani journalist Imran Muhammad on September 26. He later took down his tweet and posted a correction.
*Voter pic.twitter.com/7G0Nh0fCrk
— Imran_Muhammad (@MannMuhammad) September 26, 2019
The clip is also viral on Facebook.
If one carefully listens to the anchor’s statement, he does not say ‘welder’ but ‘voter’. Khan praises the infrastructure in China while criticising “bumpy” roads of New York. The anchor laughs at the PM’s statement and responds, “You do not sound like a Prime Minister from Pakistan. You sound like a voter from the Bronx who would complain about the infrastructure and money being spent on wars in Afghanistan instead of fixing LaGuardia and other infrastructure there.” The Bronx is a suburb in New York.
The anchor’s statement can be heard 13:17 minutes onward in the broadcast below.
Pakistani Prime Minister appeared on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ which was broadcast on September 26. His comment came during a discussion on the War in Afghanistan and the US’s continued role for the past 18 years. The PM asserted that the US has spent 1.5 trillion dollars in Afghanistan while China has built first-world infrastructure. In response, anchor Joe Scarborough said that Khan sounded like a “voter from Bronx.” This was also clarified by Scarborough in a tweet.
It’s clearly a “voter” from the Bronx. Would have never thought to say “welder” from the Bronx.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) October 3, 2019
A video of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s interview with an American television network was misreported by several media outlets. MSNBC anchor did not say that Khan sounds like a “welder from Bronx” but a “voter from Bronx”.
[This article was updated on October 4, 2019 to include Joe Scarborough’s tweet.]
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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3rd October 2019 / 9:08 pm / Last updated: 4th October 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
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1,859 |
Media misreports US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as 'Indian-origin' - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
21st September 2019 / 5:14 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a seven-day visit to the United States where he will be participating in two round tables with CEOs of American companies. On Septemeber 20, Tulsi Gabbard, a member of the Democratic Party of the United States, extended a warm welcome to PM Modi on his visit to the country.
“Indian-origin presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard welcomes Narendra Modi on a visit to the US, apologises for not being able to join ‘Howdy Modi’ event”, read the headline of an article published by Firstpost which credited the story to news agency Asian News International (ANI).
Several other media outlets including NDTV, The Statesman, The Fress Press Journal, and Moneycontrol have also published articles where it is being claimed that Gabbard is the first Indian-origin woman candidate for the US presidential elections. NDTV and The Fress Press Journal have credited their stories to ANI.
In the past as well, mainstream media outlets such as Republic TV, Zee Business and India Today have reported Gabbard as a woman of Indian-origin.
Alt News found that the 37-year-old Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is not of Indian-origin. She has herself publically clarified the same on Twitter in October 2012. It was also reiterated by her in 2014.
@ronejoq @amisri I am not of Indian origin.
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) October 17, 2012
Moreover, according to an explainer published by The Indian Express, Gabbard was born into a family of American Samoan ancestry, which is native to the US State of Hawaii. “Her father was a Catholic and her mother a convert to Hinduism. Gabbard herself became a Hindu when she was a teenager.”
In conclusion, many mainstream outlets led by ANI misreported that democratic presidential candidate representative Tulsi Gabbard is a woman of India-origin while she has herself publically denied to have Indian ancestry. While ANI later has updated it article (sans clarification), other media outlets that published syndicated ANI feed are yet to do the same.
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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21st September 2019 / 5:14 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-misreports-us-congresswoman-tulsi-gabbard-as-indian-origin/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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1,860 |
Media outlets fall for IPS officer’s false claim about Pak baby smuggled in a bag to Dubai - Alt News
Mohammed Zubair
17th September 2019 / 9:44 pm / Last updated: 18th September 2019
A 24-second video showing a baby found hidden inside a duffle bag is viral on social media. HGS Dhaliwal, an Executive Director of Security at the Airport Authority of India, had shared the video on September 15 with the caption – “Baby Bagged!! A 5 month old baby was kidnapped and carried to Dubai from Karachi inside a Travel Bag. Fortunately, it was detected at Dubai Airport and the baby was found safe!!”
Baby Bagged!!
A 5 month old baby was kidnapped and carried to Dubai from Karachi inside a Travel Bag.
Fortunately, it was detected at Dubai Airport and the baby was found safe!! pic.twitter.com/qpBKhUu30I
— HGS Dhaliwal, IPS (@hgsdhaliwalips) September 15, 2019
Soon after the tweet went viral, multiple media outlets – Mirror Now, The Tribune, Latestly – wrote articles based on the claims made by Dhaliwal.
The video in question was earlier shared by a Twitter user on Jun 24, 2019. It attracted 2 million views.
“A 5 months old Pakistani baby was kidnapped and taken to Dubai in a hand carry bag.
The kidnapper was caught at Dubai Airport on arrival. The baby is safe and has been returned to his parents.” Parvez Khan. pic.twitter.com/hf2yDi7kzH
— McMyc ™. (@Its_WNMichael) June 24, 2019
A text search on Facebook revealed to us that the same video was shared by one Parvez Khan on November 4, 2018. It had garnered 83,000 shares.
A Twitter user had commented that the bag and the accessories seen in the video are of Saudi Arabian brand, Al-Saniedi.
Taking this as a hint, we performed a time-search on Twitter for the word ‘baby’ in Arabic (طفل and الطفل) and found an October 2018 tweet by a user @ProfAlsaadi.
( طفل وشنطه )
تصلح روايه لمسلسل خليجي لرمضان القادم ..
من إضافات الإعلاميه الأستاذه ( السعديه ) / أم سالم الهاجري .. شكراً لك . pic.twitter.com/OyNAPsNsEj
— Prof.Alsaadi (@ProfAlsaadi) October 27, 2018
The video shared by @ProfAlsaadi carried a watermark which read ‘noash_a’.
While we were unable to locate the same video posted by @noash_a, we found another video of the same baby shared by him. This was tweeted as a reply to a user who shared the clip of the baby in a duffle bag and demanded that the ‘perpetrator’ be punished. @noash_a replied, “This is the same child who is active and this is his father enjoying his time in the desert and you stay on Twitter and no one notices or reads anything about you.” (Translated from Arabic.)
هذا نفس الطفل لاتسوي فيها حقوقي وهذا ابوه طالع للبر متونس وانت خلك في توتر مدنق ولا احد درئ عنك 😂 pic.twitter.com/dZrZ4SlPIo
— نواش النصيري الشراري (@noash_a) October 28, 2018
A comparison of the facial features of the baby reveals that s/he is the same child.
1. The video was first shared with an Arabic caption. This was between October 28 and 29, 2018. @noash_a seems to be the creator of the video. The fact that he uploaded another clip of the baby suggests that he might not be a stranger to the child.
2. The video was subsequently shared with a completely different narrative on October 31, 2018. Here, an Arabic page on Facebook claimed that the video represents a Filipino maid kidnapping a baby. However, the second part of the video which shows the alleged woman was not shot at the same location. From what it seems, two different clips were merged to support the claim.
القبض على خادمه فلبينية حاولت خطف طفل من ذويه في شنطة سفر . وعمل أعمال سحر له
Posted by الشرقيه 2050..Al sharqia on Wednesday, 31 October 2018
3. From the next month onwards, i.e., November 2018, the video began to be shared with the ‘Pakistani baby kidnapped and taken to Dubai’ claim. It is still circulating with the same narrative.
While it cannot be conclusively established if the video was created in jest or it depicts an actual incident, there is little doubt that the ‘Pakistan-Dubai’ claim is flimsy. Media outlets that ran stories on the video, based their reports on old and unverified footage which was tweeted by HGS Dhaliwal, the Executive Director of Security at the Airport Authority of India.
Co-founder, Alt News
Co-Founder Alt News, I can be reached via Twitter at https://twitter.com/zoo_bear
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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17th September 2019 / 9:44 pm / Last updated: 18th September 2019
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{
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-outlets-fall-for-ips-officers-false-claim-about-pak-baby-smuggled-in-a-bag-to-dubai/",
"author": "Mohammed Zubair"
}
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1,861 |
Media outlets misreport AIMIM supporters chanted 'Pakistan Zindabad' in Jaipur - Alt News
Kalim Ahmed
16th April 2022 / 4:56 pm / Last updated: 16th April 2022
A 30-second long video clip where All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi is being greeted by a swarm of supporters in Jaipur’s Rajasthan was reported by multiples media outlets as supporters of the party chanting pro-Pakistan slogans.
Zee News, Zee Rajasthan, First India News and Amar Ujala ran the video while carrying the disclaimer that it could not be independently verified.
Below is the report by Zee Rajasthan News.
औवेसी की मौजूदगी में यह कैसी नारेबाजी ?
एक फैक्ट-चैक टीम के अनुसार जयुपर में ओवैसी की रैली में ‘पाकिस्तान ज़िंदाबाद’ के नारे नहीं लगे थे. तथ्य सामने आने के बाद इस जानकारी को यहां सुधार दिया गया है
#BreakingNews #JaipurNews #AsaduddinOwaisi
Posted by ZEE Rajasthan News on Thursday, 14 April 2022
It was also posted by a few social media users.
जयपुर
में सरकार की नाक के नीचे एआईआईएमएम चीफ के सामने लगे पाकिस्तान जिंदाबाद के नारे ????!!नंदपुरी इलाके में उनकी मौजूदगी में लोगों ने लगाए देश विरोधी नारे।
Posted by Amarnath Gupta on Thursday, 14 April 2022
We performed a keyword search on Facebook and came across the same video but of better quality. After carefully listening to the video, it was clear that the supporters were chanting “Owaisi Saab zindabad”. This can be heard at 11 seconds in the video below.
#राजस्थान: जयपुर में ओवैसी तरावीह नमाज़ में, हज़ारों की तादाद में स्वागत में जमा हुए लोग..
तरावीह की नमाज़ मे @asadowaisi साहब जेसे ही मस्जिद पहुंचे पूरे जयपुर मे ये बात आग की तरह फेल गई।
फिर क्या था नमाज़ के बाद हज़ारों की तादाद मे लोग मस्जिद के बाहर सदर साहब के स्वागत के लिए खड़े थे।
Posted by सलीम मलिक एडवोकेट जॉर्नलिस्ट, विशेष संवाददाता खीरी प्रभात। on Thursday, 14 April 2022
Alt News reached out to M Salim Khan, an AIMIM worker who was present at the scene. Khan said, “Owaisi Saab left the hotel around 8:30 pm to go pray at a nearby mosque. He went with his driver in a WagonR. Between 10:00 pm and 10:15 pm, when he was leaving the mosque, people surrounded him and started chanting slogans. We reached the spot within five minutes to escort him out. The people surrounding him were mostly young and they also chanted the Taqbeer. However, no objectionable chants were made.”
We checked the Facebook page of AIMIM Rajasthan and found a second video from the incident. This video was recorded when Owaisi already sat in his car and was leaving. In this video, it can be heard that the youth surrounding him chanted, “Nara e Taqbeer, Allahu Akbar” [God is great]. This was followed by, “Dekho dekho kaun aya? Sher aya sher” [Look who’s here? The tiger].
राजस्थान की सर जमीन पर असद ओवैसी के नाम का शेर आ गया नजारा 22 गोदाम की मस्जिद के बाहर के तरावीह
राजस्थान की सर जमीन पर असद ओवैसी के नाम का शेर आ गया
नजारा 22 गोदाम की मस्जिद के बाहर के तरावीह के बाद
Asaduddin Owaisi Aimim Tonk supporters – Luqman khan Aimim- All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen Akbaruddin Owaisi (Youth Icon) Waris Pathan
Posted by Aimim Rajasthan on Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Alt News reached out to Commissioner of Jaipur police, Anand Srivastava, who told us, “We have investigated the video and we did not find objectionable chants being raised”.
Replying to one of the viral tweets, the police said, “Jaipur police has verified the facts in the video and did not find any objectionable slogans being raised. We recommend people to ignore such rumours.”
@jaipur_police ने उक्त वीडियो के तथ्यों को Verify किया तो उक्त घटनाक्रम मैं देश विरोधी नारे लगाने की बात के तथ्य नहीं पाए गए | इस तरह की अफवाहों पर ध्यान ना दें |
— Jaipur Police (@jaipur_police) April 14, 2022
To conclude, a video of AIMIM supporters greeting Assaduddin Owaisi outside a mosque was misreported by many media outlets as his supporters chanting pro-Pakistan slogan. Alt News found that they were chanting “Owaisi Saab zindabad”.
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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16th April 2022 / 4:56 pm / Last updated: 16th April 2022
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-outlets-falsely-report-aimim-supporters-chanted-pakistan-zindabad-in-jaipur/",
"author": "Kalim Ahmed"
}
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1,862 |
Media outlets falsely share old images as Chinese engineers carrying AK-47s in Pakistan - Alt News
Kalim Ahmed
26th July 2021 / 12:53 pm / Last updated: 26th July 2021
On 14 July, a bus explosion killed nine Chinese workers and four others near a hydroelectric project in Pakistan. Pakistani officials said that the blast could be a terrorist attack. Against this backdrop, several Indian media outlets churned out reports with two images to claim that Chinese workers have started carrying AK-47s to defend themselves.
Republic reported, “Chinese engineers carry out maintenance work at CPEC project in Pakistan” which was later changed to “Chinese Engineers Take AK-47s To Work At CPEC Project In Pakistan; Embarrass Imran Govt”. CPEC is an infrastructural project that stands for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and it has been operational since 2013.
The report says that these photos are doing the rounds on “social media” and depict “Chinese workers carrying out maintenance tasks at various CPEC projects in Pakistan, armed not with their toolkits but AK-47s, to protect themselves”.
A similar report was carried out by India TV that said, “Several photos are doing the rounds on social media platforms that show Chinese workers carrying AK-47s on their shoulders.”
WION published a report with the headline, “After Dasu bus blast in Pakistan, Chinese engineers working on CPEC spotted carrying AK-47 guns.”
The photos were also carried by India Today, News18, ABP Live, Navbharat Times, TV9, Zee News, Aaj Tak, Punjab Kesari, Hindustan, Prabha Sakshi, Republic Bharat, One India, News Nation, Asianet News and Swarajya (republished IANS story).
Regional media outlets Gujarat Samachar, Zee News Gujarati, Zee Odisha and Bangla Huntamplified the claim.
The photos are also viral on both Twitter and Facebook.
Image 1
For the first image, we used TOR browser to use the reverse image functionality on Baidu which led us to a blog that uploaded the same photo in 2018. We also found a website where the man doing the survey was interviewed and he said that he took the picture in 2006 in Pakistan.
Below we have added excerpts of the interview translated using Google translate.
Image 2
For the second image, we performed a reverse image search on Google and came across a fact-check by the defence.pk website dismissing the claims circulating in Indian media.
The fact-check mentioned a blog where photos of different Chinese professionals was uploaded to show the training they had received after being stationed in the African continent. The blog is from May last year.
Old, unrelated photos were therefore shared by a plethora of media outlets as Chinese engineers carrying AK-47s while working on the CPEC project. Alt News was unable to find any credible reports supporting the news. After the bus explosion that killed nine Chinese nationals, China sent its own investigation team to Pakistan. “China and Pakistan will work together to find out the truth,” Chinese public security minister Zhao Kezhi said in a statement after a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart, as per AFP.
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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26th July 2021 / 12:53 pm / Last updated: 26th July 2021
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-outlets-falsely-share-old-images-as-chinese-engineers-carrying-ak-47s-in-pakistan/",
"author": "Kalim Ahmed"
}
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1,863 |
Media outlets air old image of a crocodile from Costa Rica as Babiya from Kerala - Alt News
Abhishek Kumar
13th October 2022 / 3:23 pm
The famed vegetarian crocodile named Babiya, living at the Ananthapura Lake Temple, recently passed away in Kerala’s Kasaragod district. Several news organizations reported the news carrying a picture of a man resting his head against a crocodile. It is being claimed that this is a photograph of the recently deceased crocodile Babiya, guardian of the Ananthapura Lake Temple.
A number of media outlets including Republic, Good News Today, Economic Times, Pune Mirror, NDTV, Dainik Bhaskar, Zee Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand, News18, ABP News, Navbharat Times, Zee Malayalam, ABN Telugu, Samayam Telugu, Newsroom Post, and Sambad English shared the same image in their coverage of the incident.
Alt News performed a reverse image search and found the source photo in a Times of India article from 2017. In this report also, the crocodile seen in the viral picture has been identified as Babiya from the Ananthapura Lake Temple. However, in the article’s comments section, a user mentioned that the photo of the man with the crocodile is not from Kerala, but from Costa Rica. Along with this, the user also added that the name of the man and the crocodile seen in the picture is Chito and Pocho.
Using this information, we performed a keyword search on YouTube. This led us to a related video uploaded on YouTube on May 16, 2019. In this video, footage resembling the viral image appears at the 20:56 mark. In fact, this is the screengrab being circulated as a photo of Babiya the crocodile living at the Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kerala. Evidently, the viral picture is not from Kerala but from Costa Rica, a country located in the Caribbean region of Central America.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XL1aesudG4?start=1254]
For more information, we performed keyword searches related to Chito and Pocho. Alt News found that Chito’s full name is Gilberto Shedden alias Chito. American media outlet National Public Radio (NPR)’s website contains a transcript of Gilberto Shedden’s (Chito’s) interview in which he discusses Pocho the crocodile. According to a report by Costa Rican media outlet ‘The Tico Times’, Pocho died back in October 2011.
Two documentaries based on Chito and Pocho’s friendship were released in 2013 and 2014, titled ‘Touching the Dragon‘ and ‘Dragon Feast‘ respectively.
As Poncho died in 2011, Alt News can confirm that the viral image cannot possibly be of the crocodile living at a temple in Kerala. In fact, this photograph is at least 11 years old.
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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13th October 2022 / 3:23 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-outlets-published-an-old-image-of-crocodile-as-kerala-kasaragod-lake-temple/",
"author": "Abhishek Kumar"
}
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1,864 |
Media outlets air scripted video of drunk groom offering varmala to sister-in-law as real incident - Alt News
Abhishek Kumar
20th July 2022 / 5:00 pm / Last updated: 20th July 2022
A video purportedly from a wedding has gone viral on social media. In the video, the groom, who appears to be in an inebriated state, offers the wedding garland (varmala) to the woman standing next to the bride. The woman with the garland subsequently slaps the groom in anger.
Several users have shared this clip and pointed out that despite the alcohol prohibition in Bihar, the groom appears to be drunk and made the sister-in-law wear the varmala instead of the bride.
A Twitter user shared this video and wrote, “Liquor is banned in Bihar.” (Archived link)
बिहार में शराब बैन है 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/LRhF3VY7ne
— Soniya (@_S0niya51) July 18, 2022
Times Now posted the viral video along with the headline “Oops! Drunk groom puts varmala around sister-in-law’s neck, gets slapped”.
Dainik Jagran and India Times also amplified the claim in their report.
In addition, several other media outlets aired the video with the same claim. Among them were Asianet News Kannada, Free Press Journal, Telugu Stop, National Dastak, iDiva and Pakistan’s Geo TV. Social media users also amplified this clip with the same claim.
A closer look at the video clarifies that it is scripted. Alt News performed a keyword search on YouTube and found the source video uploaded by a YouTube channel called Mithila Bazaar on May 16, 2022. The video’s description reads, “All characters and story in this video are fictional and intended for entertainment purposes only.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ8afyjcyNU]
The description also mentions the names of the artists. On checking the timeline of this channel, we found that they often make staged videos for entertainment.
The same actors can be seen in a different video. Alt News noticed that their clothes and the location are also the same. However, the script of this video is different. Here, the marriage is interpreted because of the groom’s forced feeding of sweets to the bride. Thus, it establishes that the viral video is scripted and was made for entertainment.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjbhGZG8z34]
To sum it up, several media outlets circulated a scripted video of a drunk groom offering a wedding garland to a woman standing next to the bride as a real incident.
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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20th July 2022 / 5:00 pm / Last updated: 20th July 2022
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-outlets-report-drunk-groom-got-slapped-when-he-put-varmala-around-another-girl-instead-of-bride-scripted-video/",
"author": "Abhishek Kumar"
}
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1,865 |
Media houses shared unrelated video from MP as sadhus beaten up for child theft in Maharashtra - Alt News
Kinjal
15th September 2022 / 7:07 pm
In the past few weeks, there have been multiple reports of people getting attacked across the country over rumours of child kidnapping. This wave of rumours began circulating after a particular incident in Mathura in which the abduction of a child from Mathura railway station was caught on CCTV and shared widely. Police later found the child in the house of a BJP councilor. Following this, claims about child abductors and organ traders wandering in the guise of sadhus began circulating on social media. In some cases, unrelated and old videos and audio clips were used.
The impact of these rumours was felt largely in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, where people began attacking any unknown individual or group of people deemed suspicious. The victims included mentally challenged persons and ordinary people. For example, a mentally ill woman was beaten up in Sitapur, UP. Mentally challenged boys were being beaten up on charges of child theft in Bhadohi in UP.
A similar pattern had also been observed in 2019, when people were beaten up in several parts of India over rumours of child theft. Alt News had debunked these rumours back then, and continues to keep an eye on the situation. Taking cognizance of these cases, police have, in many isntances, dismissed the rumours. Sitapur Police, Moradabad Police, Bareilly Police and Hardoi Police have issued statements.
On September 13, news broke of four sadhus being beaten up in Maharashtra’s Sangli district over child theft rumours. The police arrested six people while investigating this case. Reporting on the incident, ABP News aired a video in which a mob is seen beating up sadhus with sticks in front of a shop. ABP News ran the footage as sadhus being thrashed in Maharashtra by locals who mistook them for child kidnappers in Sangli district of Maharashtra. (Archived link)
BREAKING | महाराष्ट्र के सांगली मे साधुओं की पिटाई, स्थानीय लोगों ने बेरहमी से पीटाhttps://t.co/p8nVQWYM7F@surajojhaa | @AnchorSonal95 #Breaking #Maharashtra #Sangli #MaharashtraNews pic.twitter.com/ybjrQd5nN1
— ABP News (@ABPNews) September 13, 2022
News18 India also played several videos claiming this, in which the first is of the mob thrashing sadhus in front of the shop. (Archived link)
महाराष्ट्र के सांगली में बच्चा चोर होने के शक में 4 साधुओं की बेरहमी से पिटाई, मथुरा के रहने वाले हैं साधु, विडियो वायरल #ChildTheft #ChildLifter #BachchaChor #Maharashtra #Sangli #Sadhu pic.twitter.com/BE73hJlIl5
— News18 India (@News18India) September 14, 2022
Times Now Navbharat also amplified this video with the same claim. (Archived link)
#BreakingNow: महाराष्ट्र के सांगली में साधुओं से मारपीट, बच्चा चोरी की अफवाह में साधुओं को पीटा @iamdeepikayadav #Sangli #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/VWqrnwbQXH
— Times Now Navbharat (@TNNavbharat) September 14, 2022
Several news outlets followed suit, including Aaj Tak, Republic Live, News18 Lokmat, RSS mouthpiece Organiser Weekly, Zee Salaam, Maharashtra Times, India TV Hindi, Bharat 24, Amar Ujala, right-wing portal OpIndia, and The Lallantop. Navbharat Times journalists ‘Bhadohi Wala’ and Alok Kumar along with India TV Hindi journalist Vikash Tiwary and ISKCON vice-president and spokesperson Radharaman Das also shared the video claiming the incident was from Sangli.
Alt News had already investigated the video in question a few days ago. However, other media organisations remained oblivious to this and amplified the video without prior verification.
Actually, this video is not from the incident in Sangli district of Maharashtra, nor were the sadhus seen in it beaten up due to the allegation of child theft. The real incident took place in Maharashtra’s Raisen district. IBC24 reported on the incident on August 8, 2022. According to the caption, it took place in Raisen where a group of men had come to commit theft disguised as sadhus. They were later attacked by villagers.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2n8tL7Xgiw]
Navbharat Times also reported about this incident on August 7. According to the article, some sadhus had robbed a woman after knocking her unconscious in Paloha, located in the Mandideep police station area of Raisen district. The perpetrators, who were dressed as sadhus, stole jewellery and cash from the woman’s house. The villagers tried to find them and discovered they were staying in Pipaliya Gajju village, adjacent to Paloha. After thrashing the sadhus, the locals handed them over to the police. Mandideep Police registered a case against six people in this case and started an investigation. The article quoted police as saying that the accused were residents of Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh.
In its coverage of the incident, One India shared a few screengrabs from the video. Police have identified the accused as Bacchu Joshi, Lovelesh Goswami, Mithilesh Goswami, MLA Goswami, Gulab Joshi and Ramswaroop Goswami.
Alt News also reached out to the Mandideep Police Station for more information. SHO Manoj Singh told us that the accused were there to are known to commit some petty theft, disguising as sadhus. The villagers caught and beat them up. They were later taken into custody.
Alt News also spoke to Raisen SP Vikas Kumar Sehwal. The police officer told us that the incident was not one of sadhus trying to kidnap children. He said that the sadhus had come to the village to perform a pooja. They asked a woman for gold and silver jewellery for the ceremony. They stole those ornaments and fled. Police registered a case and sent the accused to jail.
In other words, this incident is actually from the Paloha village located in Maharashtra’s Raisen district in which locals nabbed a group of thieves who were dressed as sadhus. A video of this was falsely promoted by media organisations as sadhus being beaten up in Maharashtra’s Sangli district over suspicions of child theft.
At the same time, such incidents are nothing new. Media outlets have often aired visuals accompanied by misleading claims without verifying them first. Alt News has debunked such fake news circulated by other outlets several times in the past.
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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Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was allegedly shot at during a rally in Wazirabad…
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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15th September 2022 / 7:07 pm
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"author": "Kinjal"
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1,866 |
News channels show old, unrelated video as clip of cheetah brought to India from Namibia - Alt News
Abhishek Kumar
22nd September 2022 / 1:43 pm
On September 17, cheetahs brought from Namibia were released at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Since then, social media users and media outlets have been circulating a video of a cheetah describing it as one of the animals from Namibia that Prime Minister Narendra Modi released at the Kuno National Park.
The Times Now news channel aired the visual in one of its programmes, claiming that this was the first footage of the cheetahs as they returned to India 70 years later. (Archived link)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dywwMtT_G2o]
Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav shared the video of the cheetah and wrote, “Everyone was waiting for its roar, but it turned out to be more like a cat.” (Archived link)
सबको इंतज़ार था दहाड़ का… पर ये तो निकला बिल्ली मौसी के परिवार का. pic.twitter.com/O6CcygRfpg
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 17, 2022
Dainik Bhaskar also ran the video as footage of cheetahs brought from Namibia. (Archived link)
Similarly, Congress leader and MLA Virendra Choudhary, News18 journalist Priyanka Kandpal, The Economic Times, The Lallantop, The Quint, The Quint Hindi, News18, Latestly, Live Hindustan, etc. also amplified this clip as the introduction of cheetahs to India.
Alt News performed a keyword search on YouTube. This led us to the original video uploaded on a channel named Adventure with Creature on February 14, 2022. This means that the video is not recent at all.
We also performed a reverse image search using a frame taken from this video, and found the original video uploaded on November 29, 2021 on a YouTube channel named The Wildcat Sanctuary.
Alt News cannot confirm how old this video is and where it is from. At the same time, it is clear that the clip is at least nine-month old and has nothing to do with the group of cheetahs that were recently brought to India from Namibia.
To sum it up, a number of politicians and media outlets shared an old video of a cheetah, claiming that it was the first visual of the cheetahs recently brought to India from Namibia.
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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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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22nd September 2022 / 1:43 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-outlets-share-old-video-as-first-look-of-cheetahs-in-kuno-national-park/",
"author": "Abhishek Kumar"
}
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1,867 |
Media outlets share photo of IS terrorist as Hizbul commander gunned down in Kashmir - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
13th July 2021 / 5:46 pm / Last updated: 13th July 2021
Indian security forces reportedly killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Mehrajuddin Halwai alias Ubaid on the morning of July 7 in an alleged encounter in North Kashmir’s Handwara district. In their coverage of the incident, several outlets including Times Now, The Lallantop, Patrika, Jagran, Hindustan Times Bangla, IANS, TV9 Bharatvarsh, The New Indian Express, Gujarat Samachar, The Statesman, Asianet, and Swarajya carried the same picture of Mehrajuddin.
Aditya Raj Kaul, editor of CNN-News18, and Times of India journalist Raj Shekhar Jha also shared these images while reporting on the incident. (Archive link)
Top Hizbul terrorist killed in Kashmir. MehrajuDin Halwai, a top terror Commander was killed in an early morning encounter with security forces in Handwara, North Kashmir. He was contemporary of Burhan Wani. Halwai killed Kashmiris on orders of Hizbul Chief Syed Salahuddin. pic.twitter.com/aIfX8OTtAW
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) July 7, 2021
Killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Mehrajuddin alias Ubaid in Handwara encounter is a major success for security forces. He was one of the oldest Hizbul hands in the valley since the Burhan Wani times. pic.twitter.com/cwxc00M9EE
— Raj Shekhar Jha (@rajshekharTOI) July 7, 2021
BJP Delhi spokesperson Ajay Sehrawat also tweeted the image.
एक और को रवाना किया 72 हूरो के पास 👏💪जम्मू कश्मीर में सुरक्षाबलों ने एनकाउंटर में हिज्बुल मुजाहिदीन के टॉप कमांडर मेहराजुद्दीन हलवाई उर्फ उबैद को ढेर कर दिया हैं। #JaiHind pic.twitter.com/M7yXkkkQYb
— Ajay Sehrawat (@IamAjaySehrawat) July 7, 2021
We noticed that a few users had replied to these posts stating that the featured photo did not show the slain Mujahideen commander.
Alt News performed a reverse image search, which revealed that the individual in the image is actually Omar Hussain. According to a BBC report from September 2015, Hussain, a resident of the United Kingdom, used to post IS propaganda on social media. He was a supporter of the Islamic State, one of at least 700 people who were thought to have joined militant groups in Syria and Iraq.
A March 2016 report published by The Daily Mirror also identifies the individual as Omar Hussain. It describes how Hussain, a fighter for ISIS, used to connect with other terrorists through Facebook while targeting the UK.
BBC and The Sun covered Hussain’s death in 2018 and 2019 respectively. According to the BBC, the militant was presumed dead after an attack in Syria. Meanwhile, The Sun reported that he carried out a suicide attack in Syria in which he was killed. However, when he died and the circumstances of his death are not clear.
To sum it up, a picture of an ISIS fighter Omar Hussain was used by journalists and carried by media portals in India as Hizbul commander Mehrajuddin Halwai, who was gunned down recently. While some outlets did take down the image, others have not.
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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13th July 2021 / 5:46 pm / Last updated: 13th July 2021
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"author": "Priyanka Jha"
}
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1,868 |
Media reports present Hindu Sena-backed protest as 'locals' against farmers at Singhu border - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
28th January 2021 / 9:23 pm
“Locals gather at Singhu border, sloganeering against farmers’ protest and asking farmers to evacuate,” tweeted NDTV on January 28.
Violence erupted in parts of Delhi on January 26 after a group of protestors against the farm bills veered off the course during the Republic Day tractor parade. Farmers’ protests have been ongoing since the past three months where farmers have gathered at border points in Delhi to demand that the centre repeals the laws. Mainstream media organisations reported that several locals held demonstrations at Singh border on January 28 demanding that the inter-state highway be cleared.
“Group of people claiming to be locals gather at Singhu border demanding that the area be vacated,” wrote ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi: Group of people claiming to be locals gather at Singhu border demanding that the area be vacated.
Farmers have been camping at the site as part of their protest against #FarmLaws. pic.twitter.com/7jCjY0ME9Z
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021
Other news organisations that carried similar reports were The Hindu, Times Now, Hindustan Times, CNN News18, India Today, The Times of India, The Indian Express, TV9 Telugu and Hindustan.
While it is true that a bunch of people gathered at the Singhu border to demand that farm bill protestors are removed from the area, this is only half true.
The protest wasn’t organised by mere ‘locals’ but members of the Hindu Sena. “Delhi: Hindu Sena group and locals took out a procession against farmers’ protest at Singhu border,” said a tweet by Aaj Tak which was also retweeted by the organisation’s founder and president Vishnu Gupta.
Gupta had also issued a press release which stated, “Today, local Hindu Sena activists along with local area residents went to Singhu border amid farmers and raised slogans against Khalistan supporters and appealed to the farmers to clear the road.”
“Hindu Sena warned pro-Khalistan protesters that they resolve their problems in 24 hours after talking to the government and empty the Singhu border and the road,” it further added.
आज स्थानीय हिंदू सेना के कार्यकर्ताओ ने स्थानीय क्षेत्र वासियों के साथ मिलकर किसानों के बीच सिंघु बॉडर जाके खालिस्तानी समर्थको के खिलाफ जमके नारेबाजी क व किसानों से रोड खाली करने की अपील की ! @ANI@IndiaToday @ABPNews @PTI_News @indiatvnews pic.twitter.com/yx1pczvOMz
— Vishnu Gupta🕉 (@VishnuGupta_HS) January 28, 2021
Alt News contacted Vishnu Gupta who reiterated that the protest was organised against ‘Khalistani’ elements in the farmers’ protest. “We want to give them an ultimatum to clear the roads. But we did not interact with farmer leaders since the area was barricaded by the police.” He added that the demonstration, which saw the participation of locals, was organised by the Hindu Sena. “We have local units that help in these situations,” he said.
Hindu Sena is a fringe outfit that has often made headlines for the forceful imposition of ‘Hindu values and culture’. Last year during Valentine’s Day, it warned couples of police arrest. The outfit had also threatened violence against Shaheen Bagh protestors and later called-off mobilisation. They had put up posters on the signage of India Islamic Cultural Centre which read “Jihadi Terrorist Islamic Centre”.
A protest organised by the far-right group was misleadingly reported by media outlets. Media reports failed to highlight that Hindu Sena workers led the protest against farmers at Singhu border and gave them an ultimatum to clear the area.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor 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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28th January 2021 / 9:23 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-reports-present-hindu-sena-backed-protest-as-locals-against-farmers-at-singhu-border/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,869 |
Media shares image of cracked road from Maharashtra as Nippani, Karnataka - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
6th August 2019 / 3:25 pm
On August 5, Bangalore Mirror tweeted an image of a cracked road while reporting that KSRTC has confirmed that all interstate bound toward Kolhapur, Maharashtra have been stopped at Nippani, Karnataka. This tweet went out at 11:44 pm and now stands deleted.
About an hour prior to Bangalore Mirror’s tweet, at 10:52 pm, the identical image and words were tweeted by the media outlet’s Metro Editor, Sridhar Vivan. This tweet too stands deleted.
The next day at 8:18 am, ANI tweeted the same picture of a cracked road claiming that it appeared on National Highway 4 near Nippani in Belagavi district, Karnataka (archive). It is noteworthy that Belagavi is experiencing flooding due to heavy rains.
ANI’s tweet was picked up by Zee Salaam, Times of India and News9 minutes after it went live.
Mirror Now also published the identical image claiming that a huge crack appeared on NH 4 due to heavy rains in Nipanni.
Several users pointed out that the photograph was taken in Kasara on Mumbai-Nashik expressway and not in Nippani, Karnataka. Among them was one who highlighted a restaurant advertisement visible on a wall behind a policeman which said, “Green Land Pure Veg.” This is a restaurant in Igatpuri, Mumbai-Nashik Highway.
It’s from Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/IVEaCQZnWB
— 卂 几 ㄩ 尺 卂 Ꮆ Ҝ 卂 爪 卂 ㄥ (@Anuragkamal) August 6, 2019
Photographs taken at the same spot but from a different angle were published by Zee News Hindi. In the image below, the same restaurant advertisement can be seen.
The incident was also reported by Maharastra Times and ABP Majha.
Several mainstream media outlets shared an image of a cracked road in Maharashtra as Karnataka. Alt News had recently published a report on Gujarati media broadcasting Maharashtra’s Hatnur dam as Vadodara’s Ajwa dam.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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6th August 2019 / 3:25 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/media-shares-image-of-cracked-road-from-maharashtra-as-nippani-karnataka/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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Mehtab wasn't the kidnapper, Agra girl's disappearance with friends communalised - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
8th March 2021 / 2:08 pm / Last updated: 9th March 2021
On March 2, the Uttar Pradesh Police issued a press release stating that the woman abducted from Agra on February 23 was recovered safely from New Delhi’s Tilak Nagar. “The woman had been in contact with Divyanshu from Gwalior for a year and the two used to communicate via phone calls. Divyanshu hired a car and travelled to Delhi on February 23. He instructed the girl to wear a burqa and with the help of his associate Rinku, took her away. Rinku wore a black cap and a Pathani suit to hide his identity,” the press release said.
An article in Hindi daily Hindustan stated that the woman reportedly hatched this plot to teach Mehtab Rana a lesson. In 2018, she had filed a rape and abduction case against Mehtab, in which he was sentenced to a year in prison. In 2019, he was on parole and was granted bail. On March 3, The Indian Express reported that as per the woman, Mehtab was not involved in the recent abduction case even as his wife and two sisters-in-law were arrested on kidnapping charges two days earlier. A March 4 report in The Indian Express stated that the police withdrew the abduction case against Mehtab and his family. It quoted the girl as saying that she had conspired to implicate Mehtab as he was threatening her to change her statement in the 2018 case. However, his wife and two sisters-in-law are still in custody. The police have accused them of aiding and abetting in the two-year-old matter.
Agra Police also released a video where they briefed the media on the incident.
न्यू आगरा क्षेत्र में पीड़िता को साथ ले जाने की घटना में #आगरा_पुलिस द्वारा पीड़िता को सकुशल बरामद किए जाने के संबंध में श्रीमान अपर पुलिस महानिदेशक/पुलिस महानिरीक्षक @igrangeagra द्वारा बाइट @Uppolice @UPNBT @JagranNews @AmarUjalaNews @TOIIndiaNews @WeUttarPradesh @BharatMediaa pic.twitter.com/sCOe6zAwo5
— AGRA POLICE (@agrapolice) March 2, 2021
The police issued the following statement on February 26 based on CCTV footage, “In 2018, the victim was kidnapped by this individual. While retrieving the victim, the accused was sent to jail. The victim is reported to have been captured by the same accused on February 23.”
पीड़िता के पिता एवं अभियुक्त पूर्व में साथ काम करते थे। वर्ष 2018 में इसी अभियुक्त के द्वारा पीड़िता को ले जाया गया था। पीड़िता की बरामदगी करते हुए अभियुक्त को जेल भेजा गया था। पुनः 23 फरवरी को उसी अभियुक्त के साथ पीड़िता का जाना बताया गया है। मुकदमा दर्ज कर टीमें रवाना की गई है। pic.twitter.com/XXsQIwloAV
— AGRA POLICE (@agrapolice) February 26, 2021
Several media outlets broadcasted a CCTV clip of the kidnapping after it surfaced on February 25. In the video, a man wearing a red kurta is kidnapping a woman in a burqa. News reports claimed that the accused Mehtab kidnapped a minor girl. Bharat Samachar termed it a case of ‘love jihad’. (Archive link)
#Agra
➡एक बार फिर लव जिहाद का मामला
➡नाबालिग को अपने साथ ले गया मेहताब
➡इसी किशोरी के अपहरण में जा चुका जेल
➡रेप के मामले में जेल जा चुका है मेहताब
➡बुर्का पहनाकर अपने साथ ले गया मेहताब
➡सीसीटीवी में दोनों एक साथ जाते दिखे
➡पुलिस ने एक युवक को हिरासत में लिया pic.twitter.com/oE2mTRhFN4
— भारत समाचार (@bstvlive) February 25, 2021
Hindustan covered the incident in a February 26 report titled, “Mehtab kidnaps girl for the third time”.
A follow-up story published by Hindustan also identified Mehtab as the accused. The headline of the story printed on February 27 read, ‘Mehtab’s wife and two sisters-in-law arrested, brother in custody.’ However, on March 3, Mehtab was not named as the police had clarified that he was not the accused and the woman was with her friend Rinku. ‘Girl kidnapped from Dayalbagh recovered from Delhi‘, read the next headline.
Sudarshan News also discussed Mehtab while broadcasting the CCTV footage.
जाट समुदाय की लड़की अचानक ही जींस से आ गई बुर्के में और फिर अंतिम बार वो महताब के साथ दिखी.. घटना आगरा, UP की.
मेहताब उसे कहाँ ले गया ये अभी तक किसी को नहीं पता..
फिलहाल इस मामले पर टिकैत अब तक चुप हैं..@agrapolice @adgzoneagra @igrangeagra @myogiadityanath @CMOfficeUP pic.twitter.com/fUMqzracog
— Sudarshan News (@SudarshanNewsTV) February 26, 2021
OpIndia published two reports on the incident on February 26 and February 27. ‘The same girl kidnapped for the third time by married accused Mehtab, CCTV footage shows him kidnapping her in a burqa’ was the headline of the first. The second one read, ‘Father of 6, Mehtab Rana, abducts minor by shrouding her in a burqa, had abducted the girl twice in 2018, the role of in-laws, family, suspected.’ Dainik Jagran wrote on March 1, “The police have come close to nabbing the perpetrator in the kidnapping case of a teenager from the New Agra area. His two sisters-in-law and wife have been sent to jail. The brother of the accused is also in police custody. Now the police have come close to capturing Mehtab.’ A report in Hindustan stated, “Gulfam, brother of the main accused Mehtab Rana, has confounded the police. After watching the CCTV footage, he claimed that the man seen in the clip was not his brother.”
According to Aaj Tak, “SSP Agra Bablu Kumar revealed that the victim hails from the Tajganj police station area. The accused Mehtab kidnapped her in 2018 too. She was rescued by the local police station. The woman was staying at a relative’s house in the New Agra police station area due to fear of Mehtab.”
Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt also blamed Mehtab in a tweet demanding strict punishment for the culprit.
आगरा में हुई इस बेटी के साथ हुई घटना निंदनीय है। मेहताब नाम के इस दोषी को तुरंत पकड़ा जाना चाहिए और सख्त सजा मिलनी चाहिए।#JusticeForAgraKiBeti pic.twitter.com/wRtawAgn8q
— Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) February 26, 2021
The police filed a case against Mehtab Rana’s family members purely on the basis of suspicion and arrested them despite their names not appearing in the FIR.
Alt News obtained a copy of the first FIR filed in the case dated February 23. The woman’s father filed the complaint which read, “On 20/6/2018 my daughter was kidnapped by a man named Mehtab Rana. I am sure that this man has abducted her.”
Social media users and media outlets claimed that Mehtab had abducted the girl. On the basis of the father’s statement, the police arrested Mehtab’s wife and his sisters-in-law. They are still incarcerated as of this writing. A March 6 report in Amar Ujala says that the cops have also jailed recently accused Divyanshu.
[Update: The article erroneously reported that Mehtab is in police custody. Three of his family members were imprisoned after the girl’s father’s testimony. The same has been rectified in the report.]
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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8th March 2021 / 2:08 pm / Last updated: 9th March 2021
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mehtab-was-not-the-kidnapper-agra-girl-went-with-her-friends-false-communal-angle/",
"author": "Priyanka Jha"
}
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1,871 |
Meme shared as pro-Modi cartoon on CAA and NRC published by European newspaper - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
26th December 2019 / 8:47 pm / Last updated: 26th December 2019
An image has been circulated widely with the claim that it was published in a newspaper in Europe. The cartoon shows the Marvel superhero Spiderman stopping a bus about to run over a child crossing a street. It has been shared with the caption, “Cartoon published in a newspaper in Europe. ..पर हम नहीं समझेंगे कभी” .
Cartoon published in a newspaper in Europe. ..
पर हम नहीं समझेंगे कभी …है न…???😐 pic.twitter.com/0bmyhkYB29
— Anjali (@BoduBD4452) December 23, 2019
As can be seen, in the image, Spiderman is identified with PM Narendra Modi, and the child crossing the street is identified with India. The bus is marked as ‘Congress, Mamta benerjee, China/Pakistan, Rohingya/Bangladeshi and ISIS/Khalistan’. It may be noted that the caricature has been circulated in the context of the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), claiming that a newspaper in Europe has published this cartoon which shows PM Narendra Modi in a positive light.
Alt News has received several requests on the official app for verification of this information which claims that this cartoon had appeared in a newspaper in Europe.
The same has been posted on Facebook.
The accompanying claim is false. The image circulated on WhatsApp is a meme. It has been created on the basis of a popular template frequently used by meme-makers. Posted below is an image which shows how this meme has been used in various contexts.
The meme is available online and can be customised as per user needs.
Moreover, Alt News could not find a single report in a European newspaper which had published this image. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s name is also spelt incorrectly as – ‘Mamta Benerjee’.
The claim circulated on WhatsApp and social media is false.
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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26th December 2019 / 8:47 pm / Last updated: 26th December 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/meme-shared-as-pro-modi-cartoon-on-caa-and-nrc-published-by-european-newspaper/",
"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
}
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Arrest of two men in Mumbai for possessing 7kg uranium communalised online - Alt News
Anuradha Prasad
8th May 2021 / 2:19 pm / Last updated: 8th May 2021
In a recent tweet, BJP Yuva National Convenor Devang Dave claimed that the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) arrested two people, including a man named Abu Tahir, for illegal possession of 7 kg of uranium in Nagpada, Mumbai. Devang is also the founder of the Facebook page ‘I Support Narendra Modi’.
BJP supporter and advocate Prashant Patel Umrao also tweeted that the ATS apprehended two individuals, both purportedly Muslims, for illegal possession of uranium. He identified the two accused as Abu Tahir Afzal Hussain and Mohammad Jigar.
News Nation Consulting Editor Deepak Chaurasia identified one accused as Abu Tahir Afzal Hussain and the other as Jigar. Arun Pudur also posted a similar tweet, though he mentioned that the other accused’s name is Jagir.
Twitter user @MeghUpdates wrote that there were two accused, but named only Abu Tahir.
The handle @PNRai1 quote-tweeted Chaurasia’s tweet, adding, “Uranium Jihad. Obviously, this wasn’t done out of good intentions. Good that these men were caught in Maharashtra, otherwise liberals and Congress supporters would have spun it as Hindus harassing Muslims.”
Facebook user Sunil Kumar Pandey claimed that three individuals were arrested in this case and all of them hailed from the Muslim community.
On May 6, ATS officials reported the arrest of two people for illegal possession of 7 kg of uranium worth over Rs. 21 crores in Maharashtra. Uranium is a highly radioactive substance that can prove to be fatal if handled without proper care. India Today reported that on February 14, officials received a tip about a man named Jigar Pandya who was trying to sell pieces of uranium. The police arrested him on the same day. It was found during their investigation that he had obtained the uranium from a Mankhurd resident named Abu Tahir. The police immediately raided Tahir’s home and arrested him as well.
The Wire identified the second accused Abu Tahir as Abu Tahir Afzal Hussain Chaudhary. Meanwhile, News18 reported that his full name was Abu Tahir Hussain Chaudhary.
This led to confusion. Since different media outlets reported different names of Abu Tahir, social media users began claiming that there were three accused and not two.
Furthermore, Twitter user @MeghUpdates did not mention Jigar Pandya’s name and Prashant Patel claimed his name was ‘Mohammed’ Jigar thus giving the incident an anti-Muslim spin.
A journalist and a dilettante person who always strives to learn new skills and meeting new people. Either sketching or working.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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8th May 2021 / 2:19 pm / Last updated: 8th May 2021
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/men-arrested-by-maharashtra-ats-for-possession-of-uranium-are-from-both-hindu-and-muslim-communities/",
"author": "Anuradha Prasad"
}
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1,873 |
Mentally-challenged man beaten on false child-lifting suspicions; video viral to stoke rumours - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
21st August 2019 / 2:48 pm / Last updated: 21st August 2019
A video of a man dressed in women’s clothing is massively viral on social media with the claim that he is a child-kidnapper. From a personal Facebook account फौजी सिहँ जी, the video has a whopping 2.3 million views.
The same video was earlier shared with an elaborate story that two school children were lifted by a gang of five in Choka village. One of the kids escaped and informed the school headmaster about the kidnappers. One of the child-lifters was caught, while the other four fled. The claim furthers that this man confessed to kidnapping two children in Mauranipur. “चौका गांव के बगल में खिलाया गांव है जहां बच्चा पकड़ने वाले आए थे उनमें से एक पकड़ गया और बकाया चार लोग भाग गए वह पकड़ नहीं आए और 2 स्कूल के बच्चों को पकड़ने जा रहे थे तो उसमें से एक बच्चा पकड़ा एकदम भागा तो वह जाकर मास्टर को बताया उसने कि हमको वहां कोई पकड़ रहा था तो मास्टर ने गांव में जाकर बताया तो गांव वाली दौड़े तो दौड़े उसको पकड़ने के लिए तो वह भागा भागते भागते उसको जाकर जंगल किनारे पकड़ लिया उसने बताया है अभी दो बच्चे मऊरानीपुर की सुबह पकड़े थे तो वह गाड़ी में है वह गाड़ी उज्जैन निकल चुकी है कृपया अपने बच्चों का ज्यादा से ज्यादा ध्यान रखें.”
चौका गांव के बगल में खिलाया गांव है जहां बच्चा पकड़ने वाले आए थे उनमें से एक पकड़ गया और बकाया चार लोग भाग गए वह पकड़ नहीं आए और 2 स्कूल के बच्चों को पकड़ने जा रहे थे तो उसमें से एक बच्चा पकड़ा एकदम भागा तो वह जाकर मास्टर को बताया उसने कि हमको वहां कोई पकड़ रहा था तो मास्टर ने गांव में जाकर बताया तो गांव वाली दौड़े तो दौड़े उसको पकड़ने के लिए तो वह भागा भागते भागते उसको जाकर जंगल किनारे पकड़ लिया उसने बताया है अभी दो बच्चे मऊरानीपुर की सुबह पकड़े थे तो वह गाड़ी में है वह गाड़ी उज्जैन निकल चुकी है कृपया अपने बच्चों का ज्यादा से ज्यादा ध्यान रखें
Posted by ठा. रामू राजा रानापुरा on Thursday, 1 August 2019
Alt News contacted Mauranipur police station, Jhansi district in Uttar Pradesh and was informed that the man was not a child-kidnapper. He was a mentally-challenged person who was beaten on the suspicion of being a child-lifter. “This incident is at least 10-15 days old. The youth’s name is Pushpendra Singh, son of Gajrar Singh. He is from Ruthiyai gram in Guna, Madhya Pradesh and was getting treated for his mental illness in Gwalior. He lost his way at a station and wandered all the way to Khilara gram in Mauranipur where locals, who believed that he was a child kidnapper, thrashed him.”
The police also informed us that a psychology test helped them determine that the youth was mentally unstable. His parents, who were looking for their son, were called to Mauranipur from MP. They informed that their son used to be a student of engineering.
In another case of false child-kidnapping rumours, a mentally-challenged person was beaten. This is the fourth such incident discovered by Alt News. In earlier cases, a mentally-challenged man’s hands were tied while a mob beat him up and a woman with a similar illness was held captive by a mob. Both these incidents took place in Rajasthan. Another incident where a mentally-challenged man was beaten by a mob over false suspicions of being a child-lifter was debunked by Alt News. This had taken place in Madhya Pradesh.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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21st August 2019 / 2:48 pm / Last updated: 21st August 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mentally-challenged-man-beaten-on-false-child-lifting-suspicions-video-viral-to-stoke-rumours/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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Mentally challenged woman falsely accused of child kidnapping held hostage by mob - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
22nd August 2019 / 7:15 pm / Last updated: 24th August 2019
Two videos of a woman held hostage by a mob which is accusing her of child-lifting is viral on social media. In the first video, the mob is questioning the woman dressed in a black saree about her team of ‘child-kidnappers’. Facebook user Sunita Jairam posted the video with the message, “सावधान पूरे हिन्दुस्तान में रोहिंग्या की 2000 लोगो की टीम आयी है जो बच्चों को उठा के ले जा रही है कोई बेचता है कोई बलि के लिये ले जाता है खुद देखो सुनो ओर ज्यादा से ज्यादा इसे फैलाओ (a team of 2,000 Rohingyas are on a prowl across the country to kidnap children. They either sell these kids or sacrifice them. Watch and listen to it yourself and share it as much as possible -translated)”. The post has garnered close to 5,000 shares.
सावधान पूरे हिन्दुस्तान में रोहिंग्या की 2000 लोगो की टीम आयी है जो बच्चों को उठा के ले जा रही है कोई बेचता है कोई बलि के लिये ले जाता है खुद देखो सुनो ओर ज्यादा से ज्यादा इसे फैलाओ
Posted by Sunita Jairam on Monday, 19 August 2019
Another video of the same woman, where is she is inquired by the mob about the number of abducted children and their whereabouts, is also circulating on social media. Facebook user Vikram Singh shared this video with a similar narrative.
Alt News looked at multiple news reports related to incidents where people mistaken for child-kidnappers were caught in Uttar Pradesh. We found that this woman was held hostage by a mob in Dimrauni village of UP’s Jhansi district. A YouTube Channel Bharat News 24 Live claimed that the woman was a child-lifter. The reporter in the video is speaking to the woman in Badagaon police station.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cZ_adcUNGo
On August 3, Amar Ujala reported that the woman held captive by a mob in Dimrauni village over suspicion of her being child-kidnapper was later handed over to the police. Contrary to the above report, Amar Ujala’s report said that the police has declared her to be mentally ill.
Alt News contacted Badagaon police station to confirm the incident and inquire about its status. We were informed that the incident is at least 15-20 days old and the woman was a mentally-challenged person. The villagers had mistaken her for being a child-lifter. SI RK Pandey said, “we have not arrested any child-kidnapper recently.”
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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22nd August 2019 / 7:15 pm / Last updated: 24th August 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mentally-challenged-woman-falsely-accused-of-child-kidnapping-held-hostage-by-mob/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Mentally unstable man beaten by mob in Himachal over false child-lifting rumours - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
8th September 2019 / 8:51 pm
A video of a man hounded by a mob over suspicions of child-lifting has been shared on social media with the claim that a gang of child-kidnappers was caught in Nalagarh in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh. “नालागढ़ में पकड़ा बच्चा चोर घिरोर ,” wrote Facebook user Babloo Panwar to circulate the video last month. The clip drew 41,000 views.
नालागढ़ में पकड़ा बच्चा चोर घिरोर
Posted by Babloo panwar on Sunday, 11 August 2019
Another video of the same incident was shared by Panwar.
बच्चा चोर की की पिटाई
नालागढ़
Posted by Babloo panwar on Monday, 12 August 2019
Alt News contacted Baddi police, Solan district. After looking at the video, the police informed us that a mentally unstable man was caught and beaten by locals in Salhewal over false rumours of child-kidnapping.
“This man had come from Chandigarh and had lost his way. Locals apprehended him as they found him suspicious and also beat him up. Later, when the police intervened, his wife and mother came and we found that the man was mentally unstable. He came to Himachal after getting into a fight at home. The incident took place in Salhewal and has nothing to do this child-kidnapping. It’s a false rumour,” said the police.
Child-kidnapping rumours are rampant in the country, with mobs taking the lives of innocents in several cases. Mentally-challenged individuals have become the most common victims of mob violence sparked by such false rumours.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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8th September 2019 / 8:51 pm
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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Meteorological department calls out mainstream media reports on flood alert in Bangalore - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
14th August 2019 / 11:13 pm / Last updated: 16th August 2019
A section of the mainstream media reported that 28 sites in Bengaluru city have been put on a high alert by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) of the state. Times of India, Deccan Herald and several other leading media publication had published reports about an alert issued by the Met Department and Urban Development authorities respectively.
“For the next three days heavy to very heavy rains expected. The civic authorities for the first time has issued flood alerts on about 83 locations in Bangalore”, reads the text inscribed in the graphic created by using a newspaper cutting which is circulating on social media. Twitter user Sushma Tiwaari posted the same graphic with a message alerting other users on social media.
A few more individuals on Twitter and Facebook have also posted about the red alert of heavy rains in the city of Bengaluru.
Alt News was alerted by a Twitter user, who claimed that a graphic about a false alert has been circulating on social media. On searching for news reports related to the alert, we found an article published by The News Minute on August 10, 2019.
According to the report, officials at the IMD and the Karnataka State Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) rubbished reports published by at least four English dailies which stated a ‘flood alert’ or ‘heavy rainfall’ alert in Bengaluru in the coming days.
CS Patil, the director and scientist at IMD in a statement given to the media organization said, “What is the basis for those reports? No such heavy rain is there. There is a possibility of light to moderate rainfall in Bengaluru in the next five days”. The same was reiterated by the officials at Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring centre. “I don’t know what is the basis for this. There is no such rainfall forecasted. There are systems to understand, vulnerable points and correctly alert people at an appropriate time. But as of now, for the next one week, there is no heavy rainfall predicted. I don’t know why reports said that Bengaluru flood,” said Subha Avinash, the scientific officer (Hydrology) to TNM.
The reports by the English dailies were based on a meeting held by the Mayor to inform about the precautionary measures taken by the BBMP with regards to the torrential downpours in the city. “In that meeting, the Storm Water Drain Department of the BBMP presented a list of more than 170 vulnerable points in the city including major junctions in the central business districts even spread over eight zones of the city.”, stated the report.
In conclusion, a false alert raised by a section of mainstream media which reported that the Indian Meteorological Department had issued an alert for heavy rains in Bengaluru was circulated on social media to create unnecessary panic in the citizens.
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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14th August 2019 / 11:13 pm / Last updated: 16th August 2019
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Methodology for fact checking - Alt News
Alt News continuously monitors social media and mainstream media for incorrect and/or dubious information. Our sources for topics include:
Given the volume of fake claims that are circulating on any given day, Alt News makes a selection of which ones to debunk. The following parameters are considered for selection of topics we write on:
Once a suspicious claim has been selected for a fact check, Alt News engages in systematic research to verify it. To debunk any fake claim, Alt News may use one or more of the below methodologies:
Using a variety of tools and methods described above, Alt News evaluates the veracity of a claim and arrives at a conclusion. Where relevant, more than one tool is used to conclusively debunk the fake claim.
Once the claim has been selected, researched and evaluated, Alt News puts out the information in public domain through articles that are detailed yet reader friendly. We strive to establish the context in which the particular claim was made, focus on simplicity of language, and provide links that debunk the claim so that readers can verify the information for themselves. If the information is inadequate or out of bounds, we refrain from passing conclusive judgement.
Information is often dynamic, as a result of which stories have to be constantly updated. Alt News keeps an eye out for relevant news and updates its articles so as to provide readers with the latest and the most accurate information. In the event of an error on our part, we are prompt in acknowledging and correcting it.
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/methodology-for-fact-checking/",
"author": null
}
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MHA Annual Report fiasco: Photographer claims copyright violation in an email to Alt News - Alt News
Alt News Desk
17th June 2017 / 1:51 am / Last updated: 17th June 2017
“If it’s a mistake by the ministry, we will apologise,” is what Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi reportedly said upon being informed about the gaffe in the annual report released by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) where in a picture of Spain-Morocco border has been used to show Indian border floodlighting. Alt News reached out to the photographer who had originally taken this photo in 2006 and uploaded on the website Panoramio.
Javier Moyano in an email to Alt News has confirmed that the image was indeed shot by him on the border between Ceuta and Morocco in North Africa. Ceuta is an Spanish autonomous city located on the north coast of Africa, bordered by the Strait of Gibraltar and sharing a 6.4 km land border with Morocco. Moyano has additionally stated that Government of India has not respected the copyright.
Moyano’s clarification should end the debate as to whether it was a mistake or not on the part of Ministry of Home Affairs. Hopefully, the MHA ordered investigation will reveal in quick time as to who was responsible for this major slip-up. Just yesterday, Power Minister Piyush Goyal had used an image from Amnesty International India’s report on human rights violation by Coal India to boast about their achievements. Government of India must do their due diligence to ensure that such slip-ups do not happen in the future and the copyright of work by individual photographers is honoured.
Alt News story which revealed the misuse of Moyano’s picture can be read here.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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17th June 2017 / 1:51 am / Last updated: 17th June 2017
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mha-annual-report-fiasco-photographer-claims-copyright-violation-email-alt-news/",
"author": "Alt News Desk"
}
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Ministry of External Affairs shares news about use of Saudi Arabian airspace that is denied by Saudi - Alt News
Sam Jawed
14th February 2018 / 4:16 pm
“Riyadh allows Air India to use space for Israel flights”. The official Facebook page of Ministry of External Affairs shared this news quoting Israeli daily Haaretz as its source. The news was also widely reported across Indian media and hailed as a “historic first”, a “diplomatic win” and “a sign of India’s nimble diplomacy in the region” For 70 years, Saudi airspace has been closed to aircrafts with a flight-path to Israel. Opening up of Saudi airspace for Air India’s proposed flights to Israel would mean shorter flight time, reduced fuel costs and cheaper tickets. Predictably the news led to much cheer on social media. There was only one slight problem: Israeli daily Haaretz which first broke the news had retracted it within four hours after a denial from Saudi Arabia. Ministry of External Affairs, most Indian media and social media users missed this important update.
On February 7th, Israeli daily Haaretz broke the news that Saudi Arabia has allowed flights to Israel over its airspace. The story was based on unnamed sources in the Israeli flight industry. Exactly four hours later it retracted the news saying that Saudi Arabia had denied approval of flights to Israel over its airspace. The update was based on a Reuters report quoting a spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.
In historic first, Saudi Arabia allows flights to Israel over its airspace https://t.co/VFxMxYjPna
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) February 7, 2018
According to Reuters, Saudi Denies Approval of Flights to Israel Over Its Airspacehttps://t.co/AvygqW1qK6
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) February 7, 2018
The headline of the story was changed from “In a historic first, Saudi Arabia allows flights to Israel over its airspace” to “Saudi Arabia denies report of historic approval of flights to Israel using its airspace”.
The story on Haaretz website now carries the revised headline and is carefully worded to say “If confirmed, Saudi Arabia’s move would be the first public recognition of its warming ties with Israel and would be huge blow to El Al” and “If true, Riyadh’s approval would mean that the duration of flights from India to Israel will be shortened by two-and-a-half hours, compared to the route currently in use.” But then as the title states, the article clarifies that “according to Reuters, a spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation denied the report, saying the agency had not granted Air India permission to operate direct flights from Delhi to Tel Aviv.”
According to a report by Reuters, Air India had “asked” for permission to fly over Saudi airspace. “An Air India spokesman and Israel’s Airports Authority said the state-run carrier had requested slots for three weekly flights between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.” It further reported a spokesman for Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation as saying that the agency had not granted any permission to Air India.
A report by Al Arabiya also confirmed that no permission was granted by Saudi Arabia.
It is interesting to note that while Indian press rushed to believe the initial Haaretz story, barring a few, most completely ignored the amended version posted by Haaretz. No one thought of confirming the news with Air India or Ministry of Civil Aviation either. More alarming however is the Facebook post by Ministry of External Affairs sharing a news after it has been denied and retracted. One would have expected a ministry to be better informed. It is possible that in the coming days, Saudi Arabia may actually open up its airspace for flights to Tel Aviv. But then why count your chickens before they are hatched? Save the celebrations for later.
Nobody's cheerleader, I tweet at @samjawed65
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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14th February 2018 / 4:16 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/ministry-external-affairs-shares-news-use-saudi-arabian-airspace-denied-saudi/",
"author": "Sam Jawed"
}
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Ministry of Finance misleads - Equates decrease in inflation to decrease in prices - Alt News
Sam Jawed
6th December 2017 / 10:21 pm
The Ministry of Finance would like us to believe that Inflation Data shows a steady decline in general prices. To do so, they have tweeted a chart that shows consumer price inflation percentage from 2005 till Oct 2017. The tweet is factually incorrect and betrays either a complete lack of understanding of the concept of inflation or a conscious attempt to mislead the gullible.
Inflation Data shows a steady decline in general prices : pic.twitter.com/HolLLXOSur
— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) December 5, 2017
The rate of inflation represents the general rate of increase in the average prices of goods and services over a period of time. A falling inflation rate means that the rate of increase in average prices has slowed down. It does not mean that prices of goods and services have fallen. Average prices are still going up, albeit the rate of increase is lower than the previous period. The ministry in its tweet has confused the falling rate of inflation with decline in prices or deflation
This faux pas did not go entirely unnoticed and was called out by many on Twitter who responded by giving the Finance Ministry account a lesson in economics.
Vivek Kaul who is the author of the ‘Easy Money’ trilogy tweeted:
The ministry of finance clearly does not understand the definition of inflation. The difference between falling prices and the fall in rate of price rise. Two very distinct things. https://t.co/ycDfcK3UMr
— Vivek (@kaul_vivek) December 6, 2017
Stanley Pignal who is the Mumbai correspondent for the ‘The Economist’ tweeted:
FYI if the blue bars are *above* the x-axis, it means general prices are increasing. So a "steady decline in general prices" this is not. https://t.co/QuwMAcetgs
— Stanley Pignal (@spignal) December 6, 2017
Another Twitter user, Nitin Pande, who is the Director of Innorenovte Solutions Pvt. Ltd., tweeted:
Inflation is rate of increase and it coming down does not mean that prices are coming down. It simply means that rate with which prices are increasing is coming down. Prices are still rising.
— Nitin Pande (@nitinpande1305) December 5, 2017
In India, inflation was calculated by RBI using the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) till 2014, after which a shift was made to Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is the price of a representative basket of goods and services at the retail level that a household acquires for consumption. The items are assigned weights that are indicative of relative importance of the groups and sub-groups under which these goods and services are categorised. The CPI data is released on a monthly basis by The Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Here is the Consumer Price Index chart since 2013 showing an increase in CPI over the years.
The data on the rate of inflation shared by the ministry shows that the rate of increase in prices is slowing down. As long as the inflation rate is positive, it is indicative of an increase in prices. A decline in prices will lead to a negative rate of increase or what is known as deflation.
Clearly, the Ministry of Finance in its enthusiasm to showcase the achievements of the Government has boasted of a “steady decline” in prices when it is clearly not so. Interestingly, the MoF’s claim coincides with the RBI keeping the interest rate unchanged for the second successive time over concerns of price rise owing to a spike in international crude oil prices. RBI has also raised its inflation forecast for the second half of the year from 4.2-4.6% to 4.3-4.7%.
Concepts of economics can be complicated and even esoteric, as a result of which misleading information can easily be masqueraded as accurate and conclusive data. Was this slip-up by the Ministry of Finance an instance of incompetence, a mistake or was it an attempt at sophistry? Either way, it is disconcerting to see the Ministry of Finance, an institution tasked with the responsibility of setting the fiscal policy, put out a misleading claim with regard to the economy.
Nobody's cheerleader, I tweet at @samjawed65
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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6th December 2017 / 10:21 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/ministry-finance-misleads-equates-decrease-inflation-decrease-prices/",
"author": "Sam Jawed"
}
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1,881 |
Ministry of Civil Aviation tweets photo of Bangkok Airport as Chennai Airport - Alt News
Archit
1st August 2021 / 11:24 am
On July 30, the Ministry of Civil Aviation tweeted three images claiming they show the Chennai International Airport.
Spectacular Indian Airports!
Located in the detroit of Asia Chennai, the Chennai International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic. In 2020 ,the Chennai International Airport handled around 22.2 million passengers.#SabUdenSabJuden pic.twitter.com/rgjTXS3TxT
— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) July 30, 2021
Alt News performed a reverse image search on all the images and found that the first image is not from Chennai but Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Similar photos of the airport can be found on several stock photo websites.
The following is a comparison between the MoCA image and the one on Alamy which establishes that both show the same airport.
We found the image used by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on multiple websites like Flickr and PX Here with the false caption that the image shows Chennai airport.
To conclude, the Ministry of Civil Aviation shared an image of Bangkok Airport and passed it off as Chennai airport. Readers should note that the other two images (top right, bottom right) indeed show the Chennai Airport.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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news-altnews
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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1st August 2021 / 11:24 am
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/ministry-of-civil-aviation-tweets-photo-of-bangkok-airport-as-chennai-airport/",
"author": "Archit"
}
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1,882 |
Ministry of Health's claim about Zika virus endangers new-borns of infected mothers - Alt News
Rohan Gurjar
19th June 2019 / 12:44 pm
Zika Virus infection is a disease caused by the Zika virus spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. This infection can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her foetus and is dangerous for new-borns as it can result in foetal microcephaly. Foetal microcephaly is characterised by smaller head and brain size and can cause problems such as seizures, developmental delay, difficulty in movement and balance, speech defects and vision defects.
On the 3rd of November 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), in a press release titled “Zika Virus strain that causes microcephaly not found in Rajasthan”, stated that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had sequenced 5 Zika virus strains collected from Jaipur to determine genetic mutations that may lead to foetal microcephaly and high transmissibility related to the infection. The press release claimed that known mutations linked to microcephaly were not present in the Zika virus strain that had affected Rajasthan.
This article will examine the aforementioned claim made in the MoHFW press release
The ministry suggested that the results from this sequencing did not find any ‘known mutations’ linked to foetal microcephaly and high transmissibility. Thereby, the government is suggesting that:
A study in 2017 by Yuan et al in the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Beijing, China, showed that ‘S139N’ gene mutation in the genetic material of Zika virus was responsible for increased virulence and increased damage to brain cells leading to microcephaly in new-borns. However, strains lacking the mutation also damaged neural cells. This study was performed on cells in the laboratory and gives little insights into human infection. This has been falsely interpreted by the ICMR to say that strains carrying S139N mutation are solely responsible for microcephaly.
Additional studies suggest that strains of Zika strains without these mutations can cause birth defects. For example, a 2018 study from Thailand shows that even in the absence of S139N mutation, cases of microcephaly were reported.
Dr Nathan Grubaugh, Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health has been involved with Zika epidemic studies of Brazil and US. He spoke to Alt News and expressed deep concerns regarding the policies implemented based on ‘known mutations.’ He stated that, “There is no evidence stating S139N is responsible for 100% of the microcephaly cases. The available lab evidence suggests that any Zika virus strain may produce birth-defects. We should treat all strains as equally dangerous until further research says otherwise”. He has expressed his thoughts in details in his articles in Cell Press Review and The Hindu. This sentiment was shared by other scientists, like Scott C. Weaver, a microbiologist at the University of Texas, who worked on the Brazilian outbreak. He said “It is still too early to conclude that any particular strain cannot cause microcephaly.”
The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune studied the Zika strains from 10 human serum samples from Jaipur, Rajasthan, published in Infection, Genetics and Evolution. In contrast to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s claim, the authors from NIV clearly state that although no S139N mutations were seen in the tested strains, it cannot be ruled out that the present strains of Zika cannot cause birth defects and large outbreaks and should be treated as such. .
Thus, expert opinions and various research data from India and abroad, suggest that the press release that claims that, there are no known microencephaly causing mutations in the virus found in India, is misinformed. This is more dangerous as the perception of this misinformation has been the basis of formatting policy to protect and educate pregnant women travelling in the areas in India where the Zika virus outbreaks have been found.
The climate in India is conducive to the transmission of diseases by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is responsible to the spread of Zika, especially during the months with rainfall. Two outbreaks of Zika have been detected in India in September-October 2018. There were 154 cases in Rajasthan and 127 cases in Madhya Pradesh. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in USA, had issued a warning and advised pregnant women to avoid travelling to India. However, the Government of India sent a rebuttal to CDC to withdraw or modify this alert as the outbreaks have been contained within small areas.
The extent of Zika outbreak and transmission cannot be predetermined since 4 out of 5 individuals infected with Zika do not show any symptoms and can transmit the virus. A surveillance that depends on reported cases will not be able to identify infected persons who do not show symptoms. It is not possible to say the cases were localised since most of the cases are undetected.
A 2017 paper by Siraj et al predicts that a Zika epidemic could cause more than 450 million infections in India, more than six-fold of any other country. Hence, more aggressive strategies of diagnosis, surveillance and community mobilization education, especially to pregnant women are needed.
Secondly, on one hand, the Government is downplaying the risks of Zika in India, but on the other pregnant women are being advised for abortion. In at least 2 cases, the officials advised Zika infected pregnant mothers to undergo abortion has been reported in DownToEarth.
The protocols laid down by WHO for the monitoring Zika infected pregnant women are based on ultrasound and diagnosing for microcephaly. These do not include advice for abortion. As Nathan Grubaugh has commented, clinicians advising for abortions based on Zika infection is unheard of in the rest of the world and is appalling.
Thus, the press release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the mention of lack of ‘known mutations’ for microcephaly is based on misrepresentation of the scientific studies conducted on the genetic material of the virus. It is inconclusive to say that a mutation linked with the most dangerous symptom of the infection, i.e. birth defects of head size, do not exist in the type of Zika virus in India.
Moreover, there is not sufficient evidence to say whether the Zika is contained in small areas as mentioned in the rebuttal to the CDC. It is likely that the extent of the outbreak goes undetected since the majority of infections do not exhibit any symptoms.
The ministry of health and family welfare should responsibly interpret the scientific studies emerging on the Zika virus and take appropriate measures to raise awareness about the disease.
Rohan Gurjar has a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Liverpool. The main area of his research has been to investigate drug-drug interactions and the influence of genetic polymorphisms on the treatment of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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19th June 2019 / 12:44 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/ministry-of-healths-claim-about-zika-virus-endangers-new-borns-of-infected-mothers/",
"author": "Rohan Gurjar"
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1,883 |
Minor girl's death in MP falsely linked with Delhi riots and Tahir Hussain - Alt News
Archit
9th March 2020 / 7:35 pm
Several social media users have posted an image of a minor girl and claimed that her burnt clothes were found at AAP councillor Tahir Hussain’s residence. The claim adds that the girl’s naked corpse was found in a drain connected to his house. “She has been identified,” it alleges.
[Translated from #ताहिर #हुसैन के आतंक की फैक्ट्री घर से जिस लड़की के कपड़े बरामद हुवे थे और बदन पर एक कपड़ा भी नही था उसकी नाले में लाश मिली थी उसकी पहचान हो चुकी है].
In order to protect the identity of the minor, Alt News has not attached the screenshots of the viral posts.
Several right-wing media websites such as Hindu Post (archive link), Sirf News (archive link), Best Hindi News (archive link) and National Dunia (report deleted) also shared the viral image of the minor claiming that she was found in the drain near Hussain’s house.
Alt News performed a reverse image search of the girl’s photograph on Google along with appropriate keywords and found a February 21 report by Dainik Bhaskar. According to the report, a class 12 student was killed in a fire that broke out in her house when she was alone. The police speculated suicide after matchsticks were allegedly recovered from her residence. The girl’s family members however refuted the suicide angle. The incident took place in Parsuliya Kalan, a village in Susner tehsil of Madhya Pradesh.
As per the article, the house burned down on February 20 however, SHO Susner Vivek Kanodi informed Alt News that the incident took place on February 19.
Alt News performed another keyword search on YouTube and found a February 25 video by one Nitesh Sharma. At the 1:19 mark, Manish Jain, SDM Susner, stated that suspects named by the girl’s father are being interrogated and the forensics team is analysing if the victim was raped or not.
In a telephonic conversation with Alt News, Sub Divisional Police Officer JP Rawat, who is a part of the special investigations team, said, “As per our investigation, the door was locked from inside. As a result, we suspect a case of suicide. However, the parents have named the boy next door as a suspect. We have arrested him and registered the case under abatement of suicide, section 306 of the Indian Penal Code. We are now waiting for forensic reports for further investigation.”
When questioned if the case has any links with Tahir Hussani, the officer said, “Clearly there is no link with Delhi riots. There is no Hindu-Muslim angle to this case whatsoever.”
Therefore several right-wing media outlets and social media users published a false and misleading claim about an incident from Madhya Pradesh and linked it with Delhi riots.
🙏 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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9th March 2020 / 7:35 pm
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"author": "Archit"
}
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1,884 |
Minor girl's rape in UP's Baghpat shared with false anti-Muslim spin - Alt News
Archit
6th December 2021 / 6:35 pm / Last updated: 6th December 2021
On November 29, Amar Ujala and Dainik Jagran reported that a 15-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district was allegedly raped by two men. Subsequently, several social media users shared a clipping of Jagran’s report and claimed that the girl was raped by two “jihadis”.
Patanjali’s Rakesh, a verified Twitter user, posted the viral news clipping. His tweet gained over 1,000 retweets. It stated that the incident happened in a Hindu majority village named Ramla, thus implying that the victim was from the Hindu community.
क्या बागपत पाक या अफगानिस्तान में है?? :-
डरे हुए लोगो के काम
65% हिंदुओ वाले रामला गांव में पिता घर से बाहर थे।गांव के 2 जिहादी जबदस्ती हिन्दू घर मे घुसे, दिन दहाड़े 15 वर्षीय लड़की को अगवा कर साथ ले गए।
रात भर लड़की से बलात्कार किया और सुबह उसको घर के पास छोड़ गए। pic.twitter.com/usShiiVfo8
— भारत (@rakesh_bstpyp) November 30, 2021
This was earlier posted by a Facebook user. In fact, several Facebook and Twitter users have posted the clipping. Using Crowdtangle, a social media research tool, Alt News noticed that it has been posted across multiple pro-Hindu FB groups such as ‘HINDU COMMUNITY IN USA‘; ‘🚩हिन्दू धर्म रक्षक💪’ [Protector of Hindu religion]; and ‘हिन्दू राष्ट्र 🚩🙏 (ग्रुप में अपने 50 मित्रों को जोड़े🙏)’ [Hindu protector (add 50 friends in the group)] among others.
On December 1, Baghpat police tweeted two images stating that two men were arrested in the case. The first image is a statement that gives details of the arrest. While the other shows the accused.
#baghpatpolice थाना रमाला पुलिस ने थाने के मु0अ0सं0 213/21 धारा 363/376A,D भादवि व 5g/6 पोक्सो एक्ट में वांछित 02 अभियुक्तों को किया गिरफ्तार। pic.twitter.com/aP4CwnlXaf
— Baghpat Police (@baghpatpolice) November 30, 2021
The accused are Prashant, son of Bharat, and Paramjeet, son of Ravindra.
Both are charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 363 (punishment for kidnapping) and 376 (punishment for rape).
On December 3, Baghpat police quote-tweeted @rakesh_bstpyp and @Maitreyeechakr5 stating, “Baghpat police denies misleading information related to the religion of the victim and the accused being circulated on certain social media platforms.”
थाना रमाला पर दि 29.11.21 को पंजीकृत मुकदमे की अपहृता को बरामद कर दोनो अभियुक्तों को गिरफ्तार किया गया। कतिपय सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म पर प्रसारित की जा रही पीड़िता व अभियुक्तों के धर्म से सम्बन्धित भ्रामक सूचना का बागपत पुलिस खण्डन करती है।#BPTViralCheck https://t.co/AafHtoo1T3 https://t.co/PntBKkggf1 pic.twitter.com/gvASWQfA3O
— Baghpat Police (@baghpatpolice) December 3, 2021
Alt News spoke with a local journalist who shared a press note by Ramala Thana. He informed that the victim hails from a minority community in Baghpat. Alt News spoke with Baghpat SHO. He said, “The accused and victims are from different communities. The victim, who is a minor, is from a minority community.” According to the official census 2011, Hindus form a majority in the Baghpat district.
The claim that Muslims raped a minor girl in UP’s Baghpat is, therefore, false.
🙏 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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6th December 2021 / 6:35 pm / Last updated: 6th December 2021
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"author": "Archit"
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1,885 |
Minority leader beaten in Bangladesh over political rivalry, incident falsely communalised - Alt News
Kalim Ahmed & Nilofar Absar
4th May 2022 / 7:48 pm / Last updated: 4th May 2022
A photo of a man tied to a tree and covered in blood is widely being shared as a photo of Jitendra Kanti Guha, who is a local Hindu leader in Bangladesh’s Chittagong. The photo is being shared with the claim that Guha was attacked in a barbaric fashion by Mohammed Jasim, the local leader of the Awami League, for refusing to be a part of an iftar party. The incident has been given communal overtones.
The photo was shared on Twitter by Rashmi Sawant, the former president of the Oxford University Students’ Union, who was asked to resign from her position after allegations of racism were made against her.
Many verified Twitter handles such as @shashank_ssj, @TrulyMonica, @rajgopal88, and @MajorPoonia have also shared photos of this incident with the same claim.
The photos are also viral on Facebook with the same claim.
We performed a keyword search on Google and came across various news reports about the incident. According to a report by United News of India (UNI), Jitendra Kanti Guha is a prominent Hindu leader from Bangladesh’s South Chittagong. Guha is the Vice-President of Bangladesh’s Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad in Chittagong South and also a former president of the local Awami League.
According to the report by UNI, the incident took place in front of the Gauchia Community Centre at Brahmanghata in Haidgaon at noon on April 29. An “Iftar mahfil” and discussion meeting was organised by the Haidgaon Union Awami League at Gauchia Community Centre. However, Union Parishad (UP) chairman BM Jasim was not invited to the Iftar mahfil. It is believed that the lack of invitation angered the local councilman and his followers and they attacked the venue.
Speaking to UNI, Shahidul Islam Zulu, joint convener of Haidgaon Union Awami League, said, “The Union Awami League did not invite Jasim to the Iftar party as he was elected as the rebel candidate of the ruling Awami League. He got angry and came to the venue with 30-40 people and started abusing different people including Mahmudul Haque Hafez, convener of the Union Awami League.”
As per The Daily Star, the incident occurred due to rivalry within the party. The report also reiterated that the workers of Hayndgaon Union Parishad Chairman carried out the attack due to the lack of invitation to the iftar party. BM Jasim, the local councilman, alleged that Guha was attacked by the locals because they were unhappy with him, as he [Guha] had taken money from them and promised to provide them with various facilities.
Alt News reached out to Imon Guha, son of Jitendra Guha. Imon confirmed that his father is indeed an Awami League leader and the attack was due to political rivalry within the party and not a hate crime due to his religious identity. “The rivalry with my father already existed long before this event took place. My father took part in an election that his rival, Jasim (the other leader) did not take this well. My father was not the organiser of the iftar party but only a guest, yet he was beaten up because of the pre-existing rivalry,” said Imon.
He further added, “Jasim, his son Wasi, Shakib and Indrajit Choudhury Leo were the ones who assaulted my father and were present during the incident. My father is against any kind of anti-social activities and the people who assaulted him were involved in such activities. Furthermore, the chairman wasn’t invited to the iftar and my father was. All of this led to the attack. My father is still in a lot of pain and his operation is yet to take place.”
We also came across a Facebook post made by one Subrata Dey, who claims to be a nephew of Jitendra Guha. The details shared by the nephew in the Facebook post corroborate the news reports and the statement given to us by Guha’s son.
To sum it up, Jitendra Guha was attacked due to political rivalry with the local councilman and not because he refused to be a part of an iftar party.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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4th May 2022 / 7:48 pm / Last updated: 4th May 2022
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/minority-leader-beaten-in-bangladesh-over-political-rivalry-incident-falsely-communalised/",
"author": "Kalim Ahmed & Nilofar Absar"
}
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1,886 |
Fact-check: Is this a video of a 'miracle' river that appears for one month in Southern India? - Alt News
Kinjal
1st October 2021 / 3:41 pm
A video of a gushing stream of water is viral on social media with the claim that it is ‘Pitri River’ appears for a month every year in Southern India. According to the claim, the river emerges on the new moon night of Pitru Paksha and disappears on Diwali, i.e., Amavasya (new moon). The video is being shared as a wonderful miracle of nature. Facebook page ‘Mahadev ke Pujari‘ made the same claim while posting the clip.
Facebook user Deepika Solanki also shared the visuals and accompanying claim.
This video is widespread on Facebook and Twitter. We received a few requests on the Alt News WhatsApp helpline number (+9176000 11160) to fact-check the clip.
It was also uploaded on YouTube in 2018 with the same claim.
Alt News performed a reverse image search of a frame from the video and found another version of it posted online in 2017. It was uploaded to YouTube on September 19, 2017, as a video of water from the Kaveri river entering Mayavaram, a town in Tamil Nadu. In addition, many other users had uploaded the visuals in 2017 as Tamil Nadu. (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDJ7iz368xI]
Upon further research, we found a report by The Hindu dated September 11, 2017. According to this, Kaveri Maha Pushkaram was going to be celebrated in Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuthurai from September 12-24, 2017.
Furthermore, a Deccan Chronicle story from September 10, 2017, stated that the coordinator of the Pushkaram committee had requested the Karnataka government to release water from the Kaveri river so that the Maha Pushkaram festival could be celebrated without any interruptions.
The Hindu reported on September 19, 2017, that the Karnataka government had released water from the Cauvery river from the Mettur dam. Following this, many devotees had gathered on the banks to worship the river.
India Today also published a fact-check article about this video in 2019.
Therefore, the Karnataka government released water from the Kaveri river in 2017 for devotees to celebrate the Kaveri Pushkaram festival in Tamil Nadu. This water did not enter the town due to natural causes. Visuals of the gushing water were falsely shared on social media as a miracle.
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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1st October 2021 / 3:41 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/miracle-south-indian-river-appears-for-a-month-of-every-year-false-claim/",
"author": "Kinjal"
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Mirror image used to portray JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh faked her injuries - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
10th January 2020 / 8:56 pm
Two photographs of JNSU president Aishe Ghosh have been juxtaposed together to portray that she plastered different arms at different times. Thus suggesting that her injuries are fake. Ghosh was injured during violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where masked goons attacked students on January 5-6. Shefali Vaidya was among those who made the allegation but later took it down.
RSS-affiliated ABVP’s national organising secretary Ashish Chauhan also shared the images. His tweet, now deleted, was retweeted by Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale, in-charge of BJP’s foreign affairs department.
Aishe Ghosh’s left arm is plastered, not the right. The photograph used to portray plaster on her right arm has been mirrored. Alt News found a similar image as the viral one where Ghosh can be seen at the same location. This was tweeted by Hindustan Times on January 7.
#JNUViolence | JNU student leader Aishe Ghosh, injured in Sunday mob attack, booked for destroying varsity propertyhttps://t.co/uYwD1xgXeA#JNUAttack pic.twitter.com/xef5pea7eO
— HT Delhi (@htdelhi) January 7, 2020
A comparison of the viral image with the one above evidently proves that the former has been mirrored. The similarities in both pictures are as follows:
The viral image is from the press conference addressed by Aishe Ghosh on January 6. A video of the event also shows her left arm plastered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxCjyl8bC4o
Furthermore, multiple other photographs of the JNUSU president reported in the media show that her left arm is plastered.
Delhi: DMK MP Kanimozhi meets Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union President Aishe Ghosh in the campus. #JNUViolence pic.twitter.com/VJm7Ocyoyg
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020
DMK MP @KanimozhiDMK met JNUSU Prez Aishe Ghosh, enquires about health.#JNUAttacks #AisheGhosh pic.twitter.com/rdvBy3T3Lm
— Puthiya Thalaimurai (@PTTVEnglish) January 8, 2020
One Rajesh Salunke who identifies himself as a “student activist” of ABVP raised suspicions about Ghosh’s injury.
Twitter user Sanjana Reddy (@Saffron_Kanya)’s post drew over 250 retweets.
Rosy (@rose_k01) followed by BJ IT cell head Amit Malviya and BJP Delhi spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga also tweeted the images.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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10th January 2020 / 8:56 pm
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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Old image of injured Hindu priest shared with false claim of an attack by Muslims - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
10th November 2021 / 4:09 pm
An image of a gravely injured man, claimed to be priest Amit Pandey of the Vindhyachal Temple in Mirzapur, is viral on Twitter. It has been alleged that he was attacked by a group of Muslims who tried to kill him. Alt News has blurred a portion of the image due to its graphic content.
Several users shared the image on Facebook with the same claim. One of them remarked that this was an attack on Hindu culture.
We noticed that a user tagged Mirzapur police to bring the alleged attack to their attention. Replying to the tweet, Mirzapur police’s handle stated this was an old case and action had already been taken.
प्रकरण पूर्व का है जिसमें थाना विंध्याचल पर अभियोग पंजीकृत कर नियमानुसार विधिक कार्यवाही की गई है।
— Mirzapur Police (@mirzapurpolice) October 30, 2021
Alt News discovered that the image was circulated earlier in June 2020 with the same claim of a Muslim mob attacking a Hindu priest. Mirzapur police had debunked it back then too, stating that the image was taken after a brawl at the Vindhyachal Temple between two parties from the Panda community. The police also warned that strict action would be taken against individuals spreading the false claim. Though this post was deleted later, its archived version can be accessed here.
Alt News reached out to Mirzapur police for more information. Mirzapur ASP (City) Sanjay Kumar confirmed that this was a scuffle between priests. He reiterated there was no communal angle to the incident.
Aaj Tak spoke to Amit Pandey’s brother Sumit who said the incident had taken place on June 28, 2020. Pandey was suddenly attacked by a group of priests from the temple when he arrived at night to perform prayers. Sumit clarified that the information about the attackers being Muslim was purely a rumour.
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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10th November 2021 / 4:09 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mirzapur-vindhyavasini-temple-brawl-between-priests-old-incident-shared-with-false-communal-angle/",
"author": "Priyanka Jha"
}
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Mischievously photoshopped image of Sonia Gandhi shared on social media - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
22nd March 2019 / 4:19 pm
A photograph of former UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi seen seated in the lap of another person has been uploaded on Facebook. The public group WE SUPPORT NARENDRA MODI with a membership of close to three million, has posted this photograph, which has been shared over 800 times.
The photograph has also been posted by the page Asaram Bapu, and by an individual user, whose post has been shared over 300 times. The message posted along with the photo is identical: लो बे चमचो सबूत…..😉कैसे बनी कैसे बनी……..!टमाटर बिना चटनी कैसे बनी .
This photograph had been circulated on social media in 2018 as well. Facebook page Yogi Sarkar had posted it in May 2018, which was shared over 3500 times. It was also shared on Twitter. This photograph had been fact-checked by Alt News Hindi in May 2018, when it was shared widely. Alt News found that the origin of this photograph is Sonia Gandhi’s meeting with the then Maldives President Abdul Gayoom during the latter’s visit to India in 2005.
The image was mischievously photoshopped and made to appear as if Ms. Gandhi is seated in the lap of Mr. Gayoom. Sonia Gandhi’s image from the above picture was cropped and placed together with that of Mr. Gayoom. The video posted below is a step-by-step illustration of how this was possibly achieved.
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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22nd March 2019 / 4:19 pm
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Misinformation about Air Marshal Hari being sacked propagated in Pak social media - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
2nd March 2019 / 8:43 pm / Last updated: 2nd March 2019
With the appointment of present Eastern Air Command chief Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar as the new chief of Indian Air Force’s sword arm Western Air Command (WAC), prominent Pakistani social media accounts started speculating that the previous chief of WAC, Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar had been sacked after the Indian Air Force lost one aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force. Wajahat Saeed Khan, a Pakistani journalist tweeted, ” Mid-conflict, the Indian Air Force has changed its Air Officer Commanding the Western front, with Pakistan? So is the previous guy fired? Or just golfing?”. The tweet suggested that the Air Marshal was fired after the purported ‘failure of IAF’ in an air battle against PAF.
So let me get this straight.
Mid-conflict, the Indian Air Force has changed its Air Officer Commanding the Western front, with Pakistan?
So is the previous guy fired? Or just golfing? https://t.co/dSy1fpw6Rq
— WSK (@WajSKhan) March 1, 2019
Another Pakistani journalist Omar Quraishi also reiterated the same claim by saying , “the Govt of India has sacked Air Marshal C H Kumar, the Air Office Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command”.
Two days after it lost 2 jets to the Pakistan Air Force and after one its pilots was captured by Pakistan, the Govt of India has sacked Air Marshal C H Kumar, the Air Office Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command – all ops in along India’s border with Pak come under him pic.twitter.com/AbeiXpEHdH
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) March 1, 2019
Alt News found that the information propagated about sacking of Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar after India lost one IAF aircraft is false. Air Marshal Kumar’s departure from the army is because he’s retiring, not because he was sacked. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, it is clearly stated, “Western Air Command Indian Air Force retired on 28 February 2019 after an illustrious career spanning over 39 yrs.”
According to 7th Pay Commission News, an Air Marshal retires at the age of 60. In a statement issued by the MoD, it was also stated, “The Air Marshal celebrated his sixtieth on 26 February and remained a soldier till the last of his service”.
A tweet put out by ANI on the news also confirmed that the Air Marshal C Hari Kumar had retired on the due date of his retirement after 39 years of service.
Western Air Command Chief Air Marshal C Hari Kumar( in pic) retired yesterday on his due date of retirement after completing more than 39 years of service. Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar took over as his successor pic.twitter.com/conjin6pNo
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019
The International News, a Pakistani English daily, published an article on March 1, 2019, which stated, “The Indian government has removed a senior air force officer reportedly after Pakistan’s successful strikes and capturing of a pilot on February 27.”
While the report has been updated with a statement from the Ministry of Defence that the Air Marshal had retired, the headline remained, “India removes senior IAF officer after Pakistan shoots down jets”.
Malayalam website Big News Live had also published an identical report on March 1, 2019, with the same title, “India removes Air Marshal Hari Kumar after Pakistan shoot down jets”. At the time of writing this article, the report has been deleted from the website.
In conclusion, Pakistani social media users and media outlets have propagated misinformation that the Western Air Command Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar was sacked after an IAF aircraft was shot down by PAF, while he had retired on the due date of his retirement.
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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2nd March 2019 / 8:43 pm / Last updated: 2nd March 2019
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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Misinformation by Gaurav Pradhan: Nirav Modi testified that he bribed Congress leaders to flee India - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
1st April 2019 / 9:26 pm / Last updated: 1st April 2019
NIRAV MODI STATEMENT IN LONDON COURT I was threatened by Congress leaders to escape and run away from India I paid them a commission of Rs 456 Cr to Congress leaders @RahulGandhi is this true? If not why @KapilSibal was rushed to London when NIRAV got arrested?
The above tweet is by Gaurav Pradhan, a prominent Twitter user who has spread misinformation on multiple occasions in the past. Pradhan’s tweet has been retweeted almost 7500 times.
NIRAV MODI STATEMENT IN LONDON COURT
I was threatened by Congress leaders to escape and run away from India
I paid them a commission of Rs 456 Cr to Congress leaders@RahulGandhi is this true? If not why @KapilSibal was rushed to London when NIRAV got arrested?
— चौकीदार #GauravPradhan 🇮🇳 (@DrGPradhan) March 31, 2019
A screenshot of his tweet has been posted by the Facebook page India Against Presstitutes, which has a following of over 550,000. The post has been shared over 3600 times. It has also been posted by the page Presstitutes, which has been shared over 6500 times so far.
Posted by Presstitutes on Sunday, March 31, 2019
The fact of the matter is that disgraced diamantaire Nirav Modi had not made any such statement in the London court, where a trial regarding his extradition to India is currently underway. Modi is a prime accused in the Rs.11000 crore PNB scam.
Alt News had spoken to Naomi Canton, who reports for Times of India in the UK. Canton had confirmed that Nirav Modi had not referred to what is being claimed on social media. “He (Nirav Modi) spoke just to confirm his name and gave his date of birth and address. He was asked if he consented to extradition and he said I do not consent. Other than that it was just his barrister who spoke and the CPS.”
In March 2019, a false message with regard to Nirav Modi had spread like wild fire on social media platforms. The message read, “नीरव मोदी का लंदन कोर्ट मे बयान,भागा नही हूं भगाया गया हूं जिसकी कीमत 456 करोड़ रुपए जो सरकार के मंत्रियों से लेकर भाजपा नेताओं और अफसरों मे बंटा है?? क्या इस न्यूज़ को मीडियावालों में हिम्मत है दिखाने की??”(Nirav Modi’s statement in London court, I had not run away, I had given Rs 456 crore to government ministers, BJP leaders and officials to help me escape the country. Did media have the courage to show this news? -translated).
The same message was circulated, alternatively by Congress and BJP supporters, seeking to pin the blame for Nirav Modi’s escape to the respective political parties. Needless to say, there was no basis to this claim
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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1st April 2019 / 9:26 pm / Last updated: 1st April 2019
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
}
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Misinformation by Indian mainstream media - Top stories 2018 - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
5th January 2019 / 11:45 am / Last updated: 5th January 2019
2018 marked yet another year when confidence and trust in mainstream media took a hit. There were a number of instances where top news organisations ended up disseminating misinformation, wittingly or otherwise. Disturbingly, on numerous occasions, reportage by media outlets ended up furthering the communal divide.
Ankit Kumar Garg, a 31-year old teacher was shot dead on October 1 in Delhi. Soon after the incident, multiple news organisations reported that this was a case of honour killing. The basis of the reports was the accusation by the victim’s family that Ankit was killed by the family of the Muslim girl he was in a relationship with.
Several media organisations including Zee News, Aaj Tak, News18, Dainik Bhaskar and Times Now reported that Garg’s murder was a case of honour killing. The language and tone of the reportage was inflammatory.
It turned out that the motive for the murder was not honour killing. This was confirmed by Delhi police which stated that a BTech student had been arrested for the murder, and the motive was jealousy over the friendship of the victim with a female.
On October 13, the wife and son of a Gurgaon district judge were shot in broad daylight by their personal security officer (PSO) while on duty. On October 16, the police declared that the sole motive behind the murder was “sudden rage”. Several initial media reports had, however, linked the murder to “religious conversion” even before the police concluded its investigation.
These media reports declared that the accused had pressurised the judge’s family to embrace Christianity, which led to frequent altercations, and the subsequent attack. The basis of these reports was the perpetrator’s spiritual inclination and the multiple statements he gave during police interrogation. Several news organisations like Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Jagran, One India and Aaj Tak had reported this.
Haryana police clarified that the murder was not linked to the spiritual inclination of the perpetrator. “After probing all aspects of the case, we have reached the conclusion that Mahipal left the car unattended when the judge’s wife and son went shopping in Arcadia market, Gurgaon. When he was questioned and rebuked for not returning on time, he shot the duo in a fit of rage,” said DCP (crime) Sumit Kumar in a press conference.
Although many media organisations later updated their reports, there was no acknowledgement or clarification regarding the misreporting of the incident.
“No rape of the girl in Kathua, postmortem report only talks of injuries” screamed the front page of the Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran on April 20. The article claimed that the post-mortem report of the Kathua incident makes no mention of rape. It stated that there could be other reasons for the injuries that the victim suffered. The report went on to explain that scratches on the thigh could be a result of a fall and the torn hymen could be a result of activities like cycling, swimming, horse riding etc. The article had no mention of other injuries that also point to a possibility of sexual assault.
The Dainik Jagran report was in contradiction to the post-mortem report of the rape victim of Kathua. Alt News accessed the post-mortem report, in which there was mention of blood on labia, vulval lacerations, vaginal bleeding, hymen not intact and blood marks on thighs and abdomen. Moreover, a subsequent written response by the Board of Doctors of the District Hospital Kathua to the police clearly explained that “injuries mentioned could be because of any form of sexual assault”.
On December 3, a policeman was killed in clashes after a mob went on a rampage protesting alleged illegal cow slaughter in Siana tehsil of Bulandshahr district, U.P. The outbreak of violence coincided with the three-day ijtema gathering of Islamic scholars from December 1 to December 3 in Bulandshahr.
Sudarshan News chief Suresh Chavhanke tweeted that the violence was linked to the ijtema gathering. In another tweet, Chavhanke referred to the ‘Tablighi Jamaat’ as the organiser of the Ijtema, adding that it is on the radar of security agencies. Sudarshan News also broadcast a prime time programme on the same.
#बुलंदशहर_इज्तेमा के आयोजक “तब्लीगी जमात” सुरक्षा एजन्सियो के रडार पर पहले से है। आज भी करोड़ों लोगों को कभी भी कही भी एक करने की क्षमता रखते है यह। कई देशों के साथ हि कई संदिग्ध संस्थाओं से है लिंक का इनपुट https://t.co/0b8b2bVUes
— 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 also appealed not to spread misinformation about the violence.
With the Ram Janmabhoomi issue once again at the forefront of public discourse, certain news organisations in November 2018 reported that “Muslim women” were wholeheartedly supporting the cause of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. For instance, Amar Ujala published an article titled – “We swear on God, Mandir will be built there: Muslim women come forward, men’s stance unclear (translated).”
It turned out that these Muslim women who were spearheading this campaign were doing so under the banner of organisations affiliated to the RSS. ‘Muslim Rashtriya Manch’ and ‘Rashtriya Ekta Mission’ are platforms under the umbrella of the sangh parivar. This detail was omitted in the report by Amar Ujala, giving the impression that a mass of Muslim women from Meerut had extended their support to the cause of Ram mandir.
“शुरू हो गया वो सब कुछ जिसका डर था. #up की एक #मस्जिद से आया फरमान – “टुकड़े टुकड़े में काटना है @Uppolice वालों को” (Everything we were afraid of has started. #up A decree came from a #mosque – cut them @uppolice into pieces- translated) tweeted Suresh Chavhanke, the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan News channel on July 21, 2018 with an article titled exactly the same, which claimed that a decree against the UP Police has been passed by a mosque in Uttar Pradesh. What followed was an inflammatory article.
शुरू हो गया वो सब कुछ जिसका डर था . #up की एक #मस्जिद से आया फरमान – “टुकड़े टुकड़े में काटना है @Uppolice वालों को”@baghpatpolice @dgpup @myogiadityanath @narendramodi@adgzonemeerut @HMOIndia #UPCM https://t.co/B2YBnlCpZ2
— Suresh Chavhanke STV (@SureshChavhanke) July 21, 2018
Baghpat police, UP had responded via Twitter through a video that explained the details of the incident of a public threat which was given to a police officer over a death caused due to drowning. In a conversation with Alt News, the police rubbished the claim about a decree passed by any mosque against the police. However, there was no clarification or retraction from Sudarshan News.
In an alleged case of fake encounters, the Uttar Pradesh police on September 21 shot deadtwo purported criminals – Mustaqeem and Naushad – in Aligarh’s Harduaganj, and ‘invited’ media personnel to film the act. Aligarh SP Atul Srivastava later refuted that the encounters were stage-managed.
Activists, journalists and student leaders of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), including Umar Khalid, visited the kin of the deceased on September 27 to investigate the encounters. The following day, several media outlets reported that Khalid was involved in abducting family members of the alleged criminals. These included Zee News, Dainik Jagran and Jansatta.
The women had not been abducted but had accompanied Khalid and others of their own free will. This was affirmed by the women in a conversation with Alt News. Speaking to Alt News, Umar Khalid reiterated the same. The titles of several media reports portrayed Umar Khalid as involved in the abduction, while the articles failed to establish the same.
At 5:41 pm on April 9, Times Now broke a story. The story was that Nirav Modi, accused in the Rs.11000 crore PNB scam has been arrested in Hong Kong.
“Alright, this is the big breaking news coming in now, Nirav Modi has been arrested in Hong Kong. That is what we are breaking for you first on Times Now. Reports coming in of Nirav Modi arrested in Hong Kong; this could be a major major breakthrough for the security agencies, for the investigative agencies who are trying to get Nirav Modi back in India and face the law”, said the Times Now anchor.
Curiously, Times Now did not return to this ‘big breaking news’, for the simple reason that Nirav Modi had not been arrested. The only update at that time was the possibility of Hong Kong acceding to India’s request for his arrest.
In January, Times of India published an article titled, “Roommate of AMU PhD student who joined Hizbul also missing”. A day after the news broke out that PhD scholar at Aligarh Muslim University Mannan Bashir Wani had allegedly joined terrorist group Hijbul Mujahideen, Times of India reported that his roommate too has been missing. Quoting Aligarh SSP, Rajesh Pandey, the paper claimed that a preliminary enquiry has revealed the roommate who was also from Baramulla is missing since July 2017.
In a call to Free Press Kashmir, the gentleman in question stated that “I am very disturbed since I saw this report. I have a career and a life here and this news report has put me in danger. This journalist never called or spoke to me before doing this report. I don’t know how they are claiming that I am missing and what they mean by it.” This was also confirmed by Baramulla police via a tweet.
“We were very confident that we can never come to power. So our people suggested us just to make tall promises. Now people remind us of our promises…Now we just laugh and move on.” said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in 34-second clip which went viral on social media. Gadkari was on a Colors Marathi reality show, Assal Pavhane, Irsal Namune alongside Bollywood actor Nana Patekar as a guest on October 4, 2018.
Numerous media organisations such the Times of India, The Week and The Wire misquoted Gadkari by reporting that the latter had acknowledged that his party made promises in the run-up to the general election of 2014.
Gadkari was speaking in the context of the Maharashtra assembly election which took place in late 2014, and not the general election of the same year. The false conclusion drawn by media organisations was on the basis of a truncated video clip.
A Kannada news channel, BTV News reported in May 2018 that the IGP of Karnataka had been transferred by Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy. Several mainstream media organisations reported the same. These included DNA, Financial Express, Zee News and Swarajya. According to reports, the transfer took place because the top cop had made West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee walk almost a kilometre for the swearing-in ceremony of the Karnataka CM.
The fake news was busted by The News Minute which confirmed that no such transfer order has been issued. “I am only the CM designate, not the CM until the floor test is over. I cannot make decisions about who should be transferred. Neelamani Raju has not been transferred now,” said Kumaraswamy, according to the report by The News Minute.
In February 2018, Times Now tweeted, “When the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince was invited on stage to share his views, he began the speech with ‘Jai Siya Ram’, sending the crowd into a frenzy.” The tweet was later deleted. The Times Now story went on to say, “As Abu Dhabi gears to welcome PM Modi today, a video of its Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is being re-circulated on the social media. Zee News reported the same.
The two channels had carried this report without due verification. It was revealed that the person in the video is not the crown prince of Abu Dhabi but Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, a United Arab Emirates-based columnist and commentator on Arab affairs. The channels didn’t pause to think whether it was plausible for Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Force to be opening a Ram Katha of Morari Bapu with the chant of ‘Jai Siya Ram’.
“A photograph of the doctors paying their last respect to the veteran political stalwart has been accessed by Zee News”, declared an article by Zee News following the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “All the doctors stood in queue and observed silence as they bowed their heads as a mark of respect to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee“, said a DNA article, describing a picture which showed doctors standing in a row with bowed heads around a dead body on a hospital bed.
A closer look at the photograph would suggest that it is not from India. It is a picture from 2012 of a group of Chinese doctors paying tribute to a woman whose organs were donated after her death. Medical workers bowed to 17-year-old Wu Huajing who donated her organs after her death in Guangdong on Nov 22, 2012. Both Zee News and DNA later realized their gaffe, deleting their tweets and revising their articles.
There were numerous instances wherein mainstream news organisations fell for parody accounts of news outlets. Early this year, Aaj Tak fell for a parody account of Times Now, called Times HOW which tweeted a quote of a ‘maulana’ who had supposedly issued a fatwa against teen sensation Priya Prakash Varrier. Aaj Tak broadcast an evening programme on the same.
Another such instance included the faux pas by the news agency IANS which fell for a parody account of Tripura CM Biplab Deb.
While instances of misinformation via media outlets throughout the year were more than a handful, on the flip side, 2018 was also the year when multiple media organisations set up dedicated fact-checking divisions. Hopefully, this will help further the cause of accurate and prudent reporting, and arrest dissemination of erroneous news in 2019.
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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5th January 2019 / 11:45 am / Last updated: 5th January 2019
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Misinformation, false claims about UK PM Rishi Sunak flood social media - Alt News
Shinjinee Majumder
29th October 2022 / 2:06 pm
On October 27, the United Kingdom got its first non-white Prime Minister in Rishi Sunak. At 42, the former chancellor of the exchequer also became Britain’s youngest Prime Minister in recent history. Against this backdrop, several videos of him have surfaced on social media with a wide range of claims.
A video of Rishi Sunak lighting diyas outside his home is circulating with the claim that it shows the new UK PM performing Diwali rituals. Some users have claimed that Sunak performed these traditions before entering his new office, while some said that he had performed these rituals after becoming the PM outside 11 Downing Street, his former home.
User @ThisIsAfricaTIA tweeted the video and garnered almost 40K likes and over 8K retweets. (Archive)
The new UK PM performing his spiritual/traditional rituals before entering his new office. We have largely abandoned ours. pic.twitter.com/QMkeAkDkSC
— This Is Africa (@ThisIsAfricaTIA) October 25, 2022
News24 tweeted the video with the caption “ब्रिटेन के नए PM ऋषि सुनक ने लंदन के 11 डाउनिंग स्ट्रीट पर अपने घर के बाहर दिए जलाए”. (Archive)
ब्रिटेन के नए PM ऋषि सुनक ने लंदन के 11 डाउनिंग स्ट्रीट पर अपने घर के बाहर दिए जलाए @RishiSunak #Diwali #RishiSunakPM pic.twitter.com/3Xkty9Rkxj
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) October 25, 2022
It must be noted that 10 Downing Street is the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister while 11 Downing Street is the official residence of Britain’s chancellor of the exchequer, a post that Sunak held from February 13, 2020, to July 5, 2022.
Stills from the video have been shared on Facebook.
Upon reverse image searching stills from the video, we found a video tweeted by Rishi Sunak’s official handle wherein he talks about Diwali festivities at his house at “No. 11” or 11 Downing Street. The video was uploaded on November 14, 2020, and is captioned, “I’ve placed our rangoli outside No.11, the mithai are set to be delivered and the family Zoom is booked in….”. In between his interview, the viral video is played where he can be seen placing the diyas and the rangoli on the street. In November 2020, Sunak held the post of Britain’s chancellor of the exchequer. (Archive)
I’ve placed our rangoli outside No.11, the mithai are set to be delivered and the family Zoom is booked in.
I know things will feel a bit different, and it’s hard not to be able to see family, but we will get through this together.
Happy Diwali everyone! pic.twitter.com/4lDI8bH1HJ
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 14, 2020
This incident was covered by major newspapers in 2020. The Guardian used a picture of Sunak lighting the diyas in a November 2020 report. ‘The UK chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has urged fellow Hindus to ‘follow the rules’ during Diwali as he lit small clay oil lamps on the doorstep of his official residence at 11 Downing Street to mark the beginning of the five-day festival of lights,’ it said.
NDTV also used a picture of Sunak lighting the diyas in their reportage of this incident. ‘Rishi Sunak Lights Diya On Downing Street In London Ahead Of Diwali’ reads their headline.
Images of then chancellor Rishi Sunak lighting diyas for Diwali at his Downing Street residence on November 12, 2020, can also be found on Getty Images.
Thus it is clear that an old image of the present British PM lighting diyas has been circulating as a recent photograph.
A video of a man dancing at a club has gone viral with the claim that he is British PM Rishi Sunak.
User @Schandillia tweeted the video and garnered 3.6k likes. (Archive)
In case anyone were curious about what chaddi the new British PM wears… pic.twitter.com/Hp5VkR59O5
— Amit Schandillia (@Schandillia) October 24, 2022
User @benallaoff tweeted the video and garnered 3.2k likes. (Archive)
PREMIER MINISTRE !!! 🇬🇧🙃 🥳🎉🥂🍾 pic.twitter.com/4XXlLLSvXJ
— Alexandre Benalla 🇫🇷 (@benallaoff) October 24, 2022
Users @CaptainGzb and @mdenaxa also tweeted the video. (Archives- 1, 2)
It has also been shared on Facebook.
Upon reverse image searching the key-frames of the video, we found a January 2022 article by Ladbible titled ‘Rishi Sunak Lookalike ‘Raving Rishi’ Raves At Wayne Lineker’s Ibiza Club’. The report talks about an unnamed man resembling Rishi Sunak dancing at a club in Ibiza referring to a video uploaded by the club owner, Wayne Lineker, on January 21, 2022. According to the article, the video was posted by Wayne in response to news that clubs in Ibiza will be able to open in April.
A post shared by Wayne Lineker (@waynelineker)
The video was jokingly re-posted by Lineker in July 2022, while Rishi Sunak was campaigning for the office of the Prime Minister.
A post shared by Wayne Lineker (@waynelineker)
Lineker originally uploaded the video on July 12, 2019, with the caption “Life’s good right now!!”.
A post shared by Wayne Lineker (@waynelineker)
Lineker has even shared a screenshot of a Daily Mail report about the Rishi Sunak doppelganger who was seen ‘raving’ at his club, thus confirming that the man seen at his club was indeed a look-alike.
Additionally, there are no reports of Sunaks’s visit to Ibiza. However, according to Sunak’s Facebook post dated July 15, 2019, he was invited to crown Northallerton Carnival’s Queen for 2019.
Hence a video showing a doppelganger of United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dancing at a club in Ibiza is being widely circulated on social media with the false claim that the man in the video is Sunak himself.
A video of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy visiting the Bhaktivedanta Manor, the UK headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), and exchanging pleasantries has gone viral with the claim that it is a recent one. (Archive)
Rishi Sunak, indian origin Is now the UK Prime Minister visited our ISKCON London temple on the occasion of DIWALI. Burnol moment fir librados 😜😂 pic.twitter.com/mtPEVsIMYn
— Logical Thinker🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@logicalkpm) October 25, 2022
Socio-political activist Harshavardhan Muppavarapu also tweeted the video and garnered 1.3k likes and almost 200 retweets. (Archive)
UK Prime Minister #RishiSunak visited the #ISKCON temple, in London.
🙏Hare Krishna🙏 pic.twitter.com/jY37IisWTT
— Harshavardhan Muppavarapu (@vardhan08) October 25, 2022
The video is also viral on Facebook.
Upon reverse image searching one of the key-frames of the viral video, we found an NDTV report dated August 18, 2022, with the headline ‘Rishi Sunak Visits Temple On Janmashtami Along (With) Wife Akshata’. According to the report, the couple visited the temple on the occasion of Janmashtami.
Additionally, Sunak also tweeted, “Today I visited the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple with my wife Akshata to celebrate Janmashtami, in advance of the popular Hindu festival celebrating Lord Krishna’s birthday”. Rishi Sunak and his wife can be seen wearing the same attire in the tweeted photograph as seen in the viral video.
Today I visited the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple with my wife Akshata to celebrate Janmashtami, in advance of the popular Hindu festival celebrating Lord Krishna’s birthday. pic.twitter.com/WL3FQVk0oU
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) August 18, 2022
Below, we have compared a still from the viral video and the image that was tweeted by Sunak.
Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Facebook page also shared several photos from Sunak’s visit on August 18, 2022. Once again, Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murthy can be seen wearing the same attire in the image uploaded on Facebook.
Resident monk at Bhaktivedanta Manor, S.B. Keshava Swami uploaded the viral video on Instagram on September 18, with the caption, “Was a pleasure to meet @rishisunakmp & Akshata Murthy a few weeks ago..”.
A post shared by S.B. Keshava Swami (@keshavaswami)
Hence, a video shot during Sunak’s visit to the ISKCON headquarters in August 2022 is being circulated with the claim that it is a recent one.
An image of a young Virat Kohli receiving an award has gone viral with the claim that the person handing over the prize to Kohli is British PM Rishi Sunak. (Archive)
A Young @imVkohli with @RishiSunak pic.twitter.com/yrdkFqXDDz
— India Wants To Know – Panel Quiz Show (@IWTKQuiz) October 25, 2022
Several other users shared the image with the same claim. (Archives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
The image has also been shared on Facebook.
Virat Kohli had uploaded what seems like a newspaper clipping of this image on his official Facebook page in January 2015. The caption of the image reads, ‘A young Kohli sets off on the path to stardom. He accepts an award from pace bowler Ashish Nehra.’
Several users have shared this image jokingly claiming that the man giving Kohli the award is Rishi Sunak, owing to the starkly similar facial features that Sunak and Ashish Nehra share. (Archive)
New UK PM Rishi Sunak giving MOM award to young Virat Kohli
Haters will say this is Ashish Nehra pic.twitter.com/ej2Q0ODjCo
— Ritushree 🌈 (@QueerNaari) October 24, 2022
Moreover, we found a video uploaded to The Quint’s YouTube page wherein Nehra can be heard talking about this image. He says, “That picture is more popular because of Virat Kohli”.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC7r5BB4g9A]
Hence in this case too, a photograph is being falsely claimed as that of Rishi Sunak. In reality, the person presenting the award to a young Virat Kohli is former Indian cricketer Ashish Nehra, and not British PM Rishi Sunak.
Student of Economics at Presidency University. Interested in misinformation.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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29th October 2022 / 2:06 pm
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Misleading ANI, PTI reports omit US state dept's statement on internet shutdown - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
5th February 2021 / 1:50 pm / Last updated: 5th February 2021
The farmers’ protest against Prime Minister Modi’s agricultural law drew international attention after American pop artist Rihanna tweeted in support. Several other global personalities have since extended support to the movement, leading the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to issue a statement and Indian celebrities to tweet in favour of the government’s policy. An overwhelming number of media outlets have also alluded that the international support is a global conspiracy against India.
The latest news widespread across media organisations is that the United States ‘backed’ India’s farm laws. “US backs India’s new farm laws, says these reforms will improve the efficiency of markets,” tweeted ANI on January 4. ANI’s report was carried by Catch News, Business Standard and The Economic Times.
US backs India’s new farm laws, says these reforms will improve efficiency of markets
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/3ovH5Hf2gO pic.twitter.com/iOzaCzPCEA
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) February 4, 2021
The Times of India and Times Now republished a similar story by PTI.
US backs India’s new farm laws, says it will improve efficiency of markets https://t.co/4902QKExvz
— TOI India (@TOIIndiaNews) February 4, 2021
Livemint also claimed that the US ‘backed’ farm laws in India.
#FarmersProtest | US backs India’s new farm laws, says peaceful protests hallmark of a democracy
(@ElizaR24 reports) https://t.co/esQbwMnG6J pic.twitter.com/j8q3B48qBz
— Mint (@livemint) February 4, 2021
Among the Hindi media channels that published the same was CNN News18 and Amar Ujala.
#Breaking– अमेरिका ने कृषि सुधार कानून का किया समर्थन, किसानों की फायदा मिलने की बात कही#FarmLaw #US pic.twitter.com/yrPvhCkI5w
— @HindiNews18 (@HindiNews18) February 4, 2021
Right-wing websites Swarajya and OpIndia also carried stories.
Republic Bharat and Dainik Jagran went a step ahead and reported that the US said the farm laws will increase the impact of Indian markets in the world.
The same was later tweeted by BJP Punjab.
News Nation anchor Deepak Chaurasia, ABP News associate editor Ashish Singh and ANI journalist Naveen Kapoor further amplified the claim. Chaurasia’s tweet was the same as Republic Bharat.
While NDTV’s title did not reflect US backing of the laws, the article said, “Indicating that the new Biden administration is supportive of the Indian government’s move to reform the agricultural sector that attracts private investment and greater market access to farmers…”
The report by ANI mentions the following statements by the US State Department:
“We recognize that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy, and note that the Indian Supreme Court has stated the same.”
“We encourage that any differences between the parties be resolved through dialogue. In general, the United States welcomes steps that would improve the efficiency of India’s markets and attract greater private sector investment.”
The third statement in both ANI and PTI report says – “In general, the United States welcomes steps that would improve the efficiency of India’s markets and attract greater private sector investment.”
This does not explicitly refer to the farm laws. Furthermore, both reports published by multiple news outlets failed to highlight other aspects of the US government’s statement, especially internet shutdown.
In response to @WSJ question on India, the US State Department backs “peaceful protests” , criticises internet bans, says it welcomes market reforms. Awaiting @MEAIndia response https://t.co/CPId4OdoVN
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) February 4, 2021
“We recognise that unhindered access to information, including the internet, is fundamental to the freedom of expression and a hallmark of a thriving democracy,” reads the statement, also reported by Al Jazeera and reiterated by US Embassy spokesperson in Delhi.
US embassy spox in Delhi (in a statement similar to the US State Department) on farmers’ protests:
“We recognize that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy, and note that the Indian Supreme Court has stated the same.”@IndianExpress
— Shubhajit Roy (@ShubhajitRoy) February 4, 2021
News agencies ANI and PTI failed to report the US government’s stance on internet shutdown in India and inferred that the country backed farm laws even as the statement says that the US “in general” supports agricultural reform and has not specifically backed the legislation. It has called for dialogue between parties and commented on internet shutdowns. The response of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs can be read here.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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5th February 2021 / 1:50 pm / Last updated: 5th February 2021
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Misleading caricature blames Opposition leaders for stone-pelting Train 18 - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
21st December 2018 / 8:16 pm
Facebook page India First circulated a cartoon on December 21 depicting the recent stone-pelting on Agra-Delhi bound Train 18 during its trial run. The train is scheduled to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 29. The caricature showed PM Modi seated on the driver’s seat, steering the train (‘vikas express’) on the tracks to ‘New India’. On both sides of the train, the cartoon placed leaders of Opposition parties hurling stones at it, and the text on the image read – “विकास विरोधियों ने ट्रायल के दौरान ट्रैन-18 पर पत्थर फेक के शीशे थोड़े (People against development hurled stones at Train 18 during its trial run and broke its windows.)”
There are West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on the left, and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi and a person wearing an SP cap (probably Akhilesh Yadav) on the right. In about three hours, the cartoon had a share count of nearly 4,000.
Similar claims of Opposition’s hand behind the vandalism was propagated on Twitter by users followed by Office of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal (1, 2, 3).
An ABVP member Saurabh Sharma also blamed the Opposition for damaging Train 18.
Train 18, dubbed as the country’s fastest train, was attacked with stones after departing Safdarjung on December 20 at 12:30 pm. The incident was widely reported on mainstream media. According to The Times of India, ‘unknown miscreants’ pelted stones at Train 18, breaking a windowpane.
The Times of India also quoted additional divisional railway manager of Agra, DK Singh who said, “We don’t know how the windowpane broke, a probe has been called.”
The incident was also reported by other news organisations, including Business Standard and Firstpost. The mishap was covered by Times Now as well, according to which, “Following the incident, the Railways appealed to the public to not indulge in acts of vandalism and cause damage to the railway property that has been built for their convenience.”
Manager of Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Sudhanshu Mani tweeted about the act of vandalism – “some vandal threw a stone breaking a glass, hope we nab him.”
Train 18 running at 180 km/h bet Delhi and Agra at this time…Srinivas, the Chief Design Enginner of ICF is in the cab, they touched 181 kmh for record sake 😊…some vandal threw a stone breaking a glass, hope we nab him. pic.twitter.com/YXpqUS6qqC
— ManiSudhanshu (@ManiSudhanshu58) December 20, 2018
A case of destruction of public property by unidentified miscreants was attributed to leaders of Opposition in an attempt to portray them as ‘anti-development’.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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21st December 2018 / 8:16 pm
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Misleading claim by BJP leaders about facilities provided by AAP to Rohingyas - Alt News
Archit
17th August 2021 / 3:12 pm
The Uttar Pradesh government razed several Rohingya camps in Delhi’s Madanpar Khadar area at 4 am on July 22, citing ‘illegal’ construction. According to reports, this action was taken because the land in question belongs to UP’s Irrigation Department. UP’s Jal Shakti Minister Mahendra Singh tweeted a video of the demolition lauding the Yogi government.
Subsequently, a pro-BJP propaganda news channel on YouTube ‘Pyara Hindustan’ uploaded multiple ‘ground’ reports (July 22, July 23, July 24) portraying the AAP government providing water, electricity and cash to Rohingyas while neglecting Delhi citizens.
On July 23, reiterating Pyara Hindustan’s claim, BJP Delhi tweeted a small segment from its July 23 report and wrote, “For Delhi’s citizens there is no ration, no electricity. But for Rohingya infiltrators, the Kejriwal government has all facilities including cash. What mistakes have Delhites done CM sir?”
दिल्ली की जनता के लिए ना राशन है, ना पानी है, ना बिजली है, लेकिन रोहिंग्या घुसपैठियों के लिए केजरीवाल सरकार के पास नक़द समेत हर सुविधा उपलब्ध है। दिल्लीवालों ने ऐसी कौन सी गलती कर दी CM साहब ? pic.twitter.com/kNMfR4meg8
— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) July 23, 2021
The same video was also tweeted by BJP Delhi spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga. He wrote if people vote for AAP in Uttarakhand and Gujarat, the demographics of the state will ‘transform’ like Delhi’s.
Vote for AAP and we will convert Uttrakhand and Gujarat Like this pic.twitter.com/cWsAzIdK9v
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) July 23, 2021
Rohingyas are a persecuted minority community fleeing violence in Myanmar since the early 2010s. In 2018, UNHCR told The Print, 40,000 Rohingya refugees reside in Delhi, Jammu, Haryana, Hyderabad and Jaipur. However, only 17,500 are registered through UNHCR’s office in Delhi.
According to The Print, Delhi is one of the main settlement areas for Rohingya refugees and has five large unofficial camps located in areas like Jasola and other sites along the banks of the river Yamuna. Madanpur Khadar is close to the Yamuna river.
Alt News spoke with Salim, a Rohingya community leader, at Madanpur Khadar. He said over 50 families have been staying at the Madanpur Khadar area since 2012. Their settlement caught fire in April 2018 and June 2021. Two months before the fire in 2021, The Caravan reported that Rohingya refugees live in fear as Delhi police detain families from camps without citing reasons.
Over the years, two writ petitions have been filed by Rohingya community leaders seeking basic human rights and the prevention of wrongful detainment – Jaffar Ullah vs Union of India (859/2013) and Mohammad Salimullah vs Union of India (793/2017). Senior advocates Prashant Bhushan, Colin Gonsalves, and Chander Uday Singh (as UN Special Rapporteur) have represented the petitioners.
However on April 8, in Mohammad Salimullah v. Union of India, the Supreme Court rejected an application to stay the deportation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. The SC’s move was criticised by Chander Uday Singh in The Indian Express.
While India is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the country does not have a national refugee protection framework, readers should note that India has acceded to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in 1959. In 2016, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that India recognises genocide as an international crime and it is a part of the Indian common law.
In this report we will answer the following questions:
Are facilities to Rohingyas at Madanpar Khadar comparable to those provided to Delhi citizens?
Alt News spoke with South-East Delhi District Magistrate Sh Vishwendra. He said, “The aid we provide is under the purview of disaster management relief. After the Rohingya camp was gutted in fire in June 2021, we installed fans and tents so that the heatwave during summer could be bearable. To monitor the consumption a metre was also installed. A tanker has been assigned to supply water to 50-odd families. However, to compare this aid with what citizens of Delhi receive is not fair.”
In 2018, under WP 859/2013, the apex court made an order regarding health facilities at multiple Rohingya camps, including the one in Madanpar Khadar in Kalindikunj. The court directed the concerned jurisdictional revenue magistrate in Delhi to be appointed as nodal officers. These officers were supposed to address grievances faced by parents or any relative or a guardian of a child or a patient if any facility is denied (view PDF). This position was accepted by Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
“The right to the basic necessities of life flows not from citizenship or nationality but primordial principles of humanity, and in India, it is guaranteed by Article 21, which applies to all human beings. Therefore, it is wrong to interpret acts of humanity by the courts or by state governments, such as providing bare means of survival, like water supply and electricity to Rohingya settlements, as an injustice to citizens of India,” Advocate Chander Uday Singh told Alt News.
Rohingya community leader Salim informed, “In the first two years, we did not have electricity or water supply. In 2014, we arranged electricity via different channels which were widely used in the locality. Please note we were paying for the electricity. Many times authorities would come and disconnect it,” he said adding, “After a fire broke out in the camps in 2018, the SDM set up tents for us and installed a metre for electricity supply. However, after five months of installation, there was some wiring issue and we had to resort to the old ways.” Responding to our queries about water supply Salim said, “Until 2019, we relied on handpumps. In the final months of 2019, we started getting water supply via a tanker. However, that stopped during COVID-19 lockdown.”
“After the July 22 evacuation, the SDM installed new tents and a meter for electricity supply. Unlike last time there was a dedicated point of contact for both services,” said Salim.
“Baring 5-6 hours, the electricity is consistent. A water tanker of 1000 litres comes daily which is shared among 300 people for cooking, cleaning, bathing and drinking. I stock up five buckets of water every day. But some have only two buckets. Once the water is stocked up by everyone, children and some adults bathe from the tanker’s tap. However, the lack of toilets remains a big hurdle. Many people have to defecate in open.”
Salim shared that there are rumours about authorities relocating them. He hopes that they are relocated so that they continue to earn daily wages and more importantly get basic healthcare and education for their children. “I just hope our situation doesn’t deteriorate further,” he said in an anxious tone. “I can’t believe a news channel thought it was okay to show our living conditions as a benchmark of Delhi government’s services.”
The bare minimum is being provided to the Rohingya community in the Madanpur Khadar area by the AAP government. The apex court had directed the concerned SDMs to provide basic facilities to Rohingya refugees across India including in Delhi.
Did the AAP government give cash to Rohingyas?
Vishwendra brushed off the claim that the Delhi government is giving cash to Rohingyas in Madanpur Khadar. “If that was indeed the case there would be several bureaucratic processes involved and there would be a lengthy paper trail. No such thing has happened.”
Readers should note that over the course of the Pyara Hindustan report, multiple people stated that the Delhi government has not provided cash. However, the reporter overlooked it and claimed that cash was provided in a personal capacity.
Salim informed that AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan donated cash after the June 2021 fire from his own. Furthermore, a source who has been associated with the welfare of Rohingyas at Madanpur Khadar confirmed, on the request of anonymity, that financial aid was provided by Khan. Alt News has reached out to Khan for comment and this article will be updated if and when he responds.
Does the UP government own land in Delhi?
One of the most puzzling aspects of this controversy was the UP government’s intervention inside the geographical territory of Delhi. At the 6:30 mark, in the July 23 report by Pyara Hindustan, one of the interviewees asked, “Where is the question of UP government taking action in Delhi?” Vishwendra confirmed that the land in question indeed belongs to the UP government and added there are several such lands in Delhi.
Multiple news reports (The Hindu, Times of India) indicate that the UP government has several acres in Delhi. In March, UP’s Jal Shakti Minister Mahendra Singh told Times of India, “The UP irrigation department owns land in Okhla, Jasola, Madanpur Khadar, Aali, Saidabad, Jaitpur, Molar Band and Khajuri Khas.”
Did Rohingyas encroach upon UP government land?
“Before 2015, the Rohingya settlement was on Zakat Foundation land. Later, the slums were set up on the UP government land by several Rohingya families. Over the years, the UP government has been insistent about clearing all encroachments. This intensified after the second wave of COVID-19. As of today, none of the Rohingya members stays on UP government land. They shifted to Zakat Foundation land,” said Vishwendra. Alt News wrote to Zakat Foundation. This article will be updated if they respond.
The Google Map screenshot below shows the areas where the camps were spread before the July 22 raze. The portion marked in red belongs to Zakat Foundation and about 16 tents stretched along the green line. Several tents were built on the UP government land, marked in yellow. The camps on the UP government land have been removed and all families currently reside inside the red square and green line.
“The issue of handling refugees comes under Ministry of Home Affairs and Foreigners Regional Registration Officer. As per my knowledge, steps are being taken by concerned authorities to relocate all Rohingya refugees in Delhi at one location,” added Vishwendra.
Explaining the situation at the Rohingya settlement in Madanpur Khadar, Salim said, “We were living in such cramped conditions until 2014, some of us had to shift to the UP government land.”
Alt News also spoke with CK Vijayakumar, a multimedia producer at The Caravan. He had covered the aftermath of the anti-encroachment demolition by the UP government. “As of today, most refugee tents are set up on the Zakat Foundation plot and about 16 are on the street adjacent to the plot.”
To sum it up, the homes set up by Rohingya families on UP government land over the years were torn down on July 22. Chander Uday Singh explained the encroachment in context, “There is no difference between people in distress, whether they are domestic migrant workers, poor citizens who are driven out to cities by natural disasters or droughts in their villages, and victims of atrocities or genocide, like the Rohingyas, Tamils, Chakmas, Hajongs and others. These are human beings who are temporarily homeless and are forced by circumstances, not a choice, to squat in makeshift settlements. It is in the very nature of slum settlements, whether occupied by citizens or refugees, that the land is not owned by the slum dwellers, and that their occupation is technically ‘unauthorised’.”
Recollecting a courtroom exchange from his early days as a lawyer, Singh shared, “I recall getting a drubbing from Justice S.C. Pratap of the Bombay High Court when I, representing the National Airports Authority of India, tried to justify my client’s refusal to allow the BSES to supply electricity to illegal slums on airport lands. The judge was appalled that human beings could be denied their basic needs only because they were forced to reside in slums. That was a lesson in humanity that I never forgot.”
Pyara Hindustan has over 24 lakh subscribers on YouTube.
The July 23 video from the Rohingya camp at Madanpur Khadar wasn’t a journalistic ‘ground report’. The channel attempted to portray that the Delhi government is overlooking the citizens of Delhi while providing amenities to Rohingya refugees. The aid provided is as per directions of the apex court and the bare minimum needed for survival. The reporter entered tents, harassed the people living in cramped spaces and twisted their words. When many refused to talk, she followed them inside their make-shift homes.
Ali Johar, head of education at Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, told Alt News, “Journalism by Pyara Hindustan was unethical. Instead of showing the plight of people after the demolition, the outlet reported as if they are living a luxurious life. Why didn’t the channel report that there are no toilets and focus on how women and children manage without basic amenities?”
🙏 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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17th August 2021 / 3:12 pm
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1,898 |
Misleading claim of massive upgrade to CRPF uniform under PM Modi viral online - Alt News
Kalim Ahmed
7th January 2022 / 2:21 pm
Two sets of photos are viral on social media. The first photo is of a CRPF officer on duty while wearing basic protective gear such as a helmet and a vest, and the officer is carrying a baton (lathi). The second image is of a CRPF commando sporting advanced military tactical gear. The photos are being shared together to claim that there has been a massive improvement in gear provided to Indian army men during PM Modi’s tenure.
The photos are viral on both Twitter and Facebook.
बस इतना बदला है अपना हिन्दुस्तान ! pic.twitter.com/7fBobISX8a
— Dr. Pankaj Shukla (@iPankajShukla) January 2, 2022
बस इतना बदला है हिंदुस्तान।@narendramodi#योगी_आएंगे_रामराज्य_लाएंगे #RBR #YogiReturns pic.twitter.com/Pf0nEOJavl
— भरत रेड्डी 🇮🇳 (@RBReddyHindu) January 3, 2022
Image 1
For the first image, we noticed that the logo of stock photo agency Alamy is visible. Using that as a clue, we performed a keyword search on Google and found the original photo on Alamy. The photo shows a CRPF personnel in Kashmir. It was shot in 2012.
For the image of the commando in advanced military gear, we performed another reverse image search and found the original photo on stock photo agency Getty Images. According to the website, the photo was clicked just before the 2021 Republic Day celebrations.
We looked further and found a few more images of this commando on Getty and upon close observation, we could make out what is written on the badge on his arm. The badge reads, “Valley QAT”, which is the acronym for Valley Quick Action Team (QAT), an elite anti-terrorist unit of the CRPF that functions mainly in the J&K region.
Alt News reached out to a senior officer of the CRPF who is familiar with QAT. He requested to remain anonymous. According to the officer, the CRPF khaki uniform is the regular uniform and the Valley QAT which comes under the CRPF has been in operation for almost a decade. The only difference is that the Valley QAT commandos are highly trained. He also added that the process of upgrading pieces of equipment is continuous.
Alt News looked at a recent passing out parade of the CRPF. The uniform worn during this parade is the same CRPF khaki uniform in the 2012 picture with some additional accessories, the officer informed.
To summarise, two photos were shared on social media to depict that there has been a massive upgrade to the CRPF gear in recent years which is misleading. While the first photo is indeed from 2012, the second image is from 2021 and is a photo of a Valley QAT commando, an elite wing that comes under the CRPF.
There have been similar claims related to the Indian army, where even media outlets exaggerated the current government’s achievements. Ahmedabad Mirror and ANI had published misleading reports last year which claimed that homemade fabric is being used by the Indian army for the first time under PM Modi’s regime to stitch uniforms.
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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7th January 2022 / 2:21 pm
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"author": "Kalim Ahmed"
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1,899 |
Misleading, exaggerated claims about UP's unemployment rate, EoDB and GSDP surface - Alt News
Archit
7th December 2021 / 3:37 pm / Last updated: 7th December 2021
On November 16, BJP supporter Rishi Bagree jotted down Uttar Pradesh’s purported ranking on various performance indicators such as unemployment rate, ease of doing business (EoDB) and gross state domestic product (GSDP). “Uttar Pradesh is progressing like never before,” Bagree claimed.
Unemployment Rate in Uttar Pradesh : (CMIE)
2017 – 17.5%
2021 – 4.2 % Today
Ease of Doing Business Rankings of UP
( World Bank Data)
2017 – 12
2020 – 2
State GDP Rank
2017 – 7th
2021 – 2nd
Uttar Pradesh is progressing like never beforepic.twitter.com/U2TTKku9xJ
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) November 16, 2021
Multiple Twitter users shared the same claim.
Unemployment Rate in Uttar Pradesh : (CMIE)
2017 – 17.5%
2021 – 4.2 % Today
Ease of Doing Business Rankings of UP (World Bank Data)
2017 – 12
2020 – 2
State GDP Rank
2017 – 7th
2021 – 2nd
Uttar Pradesh is progressing like never before.#PurvanchalExpressway@myogiadityanath pic.twitter.com/96MpyZtTul
— ShriKant Dhar Dwivedi Amethi (@ShrikantAmethi) November 16, 2021
A similar trend was seen on Facebook.
Rishi Bagree cited specific sources for two indicators — Centre For Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) for the unemployment rate and World Bank for ease of doing business. As for GSDP, no sources were cited.
What is UP’s GSDP?
Earlier this year, a similar claim was made by CM Adityanath and The Times of India. Alt News found that UP’s GSDP has been second or third highest from FY 2004-05 to FY 2018-19, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MSOPI). Thus, the claim that GSDP growth happened in the last five years under Adityanath’s tenure is false.
MSOPI data shows that Uttar Pradesh ranked third in FY 2019-2020 behind Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Did World Bank rank UP second in India for ease of doing business?
Under CM Yogi Adiyanath, UP’s rank in ease of doing business has jumped up from 10 in 2015 to the second-highest in 2019, as per Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) data on RBI. However, the World Bank has not made any such claims about UP.
World Bank’s project Doing Business measures business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies and selected cities at the subnational and regional level. The latest report is from 2020 and doesn’t mention Uttar Pradesh.
Did the unemployment rate in UP drop from 17.5% in 2017 to 4.2% 2021?
The viral claim states that the unemployment rate in UP dropped from 17.5% in 2017 to 4.2% and attributed CMIE, a Chennai-based think tank, for the data.
This is false.
CMIE’s methodology for calculating the unemployment rate is as follows — this rate is computed as the number of persons not employed but willing to work and actively looking for a job as a per cent of the total labour force, where the total labour force is the sum of all those who are employed and those who are not employed but are willing and looking for a job. For more details, visit the website. It’s worth noting that the unemployment rate is released in monthly and weekly intervals.
We studied CMIE’s unemployment rate monthly time series for UP from January 2016 and October 2021. While the unemployment rate in the month of October 2021 is indeed 4.2% as pointed by Bagree, in the year 2017 none of the months had an unemployment rate of 17.5%. The highest was 6.5% in the month of August. Thus, CMIE’s data has been exaggerated to show a greater reduction of unemployment under Adityanath.
It’s worth noting similar claims were made in a three-page advertorial lauding Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath for Uttar Pradesh’s industrial transformation by The India Express published in the month of September.
This advertorial had come under scrutiny after netizens pointed out that the images were not from UP. One of the images was of Kolkata’s Maa flyover and the other was a stock image.
Thanks to UP CM for transforming West Bengal Flyover and transporting it to Uttar Pradesh even before he became CM of Uttar Pradesh. 👏👏🙏 pic.twitter.com/oT8jskwbvI
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 12, 2021
Whilst the image from Kolkata became the talking point, Alt News spotted three more misleading claims made in the advertorial. The first claim was about UP becoming India’s second-richest in terms of gross state domestic product. This claim has been debunked earlier in the report.
The Indian Express advertorial also made another misleading claim that UP has the lowest unemployment rate.
As per the latest state-wise unemployment data (FY 2019-20) on the Reserve Bank of India’s website, UP doesn’t have the lowest unemployment rate.
This data is divided into two categories — rural and urban. The rural unemployment rate is the lowest in Delhi with 5/1000. While in UP the rural unemployment rate is 43/1000 which is better than the national rate of 50/1000. As for the urban unemployment rate, the lowest is in Dadar and Nagar Haveli (18/1000) followed by Gujarat (32/1000). In UP, the urban unemployment rate stands higher than the national average (77/100) at 106/1000.
🙏 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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7th December 2021 / 3:37 pm / Last updated: 7th December 2021
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1,900 |
Misleading image: Bachchans lift bier of their domestic staffer - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
27th June 2019 / 9:48 pm / Last updated: 27th June 2019
On June 27, Punit Goenka, MD & CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited (ZEEL), tweeted an Economic Times article titled, “Humility counts: Big B, Junior Bachchan pay last respects to domestic staffer”. The article carried an image where Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan can be seen lifting a bier.
This speaks so much about the man and his values! Respect. Prayers and thoughts with the domestic staffer’s family. https://t.co/Sb6kSzu8d1
— Punit Goenka (@punitgoenka) June 27, 2019
Other media outlets of The Times Group like India Times and Times of India have published articles with the same narrative that the Bachchan’s paid last respects to a domestic staffer.
Times Now went a step further and reported that “the bier was of their 40-year-old domestic staffer who died in Mumbai.”
This image is also shared on Facebook with an identical context.
Multiple people posted queries on Alt News’s WhatsApp number, asking us to verify the image.
Alt News found that the image now published by multiple media outlets of The Times Group is an old and unrelated picture. The picture originally belongs to an incident where the Bachchans were lifting the bier of Amitabh Bachchan’s secretary Sheetal Jain earlier this month. It was also shared by Amitabh Bachchan himself via a blog post on his official Tumblr account.
Sheetal Jain was also the producer of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, a Bollywood movie that starred Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda. Jain died on June 8, 2019.
Sad news: Mr. Sheetal Jain is no more. He passed away this morning. pic.twitter.com/g2lcF61WXk
— Komal Nahta (@KomalNahta) June 8, 2019
In conclusion, an image of Amitabh Bachchan and his son carrying the bier of his secretary was picked-up by the media and misreported as the Bachchans lifting their domestic staffer’s bier.
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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27th June 2019 / 9:48 pm / Last updated: 27th June 2019
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"author": "Jignesh Patel"
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1,901 |
Misleading NASA maps posted by Piyush Goyal to depict total rural electrification - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
2nd May 2018 / 2:09 pm / Last updated: 11th July 2018
Prime Minister in his address to the nation on 15th August, 2015 announced that 18,500 odd villages across India which hadn’t been electrified would be electrified within the next 1000 days. On April 28th, according to the Central Government, Leisang in Manipur became the last village in India to get electrified. Union Ministers and members of the ruling party lauded this milestone via their social media accounts.
“Under the decisive leadership of PM @NarendraModi India has finally been able to electrify all its villages before the set target date. With the elimination of darkness from the lives of fellow Indian villagers, we commit ourselves to building a new and #PowerfulIndia” is Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s tweet while applauding Indian Government’s efforts in electrifying 18,452 villages. Along with his tweet, Piyush Goyal posted two maps stamped with ‘Before’ and ‘After’ stamps to portray the state of electrification in India during UPA versus NDA.
Under the decisive leadership of PM @NarendraModi India has finally been able to electrify all its villages before the set target date. With the elimination of darkness from the lives of fellow Indian villagers, we commit ourselves to building a new and #PowerfulIndia pic.twitter.com/TJ8irmx4tk
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 29, 2018
The above maps tweeted by Piyush Goyal are derived from night maps that NASA periodically releases. In April 2017, NASA released new maps showing full hemisphere views of Earth at night. According to NASA website, these maps provide the clearest yet composite view of the patterns of human settlement across our planet.
The two maps in the tweet above are comparisons of India’s night maps in 2012 versus 2016. As can be seen, the 2016 map looks visibly brighter than the map from 2012. In this article, we will investigate whether the pictorial comparison is a correct representation of increased electrification of Indian villages. We will also compare how NDA and UPA Governments fared in advancing rural electrification.
Comparing the year-on-year statistics for number of villages electrified starting from 2005-06 to 2017-18, we find that in the year 2006-07, more than 28,700 villages had been electrified, the highest among the years that have been compared. The number of villages electrified each year grew steadily from 2007-08 to 2010-11, after which there was a drastic slump. From 18306 in 2010-11 to 7934, 2587 and 1197 in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively. Thus, the fag end of UPA-II saw a slowdown in rural electrification coverage. For 2014-15 i.e. the year in which Modi Govt assumed power, the number of villages electrified stood at a low 1405. However, the pace picked up sharply in the subsequent year and beyond to achieve total coverage in 2018. The graph below shows the y-o-y comparison.
Over 95.60% of villages had already been electrified before May 2014. The present government kept the pace and completed the balance 4+% in the announced time-frame. Since the brightness of the maps is being equated to the extent of rural electrification, in absolute numbers, UPA Govt’s performance is superior to that of NDA Government.
However, irrespective of which Govt achieved greater electrification, do the night maps released by NASA capture an increase in rural electrification at all? According to NASA website, the capture of night time view is made possible by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. VIIRS detects gas flares, auroras, wildfires, city lights, and reflected moonlight. For the night maps, auroras, fires, and other stray light have been removed to emphasize the city lights.
NASA clearly states that it is city lights that are captured in the night maps put out by them. To further verify this, Alt News overlapped a map of major cities of India on the 2016 NASA night lights map.
As can be seen from the image above, major cities coincide with spots of bright light on the map, from Ahmedabad to Mumbai to Pune to Bangalore to Hyderabad to Delhi and even cities in Pakistan. Dhaka is not labelled on the map but there’s a giant bright spot on the map where Dhaka would have been located otherwise.
In fact, Piyush Goyal himself tweeted a CNN article which co-relates the bright spots on NASA nighttime map to growth of Indian cities.
NASA’s night time satellite images show huge growth of Indian cities via CNN https://t.co/yuXV4KM20A
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 14, 2017
The CNN article states:
“Huge swaths of northern India, relatively dark in 2012 night shots, are lit up by huge new urban areas in imagery from 2016. According to the Oxford Economics Global City Forecast, of the 20 fastest-growing cities in the 2015-19 period, fourteen are in India.”
According to the statistics above, between 2012 and 2016, 12297 villages were electrified which is a minuscule percentage (2%) of 597,464 inhabited villages in India. Clearly, it is the growth of urban pockets which has contributed majorly to India looking brighter in 2016 as opposed to 2012. Piyush Goyal has made a blooper, yet again.
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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2nd May 2018 / 2:09 pm / Last updated: 11th July 2018
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Misleading pictures circulated to show crowds at Modi's Jodhpur rally - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
5th December 2018 / 5:15 pm / Last updated: 18th March 2019
“These Pictures from Jodhpur ( Ashok Gehlot Bastion ) has given panic attack to Congress leadership.” tweeted Rishi Bagree, who is followed by PM Modi, on December 4, 2018 along with a set of images. He claimed that the crowd surge at PM Modi’s election rally in Jodhpur is illustrative of the neck and neck contest between the Congress party and BJP in the state. The tweet has now been deleted.
In response to Bagree’s tweet, several individuals have claimed that the images are not representative of the recent PM Modi rally in Jodhpur on December 3, 2018 and that they date back to 2013.
Alt News did a Twitter search for finding the images tweeted since November 28, 2013 with keywords, “Narendra Modi and Jodhpur”.
Amit Malviya, BJP IT head and MLA Piyush Desai had tweeted one of the images on November 29, 2013 with the identical narrative.
This is a visual from @narendramodi‘s rally in Jodhpur today. Now we know why #Congress is worried.. pic.twitter.com/Xa85BOWC30
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) November 29, 2013
One more image from a different angle was also tweeted by several individual users (1, 2) claiming it to be of PM Modi’s rally in Jodhpur on November 29 & 30, 2013.
One Twitter handle, @Lala_The_Don had also tweeted the same image on December 3, 2018 with the same narrative as suggested by Bagree.
We found that the first two images posted by Rishi Bagree are from PM Modi’s rally of year 2013 and not 2018.
According to an individual user, this is a featured image of the video of the Kisan Hunkar Rally organized by Rashtriya Loktantrik Party founder Hanuman Beniwal, was posted on YouTube on Jan 29, 2018. Look at the image comparison posted below.
Using the Google reverse image tool, Alt News found that several video of the Kisan Hunkar rally in Barmer uploaded on various platforms have the identical featured image.
Alt News couldn’t independently verify this image, although it is certain that the image existed way back in January 2018 as the thumbnail of the video was posted at the same time.
Rishi Bagree has been repeatedly caught spreading misinformation on social media. A compilation of such instances can be read here. This time around he has not only shared pictures from PM Modi’s 2013 rally but also tried to pass off a picture of Kisan Hunar rally by Independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal as that of Modi’s rally.
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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5th December 2018 / 5:15 pm / Last updated: 18th March 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/misleading-pictures-circulated-to-show-crowds-at-modis-jodhpur-rally/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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1,903 |
Misleading reporting by Swarajya and Postcard News about Hardik Patel’s weight gain during fast - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
9th September 2018 / 12:48 am / Last updated: 11th September 2018
“Is Hardik Patel really fasting? Reports Claim He is Gaining Weight” the headline of Swarajya raised doubts about Hardik Patel’s fast. The article quoted reports by Desh Gujarat and TV9 to make this claim in the headline. The headline by fake news website Postcard News made a similar claim stating that “Few said Hardik Patel lost 20 kgs in 11 days! But medical report says he has increased his weight despite his hunger strike.” Did Hardik Patel gain weight as claimed by both these websites in their headlines?
On August 25, PAAS leader Hardik Patel had initiated an indefinite fast over demands of farm loan waiver and reservation for the Patidar community. The leader agreed to be hospitalized after his health deteriorated steadily on the 14th day of fasting. On September 4, 2018, reports emerged that the Patidar leader has lost 20 Kg after 11 days of fasting. Before starting the fast, Patel weighed 78 kg and on Sep 4, his weight was measured to be about 58.3 kg. Surprisingly, the next day i.e. September 5, the medical check-up report showed a stark difference, with 8kg increase from 58 kg to around 66.4 kg.
The readings of Hardik Patel’s weight were as follows:
Aug 25th – 78 kg
Sept 4th – 58.3 kg (First measurement)
Sept 4th – 65.3 kg (Second measurement, same day, different machine)
Sept 5th – 66.4 kg
Even though such a variation of 8 kg in one day should raise doubts about the accuracy of reading, social media users were joined by Swarajya and Postcard News in claiming that Hardik Patel had gained weight during his fast.
The readings point out that Patel’s weight has not reduced by 20 kg as reported earlier and had instead fallen by 11.6 kg. It can by no means be concluded that he had gained weight.
A report by Desh Gujarat on September 5th clarified that anomaly in the weight was due to a false reading. The article quotes the Superintendent of Sola Civil Hospital, Dr Desai as saying that “yesterday the 58.3 i.e. the lower measurement must have been because of his wrong posture. If someone holds you or you take support of something during weighing your weight goes down drastically. This has happened with his weight.”
Dr Manisha Panchal of Sola civil hospital also clarified in a press conference on September 5, 2018, about the significant discrepancies in Hardik Patel’s weight from 58 to 65 kg.
She said, “Today his weight was 66.4(kg). So, yesterday’s measurement, 58.3 kg might have been recorded incorrectly. The reason could be that he might not have stood properly due to the weakness in his body or possibly there might have been a technical problem in the machine in sensing. So, we took a second reading on the same day with another machine which showed his weight at 65.3 kg. There may be some variations in the measurements depending upon the machine from 500 to 700 gm. (translated)”
As a contrast to the comprehensive article by Desh Gujarat explaining the erroneous reading, a misleading tweet by TV9 quoted medical reports saying that despite fast, Hardik Patel gaining weight.
Despite fast, #HardikPatel is gaining weight , says Medical Report :https://t.co/34rwqjGpSO#Gujarat pic.twitter.com/7SPdTeSTGz
— Tv9 Gujarati (@tv9gujarati) September 5, 2018
Right-leaning websites like Swarajya, and Postcard News reported on the issue quoting both the TV9 tweet and the article from Desh Gujarat with the explanation of the “false reading” and “wrong posture” completely missing from their articles. The headline of the quoted Desh Gujarat article reads, “Hardik has not lost 20 Kg weight during fast, has lost 11.6 Kg in 12 days, wrong posture during weighing caused false reading.”
The headlines of both Swarajya and Postcard News pointed instead to a weight gain. Even though text of the articles quoted Desh Gujarat saying that Patel’s weight has not reduced by 20 kg as reported earlier and has instead fallen by 11.6 kg, the clarification issued by doctors about the difference being a result of the wrong posture was omitted from the articles.
A report published by OpIndia on September 7, 2018 also stated that “Following his indefinite fast, reports have emerged that despite not having food, Hardik Patel has actually gained weight. Hardik is reportedly consuming water and fruits in his fast.” Following the footsteps of Swarajya, it has also ignored mentioning the doctor’s clarification quoted in another article published by Desh Gujarat.
Hardik Patel’s weight had fallen from 78 kg to 66.4 kg from August 25 till September 5. In this period, there was a wrong reading of 58.3 kg on September 4th that has been used by these publications to claim an increase in his weight. It is clear that these websites have omitted the subsequent clarification issued by doctors on inconsistencies in the weight measurements and have chosen to report selectively.
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 September 2018 / 12:48 am / Last updated: 11th September 2018
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/misleading-reporting-by-swarajya-and-postcard-news-about-hardik-patels-weight-gain-during-fast/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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1,904 |
Misleading reports claim Shaheen Bagh empty post AAP win in Delhi election - Alt News
Kritika Goel , The Quint
11th February 2020 / 9:34 pm / Last updated: 11th February 2020
When the counting of votes for Delhi assembly elections was underway on Tuesday, 11 February – with latest trends pointing to a massive mandate for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – a report by Amar Ujala claimed that Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area, which has become the face of anti-CAA protests in the country, wore a deserted look.
The report, which was published in the early hours of Tuesday, was also picked up by right-wing website OpIndia.
The OpIndia story, titled ‘Shaheen Bagh protest site seen empty as AAP all set to return in Delhi’, suggested that the protesters have moved out as AAP has registered a victory in the constituency.
“It is noteworthy to mention that Shaheen Bagh comes under Okhla constituency, where controversial AAP member Amanatullah Khan has registered a victory,” read the article.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, who has been caught peddling fake news on multiple occasions, shared the same OpIndia story, which in-turn has been retweeted by 1,900 users (at the time of writing this piece).
Multiple users shared the story on social media with similar claims, slamming the protesters.
Swarajya published an article titled, “Shaheen Bagh Protest Site Virtually Empty On Election Result Morning As AAP Notches Decisive Victory: Report”
But the report which is being shared widely is misleading on many counts and fails to bring forth the facts.
Now, while the picture which has been used is indeed from Shaheen Bagh, it is incorrect to claim that the protesters didn’t show up as the AAP is all set to form the government in Delhi.
Here’s a timeline of events held at Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday:
A similar picture was taken by The Quint’s Akanksha Kumar, who was in the area to cover the protests. She reported that the picture was taken in the early hours before the protesters started pouring-in.
“This (picture) was taken at 8 am when only volunteers were sleeping inside and women protesters hadn’t come out,” Kumar said.
At around 9:00 am, women protesters started coming in and by 12:00 pm there were hundreds of protesters at the site, she added.
The protest continued in the evening with hundreds of protesters continuing their demonstration in the area.
The second part of both these reports mentions that the protesters didn’t show up because AAP is coming back to power in Delhi. But, in reality, the protesters began a silent protest holding placards which read that they don’t support any political party.
Speaking to The Quint, a participant Shabnam said that the silent protest is against the alleged police crackdown on Jamia students. “We are neither happy with anyone’s victory nor sad about anyone’s defeat.” Shabnam told The Quint.
Shaheen Bagh update handle also tweeted refuting the claim.
हिंदी अख़बार अमर उजाला द्वारा दिल्ली चुनाव के नतीजे को ग़लत तस्वीर दिखा कर हमारे प्रदर्शन से जोड़ना उनकी पत्रकारिता के पतन का सबूत है।
हम यहीं बैठें है, आइए और खुद देख लीजिए।
— Shaheen Bagh Official (@Shaheenbaghoff1) February 11, 2020
Shaheen Bagh protest has been going on for almost 55 days and has become a symbol of resistance against NRC, CAA and police brutality. And while the Supreme Court is slated to hear the matter of the protesters blocking the public roads and causing inconvenience to people on 17 February, the protesters aren’t defiant and say that the apex court’s order will be acceptable to them.
While it remains unclear as to when will the protesters move from the location, but as of 11 February, men and women of Shaheen Bagh continued to raise their voice against the establishment.
(With inputs from Akanksha Kumar and Aaqib Raza Khan.)
[This article was originally published in The Quint.]
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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11th February 2020 / 9:34 pm / Last updated: 11th February 2020
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/misleading-reports-claim-shaheen-bagh-empty-post-aap-win-in-delhi-election/",
"author": "Kritika Goel , The Quint"
}
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1,905 |
Misleading reports claimed Pakistan admitted to Dawood Ibrahim's presence in Karachi - Alt News
Archit
15th September 2020 / 9:17 pm
On August 22 and 23, several media outlets in India reported Pakistan has admitted that terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is in Karachi. Some of the media outlets that published this report include Hindustan Times (archived link), India TV (archived link), NDTV (archived link), Zee News (archived link) and India Today (archived link). Many of them reported that Pakistan admitted this for the first time.
CNN News 18 tweeted, “#Alert – First time in decades, Pakistan admits Dawood Ibrahim is in the country.”
#Alert – First time in decades, Pakistan admits Dawood Ibrahim is in the country
Here’s a report by @manojkumargupta where News18 tracked Dawood way back in 2016.
Tune in to the broadcast with @vandanaseb. pic.twitter.com/JNRKmQzyPq
— CNNNews18 (@CNNnews18) August 23, 2020
LiveMint tweeted, “Pakistan has accepted that the alleged mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts lives in Karachi’s Clifton area.”
Pakistan has accepted that the alleged mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts lives in Karachi’s Clifton area https://t.co/yr80mRBRgI
— Livemint (@livemint) August 22, 2020
Alt News is going to verify the following claims in this report:
1) Information about Dawood Ibrahim’s address was put out by Pakistan for the first time.
2) Pakistan disputes Indian media reports, continues to deny Dawood’s presence in Pakistan.
On August 18, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) published an order (view PDF) stating that as per United Nations Security Council (UNSC), restrictions will be imposed on “ISIL (also known as Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities.” As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Pakistan is obliged to issue a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) periodically.
One of the individuals listed in the SRO is terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. The order lists his aliases, passport number and other personal details including his address. There are three addresses mentioned in the order, all of them are from Pakistan.
a) Karachi, Pakistan (White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton)
b) House Nu 37 – 30th Street – defence, Housing Authority, Karachi, Pakistan
c) Palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi, Pakistan
1. Dawood Ibrahim’s address not put out by Pakistan for the first time
In order to prove that Dawood Ibrahim’s address has been in the public domain for years, Alt News will rely upon Pakistan MoFA SRO from 2016 and regulations to The Council of European Union in 2002. Alt News performed a keyword search on Google restricting the results to Pakistan’s MoFA website and found three SROs — 2015 (view pdf), 2016 (view PDF) and 2019 (view pdf). While the links were not accessible, Alt News could open their respective Google web cache versions.
As per 2019 SRO, Ibrahim’s listed addresses were:
a) Karachi, Pakistan (White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton)
b) House Nu 37 – 30th Street – defence, Housing Authority, Karachi, Pakistan
c) Palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi, Pakistan.
The 2016 and 2015 SRO had one additional address in Ibrahim’s name apart from three mentioned in 2019 and 2020 SROs. “Address: a) Karachi, Pakistan ( White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton) b) (House Nu 37 – 30th Street – defence, Housing Authority Karachi Pakistan) c) (Palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi) d) (Property at Margalla Raod F 6/2 Street no. 22, House number 29 in Karachi).”
Readers should note that in 2002, the Council of European Union under the regulation No 881/2002 had pinned Ibrahim’s location to two addresses in Pakistan. They are the same addresses as mentioned in the MoFA Pakistan order — “(a) White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan, (b) House Nu 37 — 30th Street — defence, Housing Authority, Karachi Pakistan”.
Therefore the claim by India media outlets that Pakistan admitted for the first time that Ibrahim is in Pakistan is false.
2. Pakistan’s denial of Dawood Ibrahim in the country is questionable
In a response to coverage by the Indian media, Pakistan MoFA published a press note (archived link). While explaining the statutory order published on August 18, the press note read, “These lists contain names of individuals and entities designated under the two sanction regimes established pursuant to the UN Security Council resolutions. The consolidated SROs are issued periodically as a routine matter. Similar SROs have been issued, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the past, as per statutory requirements to meet our international obligations. Last such SROs were issued in 2019.” Alt News found three similar SROs issued by Pakistan MoFA in the past — 2015 (view pdf), 2016 (view PDF) and 2019 (view pdf).
We performed another keyword search on Google and found a 2019 press interaction between Pakistan MoFA and various journalists. Anas Mallick, Islamabad-based reporter for WION, had enquired if Ibrahim is in Pakistan or not. The Pakistan MoFA responded, “Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan, I repeat, he is not in Pakistan.” (archived link)
Expert Opinion: Taha Siddiqui, Editor in chief, South Asia Press: “Dawood in Pakistan is an open secret”
Siddiqui, a Pakistani journalist in exile, told Alt News, “The addresses mentioned on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs order on August 18 and the one published in 2016 establish that Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan is not new information. Thus, the reportage by Indian media is misleading. However, the response by Pakistan’s MoFA is equally misleading because they didn’t mention Dawood Ibrahim while addressing the Indian media and used the phrase “certain listed individuals”. Pakistan’s MoFA added more ambiguity when they stated that “the order continues to list persons who are deceased”. But more crucially, MoFA response began by clarifying that the order is a part of their international obligations thus shying away from their accountability. The fact that Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan is an open secret. It’s high time Pakistan made it clear to the world. If Pakistan’s MoFA is confident that Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan they should contest with the United Nations Security Council and the Council of European Union.”
Therefore, Pakistan’s claim that Dawood Ibrahim is not in the country is also questionable.
Economic Times (archived link), Times Now Hindi, Maharashtra Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Zee Hindustan, Navbharat Times, Latestly (archived link), and One India Bengali were other media organisations that published misleading reports.
Additionally, several national and regional news channels uploaded similar news bulletin on YouTube.
🙏 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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15th September 2020 / 9:17 pm
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"author": "Archit"
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1,906 |
Misleading video circulated as death of child in Bihar due to Bharat bandh protest - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
11th September 2018 / 12:40 am / Last updated: 15th March 2019
As the country witnessed Bharat bandh announced by the Congress party to protest record fuel prices, a video went viral on social media, which showed a man holding a dead baby in his hand and expressing his anguish over losing his child. It has been claimed that due to the disruption of normal life as a result of the bandh, the child could not be saved as the ambulance could not arrive in time.
Among those who shared this video, calling it the outcome of the Bharat bandh was a Twitter user Modified Renu (@Renu_18), who is followed on the social media platform by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video has been retweeted over 230 times so far.
Tears in my eyes..😢😢
This is what we are delivering ??
Who is responsible ???
Doesn’t this video haunt u ppl who have called for a #BharatBandh ? pic.twitter.com/TrZfXhe3eS
— Mօɖɨʄɨɛɖ Rɛռʊ (@renu_18) September 10, 2018
Alternatively, the video has also been used by opponents of BJP to target the party. The tweet posted below has been retweeted close to 300 times.
The sufferers are poor Indians- who are dying due to lack of basic health care. And BJP & Modi are busy in Jumla Bazi, Hindu Muslim politics;
Jago Bharat Jago! #BharatBandh pic.twitter.com/BnretYMRtH
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) September 10, 2018
The video along with the accompanying claim has also found its way on to Facebook.
The incident in question occurred on September 7, 2018 and has nothing to do with Bharat bandh declared for September 10. According to a report by Lallantop, the video is from Sitamarhi in Bihar. Four year old Simran had succumbed to a snake bite on her finger, after no driver was available on duty to take her to Sadar hospital in Sitamarhi by an ambulance. Simran’s family hastily arranged a tempo to take her to the hospital but she could not be saved. Simran died on the way to the hospital.
Moreover, Alt News found that this video had been uploaded on September 9 by a Facebook user which claimed that the child had died due to a snake bite.
बिहार: सिताम्बर जिला, चैनपुर में एक छोटी बच्ची को साँप ने काटलिया असपताल ले जाने पर वह से एम्बुलेंस नही मिलने के karn बच्ची की मौत!!!💁♂
दुबकर मर जाओ देश चलाने वालों!!!!
Posted by Taufik Siddiki on Sunday, September 9, 2018
It may be noted that reports have emerged of a two-year old child who died in Jehanabad, Bihar after road blockade apparently stopped an ambulance on the way. However, this report is separate and not related to the social media claim presented in this article. Moreover, contradictory claims have emerged with regard to this report with district administration stating otherwise.
There is no direct correlation with Bharat Bandh but generally,during a Bandh,frequency of vehicles is less.This may have caused little inconvenience.But even the family of the deceased said that ambulance wasn’t stopped due to #BharatBandh: Alok Ranjan Ghosh,DM Jehanabad #Bihar pic.twitter.com/jM6ADooNFQ
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2018
Using unrelated images and videos for politicking on social media is now an established practice, which was seen in this instance wherein an unrelated video of an incident that took place three days back was shared as the outcome of the Bharat bandh.
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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11th September 2018 / 12:40 am / Last updated: 15th March 2019
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
}
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1,907 |
Misleading video claiming dry ginger can cure Omicron is scientifically baseless - Alt News
Archit
13th January 2022 / 7:58 pm / Last updated: 14th January 2022
In a 2-minute video, a man recommends a “technique” to prevent infection from Omicron, the latest COVID variant. He recommends snorting dried ginger. He even claims that he has sold thousands of packets of dried ginger.
This video has been shared across the internet along with claims either identifying the man as Dr Zarir Udwadia or Dr Sushil Razdan. Facebook page Kashmir Xpress News, with over 4 lakh followers, claimed he is Dr Razdan.
Alt News has received several requests to fact-check the video on our WhatsApp helpline number (+91 76000 11160).
The fact that this video has been shared with claims identifying the man differently is the first red flag hinting that the video is misleading.
Alt News performed a keyword search using the names of the two doctors and learnt that Dr Udwadia is a Mumbai-based doctor while Dr Razdan is from Jammu. They are both popular in their fields.
As per a press note by the Ministry of Culture, Dr Udwadia inaugurated the ‘Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World’ Exhibition in 2018. The presser addresses him as a prolific researcher and renowned physician. In 2016, The New York Times wrote a feature story based on his inputs.
Similarly, Dr Razdan is a well-known neurologist from Jammu. In April 2021, news agency IANS quoted him in a tweet related to COVID infection.
Alt News compared the image of the man in viral video with the images of the two doctors and found that they are three different individuals. The photo of Udwadia is from his Google profile, while the image of Razdan is by IANS.
While the man in the viral video looks nothing like Dr Udwadia, there appears to be some resemblance with Dr Razdan. However, Jammu-based media outlet The Straight Line debunked this claim on January 9 and dubbed the video as a fake. Additionally, Razdan confirmed to Boomlive that the man in the viral video is not him.
As for the claim that dried ginger can prevent infection from Omicron, the claim is scientifically invalid. Alt News Science editor Dr Sumaiya Shaikh and physician Dr Sharfaroz Satani explained in a sci-check last year, “There are no clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of dry ginger in viral infections. A pilot study by Stefano, D. et al. (2019) on 10 healthy individuals showed immunomodulatory effects of the combination of Echinacea angustifolia and Zingiber officinale in softgel capsules. They measured the expression of genes in white blood cells (cells responsible for immune function in the blood) of the volunteers and found that after they consumed these softgel capsules, 500 genes were differentially expressed (the process through which the genes makes proteins) in these leukocytes. All these together shifted the leukocyte activity towards suppression of inflammation (which is a response of the immune system). So, contrary to the claims of boosting, the immunomodulation in this study can be similar to the one directed by hydrocortisone administration, a steroid drug used to suppress the immune system.”
Last year, Dr Faheem Younus, VP/Chief Quality Officer/Chief of Infectious Diseases at the University of Maryland, also refuted that ginger can cure COVID.
To sum it up, a video of an unidentified man claiming that dry ginger can cure COVID has been shared with the false claim that the said person is Dr Zarir Udwadia or Dr Sushil Razdan. Both the doctors are leading professionals in their respective fields. Their names have been used to inject credibility into this piece of medical misinformation.
🙏 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 January 2022 / 7:58 pm / Last updated: 14th January 2022
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"author": "Archit"
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1,908 |
Misleading video on PM Modi's educational qualification circulates on social media - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
1st March 2018 / 6:10 pm / Last updated: 28th September 2020
Modi: Pehli baat toh main koi padha likha vyakti nahi hoon. Parmatma ki krupa hai aur isiliye mujhe nayi nayi cheezen jaan ne ka bada shauk raha hai. (I am not an educated person. It is due to God’s grace that I have always been curious about knowing and learning new things)
Reporter: Kitna padhe hain aap? (How much have you studied?)
Modi: Waise toh maine 17 saal ki ayu mein ghar chhod diya. School ki shiksha ke baad nikal gaya. Tab se lekar aaj tak bhatak raha hoon nayi cheezen pane ke liye. (I had left home at the age of 17. I left after schooling. Since then, I have been wandering in search of new things)
Reporter: Sirf school tak padhe hain? Matlab primary school tak? (You have studied only till school? Till primary school?)
Modi: High school tak (Till high school)
This is the transcript of an interview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi dating back to the time when he was the General Secretary of the BJP in the 1990s. In this interview in the programme ‘Ru-ba-ru’, the reporter Rajeev Shukla asks PM Modi about his educational background, to which Modi gave his response.
Twitter user @IndurChhugani reshared the video tweeted by @FnbJoe on September 26, 2020. He sarcastically wrote, “Stop saying he never speaks the truth. Retweet – let the world know.”
Stop saying
he never speaks the truth.
Retweet – let the world know.pic.twitter.com/DI4exyuQhn
— Indur Chhugani (@IndurChhugani) September 26, 2020
The same clip has been viral since at least three years.
The above screenshot of the post is from the public group ‘Bhrashtachar Ka Kaal- Kejriwal’ on Facebook and was shared a whopping 52,000 times. This 30-second clip has been circulating widely on social media across various platforms. We have posted one such clip below, which has been viewed more than 25,000 times on YouTube.
So, is this video a vindication for those who claim that the Prime Minister has not studied beyond school as he himself claims? Not really, if you consider what PM Modi says next.
“Baad mein hamare Sangh ke ek adhikari the unke agrah par main external exam dena shuru kiya. Toh Delhi University se maine BA kar liya external exam de kar ke. Phir bhi unka agrah raha toh maine MA kar liya external exam se. Maine kabhi college ka darwaza dekha nahi” (There was a Sangh worker on whose insistence I started giving external examinations. I did BA from Delhi University through external exam. He kept insisting, so I did MA through external exam. I had never seen a college gate.)
This part begins right where the viral video clip ends. PM Modi goes on to say that he did his BA and MA through external examination. However, this part has been omitted from the said video clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTTqEfuD3B8
There has been much controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualification which remains mired in mystery owing to the difficulty of access with regard to official documents. PM Modi has been accused of fudging his educational qualifications. In 2018, Delhi HC issued notice to Delhi University on the intervention of RTI activists in the matter relating to information about students who passed out of the university in 1978, the year PM Modi claims to have graduated. Delhi University meanwhile had told the court it cannot disclose exam records of students who passed out of the BA course in 1978. Despite the lack of transparency surrounding the PM’s educational qualification, statements made in the video in question were placed out of context.
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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1st March 2018 / 6:10 pm / Last updated: 28th September 2020
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
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Misleading video portrays EAM Jaishankar meeting G7 delegates after COVID scare - Alt News
Archit
10th May 2021 / 9:45 pm
The Group of Seven (G7) meeting in London on May 5 was hit by a COVID-19 scare after India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his entire team said they were self-isolating after two delegation members tested positive. Indian delegates joined the meeting virtually the next day.
Sikh Federation UK tweeted a two-minute video on May 9 that comprises a Sky News broadcast in the first 52 seconds, followed by a bite by the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab till the 1:02 mark. Hereon, the video shows multiple images of Jaishankar while the narrator criticises Indian delegates for not following COVID-19 protocols despite two of them testing positive. The final segment of the video again shows a Sky News broadcast.
Photos show an unmasked @DrSJaishankar & @HCI_London flouting self-isolation rules that require you to stay in one room & avoid face to face contact with others. Indian delegation shown have no respect for rules & law. @BorisJohnson should tell @PMOIndia to stay away from @G7 pic.twitter.com/KIsT5am9FS
— Sikh Federation UK (@SikhFedUK) May 8, 2021
The video was tweeted by Congress leader Alka Lamba, Congress supporter Faiz INC, and Twitter user @iraniShenaz1958 whose video gained over 65,000 views.
Founding vice-chancellor of HJ State University of Journalism and Mass Communications Om Thanvi tweeted the video and wrote that Sky News reported, “The experience with the Indian G7 delegation shows they have no respect for rules in the law… Given the rising number of cases in India, Boris Johnson should tell Narendra Modi and his delegation to stay away from the G7 main summit next month.” Thanvi later deleted his tweet.
Alt News found that the Indian External Affairs Minister’s (EAM) pictures at the G7 summit were doctored into the Sky News broadcast. The photographs do show Jaishankar meeting delegates in the UK but they were shot prior to the two Indian delegates reportedly testing positive. In another image, Jaishankar can be seen without a mask while attending the G7 meeting virtually with his team.
The first 52 seconds of the video is identical to the May 6 Sky News broadcast about Indian delegates testing positive prior to the G7 meeting.
The next segment shows UK’s First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab saying, “They [Indian delegates] didn’t have in-person meetings… with me. They were immediately (someone interrupts) we saw those tests. They were sent to self-isolation.” This video was uploaded by Reuters on May 6.
We subsequently hear a man say, “[Image 1] After two of the Indian G7 delegation tested positive on Wednesday (May 5) morning, the Indian Foreign Minister did not immediately go into isolation. [Image 2] Despite what Dominic Raab states, [Image 3] many have seen photographs showing the Indian foreign minister met Priti Patel, the Home Secretary and [Image 4] the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, later the same day. [Image 5] Photographs have emerged from Thursday (May 6) showing an unmasked Indian Foreign Minister with an unmasked Indian High Commissioner flouting self-isolation rules. By definition, self-isolation requires you to stay in one room and avoid face-to-face contact with others. The experience with the Indian G7 delegation shows, they have no respect for rules and the law. Given the rising number of cases in India, [Image 6] Boris Johnson should tell Narendra Modi, and the Indian delegation to stay away from the G7 summit in Cornwall next month when heads of state from the democratic world will be gathering.”
Image 1: This image was tweeted by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel on May 4, a day prior to the media reporting that Indian delegates tested positive.
A pleasure to welcome @DrSJaishankar to the @UKHomeOffice today as we signed the landmark Migration & Mobility deal as part of our New Plan for Immigration, providing new opportunities for our young people to live and work here and in India as we recover from the pandemic.
🇬🇧🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/AWWorBRDze
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) May 4, 2021
Image 2: This image too shows Jaishankar meeting Patel on May 4. It tweeted by the EAM.
Image 3: The following image was shot by Tim Hammond at Downing Street on May 4. It was published by Sky News on May 5. The caption reads, “Home Secretary Priti Patel met with India’s foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday [May 4].”
Image 4: The image below was taken by Ben Stansall and is uploaded on Getty Images. The image caption reads, “US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a press conference with India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar following a bilateral meeting in London on May 3, 2021, during the G7 foreign ministers meeting.”
Image 5 and 6: These were tweeted by Jaishankar on May 6 where the foreign minister and another delegate are not wearing masks in the company of the other Indian officials. The photographs were taken after two delegates tested positive and the Indian team was supposed to be in self-isolation.
Just concluded the bilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with British counterpart @DominicRaab. Focussed on our responsibility for implementing the 2030 Roadmap. Confident that we will see early progress on many fronts. pic.twitter.com/LvBxDNkDFn
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 6, 2021
The final 20-seconds of the viral video are also from the Sky News broadcast. It starts from the 1:48 mark.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Wc9gBIl1s?start=108]
A part of the viral video was not aired by Sky News. Sikh Federation’s commentary was added to produce misinformation. EAM and the Indian team have now returned to New Delhi. Jaishankar claimed that all of them have tested negative for the virus. “False alarms do happen,” he tweeted however there has been no statement from the British authorities regarding this. Alt News cannot independently verify the statement, but the Indian delegation did not meet heads of other states after the coronavirus scare. There are images of Jaishankar meeting them before the positive results were out. However, two among the Indian team, including the EAM, were photographed without a mask while attending the meeting virtually.
🙏 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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10th May 2021 / 9:45 pm
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Misleading video shared as Sultan's wife carrying Ramayana at first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
18th May 2019 / 5:46 pm / Last updated: 19th February 2021
“Sultan Sheikh Mohammed in Abu Dhabi has fulfilled his promise given to Modi by building the first Hindu temple. Sultan’s wife is carrying the Ramayana on her head towards the temple along with Sheikh Mohammed and Ram Katha Vachak Moraji Bapu. Truly incredible view,” reads a viral message shared with a video on social media.
🙏 * 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, pic.twitter.com/iXuwAhuUS8
— Akash RSS (@Satynistha) February 4, 2021
The message reads in Hindi, “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।”
It is widespread on both Facebook and Twitter.
The above message is being circulated with a video where Ram Katha preacher Morari Bapu can be seen walking amongst the public at an event. The message claims that as promised to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sultan Sheikh Mohammed has built a temple in Abu Dhabi. It is being claimed that the visuals depict the wife of Sultan Sheikh Mohammed carrying the holy Ramayana on her head while she is accompanied by her husband and the preacher himself.
The video was also shared in 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 pic.twitter.com/Tr9A20oRle
— अजय कुमार #३ह🚩 (@Ajaysir01) May 21, 2019
It was in fact viral on Facebook and Twitter with the same message.
Alt News had earlier debunked another video from the same event when it was falsely claimed by leading news channels Times Now and Zee News that Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the Ram Katha of Morari Bapu in Abu Dhabi. Later, it was found that the person is a United Arab Emirates-based columnist and commentator on Arab affairs named Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi and NOT the Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Coming to the video, the same UAE based columnist Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi can be seen walking with Morari Bapu. You can see his profile here. The clip from the complete video, uploaded on Morari Bapu’s official YouTube channel, can be seen below. In his opening remarks, an unknown speaker can be heard announcing a list of guests. However, the name of the Crown Prince is not announced in this list. He also cannot be visually spotted among the guests were present for the event. Hence, it is evident that Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was not present at the event.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGS74ELjtU?start=373]
Moreover, ABP News also found out that the woman carrying the holy book was Siya, the organizer’s daughter and not from the Royal family. In the video posted below, Morari Bapu in a statement given to the channel can be heard saying that she was the organizer’s daughter and her name is Siya.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=218&v=aoeB-OeMJIk
As far as the construction of a temple in Abu Dabhi is concerned, the foundation stone of the first Hindu temple was laid recently in April 2019. The foundation-stone laying ceremony was presided by Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. It will be built on the land gifted to the Indian community by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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 May 2019 / 5:46 pm / Last updated: 19th February 2021
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Misleading videos of Rahul Gandhi viral with Twitter trend #RahulGandhiPagalHai - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
13th February 2019 / 8:25 pm / Last updated: 11th May 2020
Since the early hours of February 13, a certain Twitter hashtag gained substantial momentum to share space with the top trends of the day on the micro-blogging website. #RahulGandhiPagalHai or ‘Rahul Gandhi is mad’ transformed into a top trend after multiple users began posting similar tweets with the said hashtag.
However, in the midst of the hundreds of tweets targetting the Congress president were his videos placed out of context and in a misleading manner.
“I’m not saying this. Hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. #RahulGandhiPagalHai,” tweeted Krishna (@Athiest_Krishna) along with a clip where Gandhi can be heard saying – “मेरे जैसा बेवक़ूफ़ इस देश में नहीं है| (There is no other fool like me in this country.)” The video attracted over 15,000 views and more than 800 retweets.
I’m not saying this. Hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.#RahulGandhiPagalHai pic.twitter.com/k4RTHVSPyZ
— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) February 13, 2019
Several other Twitter users also circulated the same video.
Unsurprisingly, Rahul Gandhi did not call himself a fool. This video has been doing rounds on social media since last year and was debunked by India Today.
The viral clip is only four seconds of a much longer speech that the Congress president gave at Talkatora stadium in the OBC convention on June 11, 2018. Gandhi wasn’t calling himself a fool but claimed to be quoting a BJP OBC MP who came up to him and said that he (the MP himself) was a fool for supporting PM Modi.
Here’s what Gandhi said at the convention, “लोक सभा में नरेंद्र मोदी जी के OBC MPs मेरे पास आये. सच बताउ बाथरूम से निकल रहा था उन्होंने मुझे रोका. नाम नहीं बता सकता. नाम बता दिया तो मोदीजी आउट कर देंगे. मगर चार-पाँच आए और मैंने उनसे मज़ाक में पूछा, “भइया ये बताओ क्या हो रहा हैँ?” एक मेरा हाथ पकड़ता है, कहता है, “राहुलजी, मेरे जैसा बेवक़ूफ़ इस देश में नहीं है. मैं इनको लाया, मैंने नरेंद्र मोदीजी को प्रधान मंत्री बनाया और आज लोक सभा के संसद में नरेंद्र मोदीजी मुझे एक शब्द नहीं बोलने देते…(Narendra Modi ji’s OBC MPs came to me at the Lok Sabha. If I tell you the truth, I was exiting the bathroom when they stopped me. I cannot reveal their names because if I do, Modiji will sack them. But 4-5 of them had come to me and I jokingly asked them, “Brother tell me what’s happening?” One of them held my hand and said, “Rahulji, there is no other fool like me in this country. I supported him, I made Narendra Modiji the prime minister and today, he does not let me utter a word in the lower house of the parliament.” )”
Another video of Rahul Gandhi has been tweeted by a few users where he is addressing the Lok Sabha on Rafale and can be heard saying, ““I have no proof so far, but I am very clear that the Prime Minister is directly involved.” This gave the impression that Gandhi was accusing PM Modi of corruption without any evidence.
This particular statement is a proof that Rahul Gandhi’s drama for Rafale is a face saving stunt for himself, his mother & for Robert Vadra!!#RahulGandhiPagalHai pic.twitter.com/DuihZFy12L
— Seema Choudhary (@Seems3r) February 13, 2019
This particular statement is a proof that Rahul Gandhi’s drama for Rafale is a face saving stunt for himself, his mother & for Robert Vadra!!@KushalRss@narendramodi#RahulGandhiPagalHai pic.twitter.com/AdvZLzjadc
— KUSHAL CHAUDHARY .🙏🇳🇪 (@KushalRss) February 13, 2019
This is video was also clipped. It is a part of Gandhi’s Lok Sabha address on Rafale earlier this year where his statement was directed at Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He says that he does not have any proof so far of her involvement, but the Prime Minister is directly involved in the scam.
“Defense Minister said that we are accusing her…Madam I am not accusing you and I am not accusing Mr Parrikar. I am accusing Mr Narendra Modi. Let it be absolutely clear that you have done nothing other than try to defend a lie. So I do not think that you are involved in the Rafale scam. I have no proof so far to say that you are involved but I am very clear that the Prime Minister is directly involved in the Rafale scam,“ the Congress president can be heard saying at 4:26 minutes in the full video below.
https://youtu.be/e8RLBVFrv5o?t=266
Rahul Gandhi is a popular online target. There are numerous other instances showcasing how clipped or morphed videos of the Congress president make way into social media and quickly become a trending topic.
A video of Gandhi, which was widely circulated in November last year, is still being shared on social media. In the 6-second clip, the Congress president can be heard saying, “मुझे प्रधान मंत्री बना दो तो सूरज इस साइड से उगता है उसे उस साइड से उथा दूंगा. (If you make me the prime minister then the sun which rises from this side, I will make it rise from that side.” The link posted below is by the prominent fake news page The India Eye and gives the impression that Gandhi appealed to the crowd that if they help him become the PM, he will make the Sun rise from the West.
आइए देखते है नई पप्पुगीरी – अब ये सूरज को भी पश्चिम से निकाल सकते है ।
Posted by The India Eye on Friday, 9 November 2018
The clip was extracted from Rahul Gandhi’s address at a public gathering in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh on November 9, 2018, where his statement was actually a dig at prime minister Modi. The full video of his speech was uploaded by Congress, where at 8:27 minutes, he says, “मोदीजी जैसे कहते है ना भईया चाँद को मैं इधर से उधर कर दूंगा। मुझे प्रधान मंत्री बना दो तो सूरज इस साइड से उगता है उसे इस साइड से उठा दूंगा. ऐसी बातें मैं नहीं करूँगा…(Like Modiji says that brothers I will shift the moon from here to there. If you make me the prime minister then the sun which rises from this side, I will make it rise from that side. I will not indulge in such talks…)”
LIVE: Public Meeting at Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh
LIVE: Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses a public gathering in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh. #GadhboNavaChhattisgarh
Posted by Indian National Congress on Friday, 9 November 2018
This misinformation was earlier debunked by India Today.
In 2017, a video of Rahul Gandhi saying, “ऐसी मशीन लगाऊंगा इस साइड से आलू घुसेगा उस साइड से सोना निकलेगा …(Will install such a machine that if a potato is inserted from one end, gold will come out from the other end.)” was shared by BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya who claimed that the Congress president made this statement.
People are sending this to me and asking in disbelief if he actually said this.. Of course he did! pic.twitter.com/rgdTf26ARv
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) November 15, 2017
This too was a clipped video of a much longer speech where Rahul Gandhi was actually taking a dig at PM Modi during an address in Gujarat’s Patan on November 12, 2017.
The complete video was uploaded on the Congress president’s YouTube channel where at 17:50 minutes he can be heard saying, “कुछ महीने पहले यहाँ बाढ़ आयी ५०० करोड़ रुपये दूंगा, (पीएम मोदी ने) एक भी रूपया नहीं दिया. आलू के किसानो को कहा ऐसी मशीन लगाऊंगा इस साइड से आलू घुसेगा उस साइड से सोना निकलेगा…मेरे शब्द नहीं है नरेंद्र मोदीजी के शब्द है. (A few months ago there was a flood here and he (PM Modi) said he will give Rs 500 crore but not even a rupee was given. He told potato farmers, will install such a machine that if a potato is inserted from one end, gold will come out from the other end…these are not my words but Narendra Modiji’s words.)”
The truth about the clipped video was brought out by many media organisations, including News18, The Quint, ABP News and The Indian Express.
These are only a few examples, but misleading videos crop up every now and then on social media to target the Congress president. Misinformation has been used in the past to claim that Rahul Gandhi said that Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence was inspired by Islam. His video of praying at a Dargah was pushed with the narrative that he was praying for a Muslim kingdom in India. There have also been false claims of him taking a U-turn on farm loan waivers and that he termed former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s government corrupt.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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13th February 2019 / 8:25 pm / Last updated: 11th May 2020
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Mission Whitewash Yogi Adityanath: After Rahul Kanwal, it is Gaurav Sawant's turn to normalise Adityanath's past - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
20th March 2017 / 11:41 am
The mission to whitewash Yogi Adityanath with active support from prominent news anchors is in full steam now. Yesterday, we wrote about Rahul Kanwal’s hypocritical stand wherein he describes Trump’s bigotry as a ‘dangerous landmine’ but wants people to give Yogi Adityanath ‘a chance’ and ‘judge him only for his work’. Following in the footsteps of Rahul Kanwal, now Gaurav Sawant has tried to do his bit by propagandising as to how Yogi Adityanath should be judged only for his actions henceforth.
Gaurav Sawant is asking us to forget all of Yogi Adityanath’s ‘actions’ in the past and only judge him for his ‘actions’ in the future. He is asking us to forget how Yogi Adityanath said things like “If ‘they’ kill one Hindu, we will kill 100 of ‘theirs'”. Forget how a co-speaker asked for Muslim women to be taken out of graves and raped while Yogi Adityanath was on the stage in a program organised by his organization Hindu Yuva Vahini. Forget how in yet another hate-filled speech, Adityanath said that “If one Hindu is killed, we will not file an FIR, but kill 10 of ‘theirs’“. Following Sawant’s effort to ask us to forget all the venom spewed by Yogi Adityanath, he quotes a random Twitter account.
He claims that whatever this random Twitter account is claiming are ‘facts on ground’. Moreover, all the real videos that are being posted by people are not ‘facts on ground’ but just a ‘narrative’, and apparently a misplaced one at that. Alright, probably we shouldn’t judge when Yogi Adityanath says “If they take one Hindu girl, we will take 100 Muslim….”. When Yogi Adityanath claims in a speech that Hindu and Muslim culture cannot co-exist and a religious war is inevitable, it is ‘just a narrative’ and not a ‘fact on ground’ about Yogi Adityanath’s real beliefs. Following this a BJP member/supporter’s views are passed off as the general view. Notice the prominent encircled lotus symbol on the person’s shirt.
So, Gaurav Sawant wants us to believe that the account of one BJP member/supporter and one random Twitter account are ‘real facts’, all the hate spewed by Yogi Adityanath in speeches after speeches for 15 odd years is just a misconstrued narrative. While Gaurav Sawant and Rahul Kanwal were busy asking us to forget Yogi Adiyatnath’s past, BJP’s social media team in parallel was also trying to do their bit by running copy-paste Twitter trends and trying to project Adityanath as the next ‘Vikas’ guru in the lines of Narendra Modi. Mission Whitewash Yogi Adityanath is ON.
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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20th March 2017 / 11:41 am
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
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1,913 |
Mistaken identity, this Ankit Bhardwaj is NOT a BJP member as AAP alleged - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
10th May 2017 / 10:31 pm / Last updated: 10th May 2017
While BJP continues to rule the roost on social media, unlike pre-2014, other parties like Congress and AAP have also created a space for themselves on social media with dedicated volunteers supporting and defending their respective parties on various issues. In recent times, AAP social media volunteers especially have had to work hard because of party’s poor performance in Punjab/Goa state assembly elections and Delhi MCD elections. In the latest fiasco, a person called Ankit Bhardwaj, who claims to be a AAP party worker, reportedly attacked Kapil Mishra. The attack happened at the place where Kapil Mishra has started an indefinite fast for protesting against the alleged corruption of AAP leaders.
Soon after the attack, many prominent AAP social media volunteers started alleging that one Ankit Bhardwaj who is associated with Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha which is BJP’s youth wing was responsible for the attack and that he’s portraying himself to be an AAP volunteer.
Even the official Aam Aadmi Party Twitter handle put out a video alleging the same, they have now deleted this tweet, but we managed to get a screenshot.
The video which has now been deleted can be seen here:
Arvind Kejriwal also retweeted this allegation via his Twitter account, the tweet by twitter handle @DaarubazMehta has now been deleted.
As it turns out, the Ankit Bhardwaj who is associated with BJYM was not responsible for the attack and he’s clarified the same on his Facebook timeline.
He has also stated the same before media channels that he wasn’t the one who attacked Kapil Mishra and that he’s being unnecessarily defamed.
Statement of BJYM worker ANKIT BHARDWAJ to a TV Channel just now given at 14 Pant Marg who is being mis-accused of attack on Kapil Mishra. pic.twitter.com/hzkePR2NsY
— impreet singh bakshi (@impreetsbakshi) May 10, 2017
In this constant political battle between different parties on social media parties, truth often becomes the first casualty.
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…
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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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10th May 2017 / 10:31 pm / Last updated: 10th May 2017
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
}
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1,914 |
MLC Prashant Paricharak makes a shocking comment vis-a-vis Indian Army in a BJP rally - Alt News
Alt News Desk
19th February 2017 / 5:15 pm / Last updated: 12th July 2018
In an election rally, while campaigning for the Maharashtra District Council elections in Solapur district, BJP supported independent Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Prashant Paricharak made a controversial comment regarding soldiers serving in the line of duty.
The approximate translation of his speech is as follows:
“Soldier is at border, his wife gets pregnant at home. He get a letter than you are a Dad and a son is born. He hasn’t gone home since a year (audience laughs). Soldier distributes sweets. Other soldiers ask, what happened? He says, I have a son. That is the way Politics is”
This statement suggesting that army wives get pregnant in absence of their partners created a huge outrage on social media and the MLC had to apologise for his statement.
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…
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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19th February 2017 / 5:15 pm / Last updated: 12th July 2018
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mlc-prashant-paricharak-shocks-indian-army-comment-bjp-rally-says-army-wives-unfaithful/",
"author": "Alt News Desk"
}
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1,915 |
Mock drill at Delhi's Dilshad Garden metro station viral as "bomb found" by the police - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
21st February 2019 / 2:39 pm / Last updated: 21st February 2019
“Dilshad garden metro station bomb found” – is the message accompanying a viral video on social media. The 31-second clip shows police gathered outside Delhi’s Dilshad garden metro station. The person shooting the video gives audio commentary that cops found a bomb at the station and people are advised to not touch anything. “Inform the police if you find something lying around,” he furthers.
Dilshad garden metro station bomb found.. Request to all please be careful and safe time ..
Posted by Rajsar Foundation Since 2017 on Wednesday, 20 February 2019
The video is widely shared on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, suggesting its possible circulation on WhatsApp as well.
The 31-second clip has been posted with a false narrative. There are no media reports which substantiate the claim that a bomb was discovered at Dilshad garden metro station. It is unlikely that a piece of news this serious goes unreported in the media.
There are other hints which suggest that the viral claims are untrue. If one carefully watches the video, the police are not evacuating citizens from the station. Commuters and passers-by are freely walking to and from the station.
Several individual users have commented that it represents a mock drill. Alt News also found YouTube videos of the incident shot from a different angle that describe the incident as, “Dilshad Garden metro station McDonald’s bomb mock drill.”
We contacted Dilshad Garden police station for confirmation and this article will be updated if and when the police respond.
This isn’t an isolated case of a police mock drill video shared on social media as “bomb found” or “terror attack”. Earlier this month, a counterterrorism mock drill conducted in Mumbai’s DMart hypermarket was shared as “terrorists caught by police.” Last month, a Telangana police mock drill video was viral as a terror attack in Tirupathi Tirumala bypass road. At a time when citizens are at unease in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack, posting a mock drill video with the false narrative of a bomb found by the police might cause unnecessary panic.
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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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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21st February 2019 / 2:39 pm / Last updated: 21st February 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,916 |
Mock drill at DMart hypermarket in Mumbai viral as terrorists caught by police - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
15th February 2019 / 5:24 pm
A video is doing rounds on social media with claims that the Mumbai police caught terrorists who were planning to plant a bomb in Virar DMart, Mumbai.
Caught by Mumbai police planing bomb in Dmart virar…
Posted by Prithviraj Ujwalrani Prakash Patil on Thursday, 14 February 2019
Several individual users on Facebook have shared the clip where policemen can be seen escorting a man, whose face is covered with a black cloth, into a police jeep.
From what it seems, the video is circulating on WhatsApp as well.
If one Googles ‘Virar DMart Mumbai’, the search results throw up a bunch of media reports which say that a mock drill was conducted at the hypermarket on January 14.
A Times of India article reported the incident as – “A counter-terror mock drill was conducted at a hypermarket in Virar on Thursday evening.” The news media organisation further added, “The half-an-hour drill caught shoppers and public by surprise. The drill was conducted by the Palghar district police along with Riot Control Police ( RCP) and Quick Response Team ( QRT) at 5 pm at the Dmart hypermarket at Virar.”
The report also includes a video of the mock drill, which is the same as the one circulating on social media.
Boomlive earlier debunked the video and spoke to Jayant Bajbale, Sub-Divisional Officer, Virar who confirmed that the incident represents a routine counter-terrorism mock drill. “It was an exercise of 30 minutes. There were 25 people from the QRT, and 15 from RCP and some from the local police station,” Bajbale told Boom.
This wasn’t the first time that a video of a mock drill was viral as terrorists caught by police. In the past, Alt News had found a similar case related to Telangana. A Jharkhand police mock drill was also viral with two different narratives – 1, 2.
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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15th February 2019 / 5:24 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mock-drill-at-dmart-hypermarket-in-mumbai-viral-as-terrorists-caught-by-police/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,917 |
Mock drill video from Ambadevi temple, Maharashtra shared as terrorists arrested - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
31st July 2019 / 2:22 pm / Last updated: 31st July 2019
A video of a group of men dressed in army fatigues rounding up people is being shared on social media with the claim that these were terrorists arrested in Ambadevi temple, Maharashtra. In the video, several policemen can also be seen in the video while a few others are filming the incident. The Marathi-text shared along with the video reads, “अमरावती ला देवी मदींरात आतकंवादी पकडल्या (terrorist arrested at Ambadevi temple)”.
अमरावती अम्बा देवी मंदिर में पकडे गए आतंकवादी 🙏
Posted by Uchhrang Jethwa on Monday, 29 July 2019
Alt News had received a fact-check request on its official app. A few more individuals on Facebook have shared the video with a similar narrative.
Alt News found that the video actually represents a mock drill near Ambadevi temple in Amravati, Maharastra. With a keyword search on Google, we found a video of the same mock drill posted by a local news outlet VCN News.
In the image posted below, a screenshot (on the left) from the viral video is juxtaposed with a screengrab from the news report on the right. In the annotated image below, the people who posed as terrorists during the exercise can be seen in the viral video as well as the news report which clarified it to be a mock drill.
According to the news report, the rehearsal was conducted on the morning of July 27, 2019. Speaking to VCN News, a police officer informs that the mock drill was carried out by Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Quick Response Team (QRT) and local police. They play-acted to capture three terrorists.
Alt News also got in touch with Amravati police to ascertain whether the video depicted a mock-drill. PI Shivaji Bachate said, “It was a mock drill.” He also confirmed that the exercise was carried out on July 27.
In conclusion, a video of mock drill which took place at Amravati’s Ambadevi temple in Maharastra was circulated with a false claim that terrorists were arrested at the site. Earlier in April this year, a video of mock-drill carried out by Gujarat police at Ambaji temple in Banaskantha district was falsely shared as a terror attack.
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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31st July 2019 / 2:22 pm / Last updated: 31st July 2019
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mock-drill-video-from-ambadevi-temple-maharashtra-shared-as-terrorists-arrested/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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1,918 |
Mock drill video from Vidisha, MP shared as terrorists captured by security forces - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
11th October 2019 / 2:06 pm
“मध्य प्रदेश के विदिशा जिला कलेक्ट्रेट के भवन की निर्माणाधीन बिल्डिंग में चार आतंकवादी घुसे जिसे जिला पुलिस बल विदिशा द्वारा रेस्क्यू कर जिंदा पकड़ने में सफलता प्राप्त की बधाई हो ऐसे पुलिस वालों को” (“Four terrorists entered collectorate building in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, Vidisha police captured them alive and the operation was a success congratulations to such policemen- translated”).
The above message has been shared on social media, along with a video showing several uniformed personnel who seem to have ‘captured’ terrorists in an operation. The video begins with a person in a pathani suit being handcuffed and made to squat. This person is sporting a false beard. More people are seen toward the end of the video, handcuffed and made to squat by uniformed personnel who surround them.
मध्य प्रदेश के विदिशा जिला कलेक्ट्रेट के भवन की निर्माणाधीन बिल्डिंग में चार आतंकवादी घुसे जिसे जिला पुलिस बल विदिशा द्वारा रेस्क्यू कर जिंदा पकड़ने में सफलता प्राप्त की बधाई हो ऐसे पुलिस वालों को
Posted by Raju Kumar on Friday, October 4, 2019
The above post by a Facebook user on October 4, has been shared over 4,400 times and viewed over 315,000 times. It has been posted with identical text by several individual users. The video is 2:03 minutes long.
In the past, Alt News has encountered similar scenarios, wherein videos of supposed police or military operations have been circulated on social media. These videos turned out to be mock drills carried out by security forces. Prima facie, this video too seemed like a mock drill, judging by the reaction of some of the uniformed personnel, who can be seen smiling. At 1:40 minutes in the video, a voice can be heard saying, “There should be no laughter during the photo session”. (translated from Hindi).
With the assumption that the video represents a mock drill, Alt News searched with relevant keywords and found an article published on the website www.naidunia.com, dated September 28, 2019. The article stated that a mock drill was conducted by Vidisha police at the collectorate premises in Vidisha district, MP.
On further searching, we found an article published on a website, Khabar State. The article carried the same still as seen at the end of the video. It stated that the mock drill was carried out on September 27, with Vidisha police demonstrating quick response to a ‘hostage’ situation.
A comparison of the two images is shown below.
It may be noted that the video circulated on social media as Vidisha police arresting five terrorists, is actually a video of a mock drill conducted by the police in September. Another video of a mock drill was shared in September as explosives recovered from Ahmednagar bus stand in Maharashtra. Earlier in August 2019, multiple videos of mock drills were shared as Mumbai under terror alert.
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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11th October 2019 / 2:06 pm
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"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
}
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1,919 |
Mock drill video of Chinese SWAT team tackling coronavirus victim viral as real - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
28th February 2020 / 2:40 pm
Several officers of the Chinese SWAT team halt a car, the driver wearing a face-mask is asked to step out, upon his refusal to cooperate the cops forcibly catch him using a net and take him away. A video depicting this sequence of events is widely circulating on social media with the claim that it shows the treatment of coronavirus victims in China.
The way that China stops and arrests a #coronavirus suspect on the road. pic.twitter.com/IlQUHkH1FQ
— Wu Lebao (@MerlotN) February 22, 2020
Several users have requested for a fact-check.
Extraordinary. SWAT teams take down coronavirus suspects on China highway.
This was a WA forward: @AltNews @boomlive_in can you verify authenticity? pic.twitter.com/2CyC5fFrRp
— PKR | প্রশান্ত | پرشانتو (@prasanto) February 24, 2020
Alt News has also received several requests on its official mobile application.
At several points in the video, officers can be seen holding a board which reads “exercises”.
A Youtube search ‘china swat exercise coronavirus’ led us to several international media reports describing the video. According to a February 25 report by NBC News, “Police in China’s Henan province posted a video on social media showing a simulation of how they will deal with drivers who ignore virus checkpoints.”
“It [the video] shows a simulation of how a SWAT team controls a driver – with an abnormal temperature – who refuses to stop at a checkpoint,” says the NBC report. Several other media outlets also reported the mock drill.
In China, SWAT teams have been practising drills to detain those suspected of being infected with Coronavirus.
They use nets, roadblocks and anti-bacterial spray to contain the disease and arrest un-cooperative patients. pic.twitter.com/XnepCNP0EX
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 25, 2020
A video of a mock drill where Chinese SWAT team tackles an uncooperative coronavirus victim has been shared on social media as real.
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 February 2020 / 2:40 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mock-drill-video-of-chinese-swat-team-tackling-coronavirus-victim-viral-as-real/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,920 |
Mock drill video believed to be actual robbery at Indian Overseas Bank, Ahmednagar - Alt News
Priyanka Jha
4th September 2021 / 4:04 pm
A video is viral on social media with the claim that the police in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra caught robbers in Indian Overseas Bank, Shendi branch. The bank was closed but the police caught the robbers red-handed after they heard noises coming from inside, the claim furthers.
Indian Overseas Bank, Shendi branch, Ahmednagar…..
Robbers caught red handed as people alerted police after hearing some sound coming from inside the bank. Bank was closed due to holiday.
Salute to our police !!
( please follow the page 😊🙏 )
Posted by Tv Show’s on Thursday, 2 September 2021
Several Facebook pages have shared the video.
#Live Bank #Robbery Ahmednagar Maharashtra
Posted by Crime Control News on Friday, 3 September 2021
Alt News also received verification requests on its WhatsApp helpline number (+91 7600 11160).
After searching for the video using keywords, we found that it is a mock drill video. The complete video was uploaded by ‘Mumbai Tak’ on September 2. The video was indeed shot in Shendi, Ahmednagar. The viral portion starts after 2:16 minutes in the broadcast.
The mock drill was also reported by Maharashtra Times and Saamana on 1 September. According to these reports, the mock drill was conducted as a part of the Ahmednagar Village Security Team exercise. This was a practice session to provide immediate assistance in case of an emergency.
A video of a mock drill held in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra was shared as a real incident of a bank robbery. Mock drill videos are often believed to be genuine.
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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4th September 2021 / 4:04 pm
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"author": "Priyanka Jha"
}
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1,921 |
Mock drill video shared as explosions recovered in Maharashtra's Ahmadnagar bus stand - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
5th September 2019 / 7:03 pm
A video where uniformed men can be seen with arms in a bus stand has been shared on social media with the claims that four people with explosions where arrested during a raid in Ahmadnagar Maliwada bus stand, Maharashtra.
Raid on Ahmadnagar Maliwada bus stand.. 4 arrested with explosives…
Posted by Ramesh Jadhav on Wednesday, 4 September 2019
Most people have circulated the clip on both Facebook and Twitter using a Marathi caption – “अहमदनगर माळीवाडा बस स्टँडवर स्फोटके व चार जण पथकाच्या ताब्यात.”
अहमदनगर माळीवाडा बस स्टँडवर स्फोटके व चार जण पथकाच्या ताब्यात pic.twitter.com/ZRrddQrWT7
— mileen (@Akhade121M) September 4, 2019
Visuals from the video have been forwarded on WhatsApp with a different claim suggesting that the incident took place in Ganesh Peth bus stand, Nagpur.
There are several clues in the video which suggest that it does not depict a real incident but a mock drill – there’s no panic on the streets and passers-by can be seen standing behind demarcation rope. At one point in the video, a policeman can be heard saying, “गाड़ी को हटा लोगों को जाने दे बाहर (Remove the car, let the people go outside.)”
A keyword search on Google – “Ahmadnagar Maliwada bus stand mock drill” – led us to a September 4 report in Maharashtra Times. According to the police, in the backdrop of Ganesh Chaturthi, the state police had organised a mock drill at the bus station in the evening. “Police cordoned off the area around the terrorist bus. The passengers were taken down, causing confusion among them. In the meantime, police climbed onto the roof of the bus. Some went on the bus through the window. One by one, four terrorists were taken out of a bus and slept on the ground. They were then arrested and taken to the police van. Until all this happened, the passengers at the bus station knew nothing. Upon completion of the mock drill, the passengers were informed that it was a mock drill,” said the report.
A Facebook page ‘मराठी वादळ‘ shared a video of the same mock drill taken from a different angle.
अहमदनगर माळीवाडा बस स्टँडवर मोकड्रिल
अहमदनगर माळीवाडा बस स्टँडवर मोकड्रिल
Posted by मराठी वादळ on Wednesday, 4 September 2019
A video of a mock drill was thus shared on social media as explosive recovered by the police in Maharashtra’s Ahmadnagar Maliwada bus stand. Earlier, another video of a routine mock drill by Maharashtra police was circulated with the claim that Mumbai is on high terrorist alert.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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5th September 2019 / 7:03 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mock-drill-video-shared-as-explosions-recovered-in-maharashtras-ahmadnagar-bus-stand/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,922 |
Video of CISF mock drill viral as terrorist caught in Faridabad metro station - Alt News
Abhishek Kumar
30th June 2022 / 4:04 pm
A video of a man surrendering at a metro station is making the rounds on social media. Surrounding him are armed soldiers with guns. It has been claimed that army personnel thwarted a terrorist attack at a metro station in Faridabad, managing to nab a terrorist.
Tweeting the video, a user named Yamuna Shankar Pandey wrote, “Today, a huge terrorist attack at the Bata Metro station in Faridabad was foiled by our army brothers. I’m sure the arrested terrorist must be an Islamist.” (Archive link)
फरीदाबाद में बाटा मेट्रो स्टेशन पर आज एक बहुत बड़े आतंकी हमले को अपने फौजी भाइयों ने नाकाम कर उस आतंकी को गिरफ्तार किया,देखना ये भी इस्लामिस्ट ही होगा स्योर है ।
जयहिन्द, #जयहिन्दकीसेना pic.twitter.com/PI8y24JQlI
— यमुनाशंकर पाण्डेय ( एलएलएम, पीएचडी )क्रिमनोलॉजी (@YSPanday1) June 25, 2022
Another user shared the video adding that a terrorist was caught on the Delhi Faridabad Metro’s Violet Line. (Archive link)
Facebook page 24 network also shared the video as a genuine incident.
Several users amplified the claim on Facebook and Twitter.
We noticed that a few users commented under the viral video pointing out that this was actually a mock drill. We then performed a keyword search on Twitter using this information and came across a statement posted by the official handle of the Faridabad Police. Refuting the viral claim, the police said that this was actually a video of a CISF mock drill exercise being circulated with a misleading claim. Following the statement, users who had promoted the claim began deleting their tweets.
पहले #सच_जानो #फिर_लिखो
यह वीडियो, सीआईएसफ द्वारा की गई मॉक ड्रिल का हिस्सा है। सच्चाई जाने ,अफवाह ना फैलाएं।#नीम_हकीम खतरा-ए-जान https://t.co/FeQvqg5LI9
— People’s Police – Faridabad Police (@FBDPolice) June 26, 2022
As per the viral claim, the incident occurred at Faridabad’s ‘Bata’ Metro Station. The video also features a building in front of the station. To verify the location, we compared photos of the ‘Bata Chowk’ Station on Google Maps, but could not find any resemblance between these and scenes from the video.
Next, Alt News examined images of the stations preceding and following Bata Chowk on the Violet Line of the Delhi Metro on Google Maps. This led us to one image from 2017 of the NHPC Chowk Metro Station. This matched a frame taken from the viral video.
To find higher resolution images of the building in the background, we began searching for photos of the surrounding locations on Google Maps. We came across a higher-quality photo from Ekta Nagar in Faridabad, Haryana. This had been uploaded by a user four days prior to the time of writing. A side-by-side comparison with a frame from the viral video is given below.
Using a keyword search on Twitter, we found a tweet posted by the fact-checking wing of the Press Information Bureau (PIB). It confirmed that the video was a mock drill conducted by the CISF and the viral claim was false.
A video is #viral on social media claiming that a terrorist has been caught at a Delhi metro station and people must avoid travelling in metro.#PIBFactCheck
▶️This claim is false.
▶️It is a video of mock-drill conducted by @CISFHQrs @OfficialDMRC pic.twitter.com/9WGgrLDjRq
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) June 27, 2022
To sum it up, footage of a CISF mock drill exercise was falsely circulated on social media as a terrorist being caught in Faridabad.
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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30th June 2022 / 4:04 pm
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"author": "Abhishek Kumar"
}
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1,923 |
Mock drill video shared as terrorist caught by Delhi police in Gaffar market - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
31st July 2020 / 7:44 pm
A video of policemen escorting a man from the basement of a building has been shared on social media as “terrorist” caught in Delhi’s Gaffar market. The person recording the video can be heard making this claim.
Terrorist caught red-handed at Gaffar Market Delhi today 😯😎
Posted by INDILAD on Wednesday, 29 July 2020
The video is also floating on Twitter.
Two terrorist at #GaffarMarket #CarolBagh New Delhi .
One killed & another arrested .
Need Confirmation ?? Is this Correct ?#Delhi #Terriorist pic.twitter.com/CXRbGPqZgC
— Major Saurabh Sharma Retd (@MajorSaurabhSh1) July 29, 2020
It has also been shared with a Hindi caption — “In Karol Bagh, Gaffar market, a terrorist was caught. Salute to Karol Bagh SHO and all staff. (करोल बाग़ गफ्फार मार्केट में टेररिस्ट को पकड़ा करोल बाग की पुलिस थाना प्रभारी और सभी इस्टाफ को सैल्यूट.)”
करोल बाग़ गफ्फार मार्केट में टेररिस्ट को पकड़ा
करोल बाग की पुलिस थाना प्रभारी और सभी इस्टाफ को सैल्यूट
Posted by Shyam Jaggarwal on Wednesday, 29 July 2020
Had a terrorist been caught in the national capital, it would be all over the news. However, the same has not been reported in the media. This suggested that the video must represent a mock drill conducted by the police.
On July 29, journalist Tarun Sharma tweeted the clip and wrote in Hindi, “Today, Delhi police conducted a mock drill in Delhi’s Karol Bagh market. Such mock drills are often conducted before August 15. In this mock drill, police are taking three dummy terrorists into custody. This was conducted so that the police remains prepared in case of an emergency.” This was retweeted by DCP Central Delhi.
Therefore, the claim that a terrorist was apprehended by the police in Delhi is false. Mock drill videos are often circulated as real incidents. Several such videos debunked by Alt News can be viewed here.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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31st July 2020 / 7:44 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mock-drill-video-shared-as-terrorist-caught-by-delhi-police-in-gaffar-market/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,924 |
Mock drill videos viral as Mumbai under high alert of terrorist attack - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
17th August 2019 / 4:41 pm
Multiple videos are viral on social media with the claim that Mumbai is under a high alert. A message warns people to avoid crowded areas as the city is under a terrorist attack. It further says that NSG commandos have fully secured metro station at Asalfa, Sakinaka and Jagruti Nagar (Shiv Shena Branch ) in Ghatkopar.
Mumbai High Alert . NSG Commando Full Security in Metro Station at Asalfa , Sakinaka & Jagruti nagar ( Shiv Shena Branch ) . Ghatkopar ( w) So plz Avoid Crowd Arey.
Posted by Manoj Sharma on Sunday, 11 August 2019
“Mumbai High Alert . NSG Commando Full Security in Metro Station at Asalfa , Sakinaka & Jagruti nagar ( Shiv Shena Branch ) . Ghatkopar ( w) So plz Avoid Crowd Arey,” warns one of the messages.
The other message says, “Mumbai Police commissioner. Total Mumbai under terrorist attack threat, be careful . Total railway station. Total bars. or any movie theatres. Auditorium. Or total public place. Please forward to all group. Jay Hind Jay Maharashtra.”
There are multiple clues in the videos which suggest that the NSG commandos are not thwarting a terrorist attack. Numerous people are standing on the side, calmly watching the personnel. In one of the videos, there are normal traffic conditions. Cars and bikes are not being asked to stop or take different routes. Many people are also recording videos.
Furthermore, if there was a security/ terror threat in one of the largest cities in the country, residents would have been alerted by the administration or the police.
A Facebook page ‘Apna Bombay’ had shared one of the viral videos claiming that it represents a mock drill. “NSG Commando Full Security Mock Drilling in Metro Station at Asalfa, Sakinaka & Jagruti nagar,” the page wrote.
NSG Commando Full Security Mock Drilling in Metro Station at Asalfa, Sakinaka & Jagruti nagar.
Posted by Apna Bombay on Monday, 12 August 2019
Alt News contacted Mumbai police who refused to give a statement, terming the matter “sensitive.” Sources who were aware of the operation, however, informed The Quint that the videos represent “routine mock drills” that take place several times every year across the city.
Boomlive reached out to officials of Jagruti Nagar metro station who also dismissed the social media claims. “The mock drill was conducted as a routine exercise outside multiple metro stations before Independence Day. The videos are of the same. They were made viral with a misleading narrative. Request people to not fall for the same.”
Videos of mock drills conducted by NSG and Mumbai police are thus viral with the false claim that the city is under a terror threat. Earlier, a video of a retired Brigadier of the Indian army was widely circulated as the Commissioner of the Mumbai police warning about terrorist attacks. Such videos can become a cause for unnecessary panic and social media users are advised to not forward any unsubstantiated content.
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 2019 / 4:41 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mock-drill-videos-viral-as-mumbai-under-high-alert-of-terrorist-attack/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,925 |
Video of mock drill in Bhagalpur Central Jail shared as jail official infected with coronavirus - Alt News
Kinjal
17th June 2020 / 10:03 pm / Last updated: 17th June 2020
A video of a man surrounded by policemen lying on the ground is being shared on social media. The man can be seen constantly coughing and demanding water. Alt News has received several requests to fact-check the video on its official mobile application. It has been shared with the message, “A top official of Bhagalpur jail infected with corona. (भागलपुर जेल का बड़ा बाबू कोरोना पीड़ित.)”
On 11 April 2020, Facebook user Gulam Sarwar posted this video with the same message. The clip was viewed 11,000 times at the time of writing (archive).
भागलपुर के सेंट्रल जेल में बड़ा बाबू को करोना हुआ।
Posted by Gulam Sarwar on Saturday, 11 April 2020
The video is also viral on Facebook with an identical message.
Upon searching with keywords ‘bhagalpur central jail corona’, we found the same video uploaded on YouTube on April 11, 2020. The YouTube channel described the video as a mock drill in Bhagalpur Central Jail.
A subsequent search led us to an article published by Dainik Jagran on April 14. The report said a mock drill on how to rescue a coronavirus patient was conducted in Bhagalpur Central Jail. The patient seen in the video is the prison cell keeper. According to the report, this video quickly became viral on social media with the false claim that a jail official was infected with the virus. Following this, the administration complained to SSP Ashish Bharti who said that action will be taken against those who circulate unverified videos on the outbreak.
Dainik Bhaskar had also reported on the case.
Media outlets The Lallantop and The Quint had published fact-check articles when the video was viral in April.
Therefore, a video of a coronavirus mock drill conducted in Bhagalpur Central Jail in April was shared with the false claim that a jail official contracted the virus.
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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17th June 2020 / 10:03 pm / Last updated: 17th June 2020
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mockdrill-video-of-bhagalpur-central-jail-shared-as-real/",
"author": "Kinjal"
}
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1,926 |
BJP supporters pass off a Mexican stabbing video as one of RSS member getting killed in Kerala - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
4th March 2017 / 9:15 pm / Last updated: 12th July 2018
Puneet Sharma, who is followed by PM Modi on Twitter, posted a video of one person being tied up and stabbed repeatedly. In this video that he posted at 3:47 PM on 3rd March 2017, Puneet claimed that the video is that of a RSS member getting killed in Kerala. Considering that he has over 31.8k followers on Twitter, the video got massively retweeted. He wrote “केरल में हो रहे @RSSorg एवं @BJP4India कार्यकर्ताओ पर अत्याचार की वीडियो देखने के बाद जिस हिन्दू का खून न खोले, खून नही वो पानी है।” (After watching this video of torture on RSS Karyakarta in Kerala, those Hindu whose blood doesn’t boil, their blood is not blood but water). The link to the video is at the bottom of the post.
Puneet Sharma’s twitter video was embedded in a blog post by a site called ‘hindutva.info‘ with a title “VIDEO : केरल में RSS और BJP के कार्यकर्ताओं पर हो रहे अत्याचार का खौफनाक मंजर!” (A horrifying instance of the torture on RSS/BJP workers in Kerala). This post, in turn, has been shared close to 10k times on different social media networks.
The video was uploaded multiple times on various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp with thousands and thousands of shares. Others in the Hindutva brigade gave it a further spin and claimed that it is Muslims murdering RSS/BJP members in Kerala and there’s a need to give up casteism to fight this evil. For eg, the following Facebook account called “Kattar Hindu” wrote:
So, what’s the truth? The truth is that this video first went viral on Mexican social media around January 15-17th, 2017.
According to a website called Crime Junkie, the video if of one Antonia being stabbed to death and was uploaded from an unidentified location in Mexico.
Further, there are posts on Facebook around the same date which also make the same claim.
The video was also posted on youtube around the same data.
So, after the right-wing made viral a fake video of Gurmehar Kaur, now they have taken a video from Mexico and are claiming it to be an RSS member being murdered in Kerala. Good going!
Link to the original video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZYvdlAGxCA
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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4th March 2017 / 9:15 pm / Last updated: 12th July 2018
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
}
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1,927 |
"Modi destroying old termite ridden banyan tree": Write-up falsely ascribed to Mark Tully - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
29th May 2019 / 6:11 pm
A write-up attributed to celebrated journalist Mark Tully has been shared widely on social media. Titled ‘Modi destroying termite ridden old Banyan tree’, the write-up is critical of the Nehru dynasty, calling it a “termite ridden old Banyan tree which will still try its best to stop any one growing to the extent that it may even turn the soil upside down before falling down”. The write-up cautions against the lingering ‘old order’ and how it will do anything and everything in its power to preserve the status quo and prevent positive change.
The full text of the write-up, which apparently appears in Tully’s book ‘No Full Stops in India’, is pasted below. Tully was the bureau chief of BBC, New Delhi. He started his career in 1965 as the India correspondent for the global broadcaster.
“Modi destroying termite ridden old Banyan tree”
-Mark Tully on Modi
Mark Tully the BBC correspondent for India for many decades writes about changes happening in MODI’S regime.
In his Book “No Full Stops in India,” while discussing about change writes –
In India change takes a lot more time.The birth will be slow and perhaps painful. I believe it could be the birth of a new order which is not held up by the crumbling colonial pillars left behind by the Raj but is GENUINELY Indian ; a GC modern order, but ”not a slavish imitation of other modern orders”.
He goes on to say that – “For all its great achievements, the Nehru dynasty has stood like a Banyan tree, overshadowing the people and the institutions of India, and all Indians know that nothing grows under the Banyan tree”.
As Mark said , Change will be slow and painful, therefore for someone who doesn’t read and makes judgement based on perception will for quite some time not be able to see the change taking place or will pretend as if nothing is changing.
The way changes are coming in Railways, Power sector, Defense Production and in governance and at the same time accompanied by the resentment of the old forces indicate that the process of change has begun albeit slowly but firmly and is going to be painful.
Let us not undermine the capabilities of this termite ridden old Banyan tree which will still try its best to stop any one growing to the extent that it may even turn the soil upside down before falling down.
For a year or so we may witness more of Dadris, more of Kaniyahas, more of Owaisi style shouting but finally if the Society keeps its cool, acts maturely and continues to perform we will sail through and the old forces will die a natural death.
LET ME ADD to this – every day the new stir media throws in your face is all doctored by forces who wish to topple Modi Govt as Modi has uprooted them and they are like fish out of the water.
The time has come to continue to support the man and keep your faith intact and we will see new India for sure – bigger, better, stronger, corruption free , peaceful , prosperous than ever before with people having better quality of life..
– Mark Tully.
The write-up has been shared by several individual users on Facebook. It has also been posted on Twitter.
Alt News discovered that the write-up ascribed to Mark Tully is to be found nowhere in his book ‘No Full Stops in India’. We then contacted Mark Tully who confirmed that this so called article/passage is fake. “It is a rehash of an older fake which has been in circulation for years now. I would be enormously grateful for anything you can do to make it known the so called article allegedly by me is a fake”, Tully wrote in an email to Alt News.
This is not the first time that Mark Tully’s name has been used to further an agenda in the form of an article/write-up/passage. Earlier in July 2018, when the Congress party had introduced a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, an ‘article’ critical of the Gandhi family, and falsely attributed to Tully, was circulated 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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29th May 2019 / 6:11 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/modi-destroying-old-termite-ridden-banyan-tree-write-up-falsely-ascribed-to-mark-tully/",
"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
}
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A Indian origin woman subjected to an abusive verbal assault on a train in New York - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
3rd March 2017 / 12:44 am / Last updated: 3rd March 2017
On the same day Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot and killed in a racial crime in Kansas, a woman of Indian origin, Ekta Desai, was verbally abused on a New York train and was asked to “Go back to your country.” Ekta Desai jotted down the following on her Facebook account along with a video of the man who verbally abused her:
P.S: not sure the cops found him or even took any action, though they showed up 15 mins after all this drama and he walked away with his friends! And people need to grow some balls
#NJPATH
The video Ekta Desai posted on her Facebook account can be seen below:
A person of Indian origin, Ekta Desai, was verbally abused on a New York train and asked to 'Go back to your country'.
Posted by Alt News on Thursday, March 2, 2017
As it happens, Ekta Desai is also a fan of PM Modi based on this public post on her Facebook account on May 16, 2014.
While it is extremely sad that Indians in the US are facing racial attacks ever since Donald Trump won his Presidential election based on a campaign filled with hate and bigotry, it is also time for many NRIs who extended their support to PM Modi to reflect upon their choice as to how they endorsed a man who won the elections in India the same way that Mr Donald Trump did – from riots in Muzzafarnagar to campaigns of ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Ghar Wapsi’. In UP elections, BJP continues to pursue a communal agenda even today.
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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3rd March 2017 / 12:44 am / Last updated: 3rd March 2017
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
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Modi govt introduces new law awarding death penalty for rape? Clipped video, misleading claim - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
6th December 2019 / 5:48 pm / Last updated: 6th December 2019
A 19-second clip of president Ram Nath Kovind is massively viral on social media with a message claiming that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government has introduced a new law that awards death penalty for rape. “#Breaking_News बलत्कार करने वालो को फांसी पर लटकाया जाऐगा, मोदी सरकार ने कानून लागू कर दिया है। मोदी है तो मुमकिन है…” reads the message.
The video received over 5 lakh views and 25,000 shares from the Facebook account of one Tanuj Thakur. Here, the president can be heard saying, “बलात्कार करने की जघन्य अपराध की सज़ा के लिए सरकार ने अपराधी को फांसी की सज़ा देने का प्रावधान किया है. कई राज्यों में तेज़ी से सुनवाई के बाद, दोषियों को फांसी की सज़ा मिलने से ऐसी विकृत सोच रखने वाले लोगों में कड़ा सन्देश गया. (The government has introduced a provision to award death penalty for the heinous crime of rape. A strong message will be sent to those with perverted minds if the accused are given the death penalty after speedy trials in many states.)”
#Breaking_News
बलत्कार करने वालो को फांसी पर लटकाया जाऐगा, मोदी सरकार ने कानून लागू कर दिया है। 🙏🚔 मोदी है तो मुमकिन है…
Posted by Tanuj Thakur on Tuesday, 3 December 2019
A keyword search on Youtube led Alt News to the original video. It was uploaded by ABP News on January 31, 2019. Here, the president talks about a new law to punish child rape offenders. He said that any person who rapes a “minor” (नाबालिक) would be given a death sentence. The word “minors” has been cropped from the original video and presented on social media in a manner that portrays the law as a blanket provision.
Currently, the laws with provisions of the death penalty for rape crimes are The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, The Criminal Law (Amendment), 2018 and The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
On April 21, 2018, an Ordinance was promulgated which provided, amongst other things, that rape and gang rape of girls below the age of 12 years will carry minimum imprisonment of twenty years, extendable to life imprisonment or death. The Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2018 providing for the same was introduced in Parliament in July 2018 and became law in August 2018. The bill stipulated that it will come into effect from the date of the Ordinance.
According to PRS, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 18, 2019, and passed on July 24, 2019. On August 1, 2019, the lower house of the parliament too passed the Bill. The Act received the assent of the President of India on August 5, 2019.
The law awards the maximum punishment of death penalty for “aggravated penetrative sexual assault” which includes cases “when a police officer, a member of the armed forces, or a public servant commits penetrative sexual assault on a child. It also covers cases where the offender is a relative of the child, or if the assault injures the sexual organs of the child or the child becomes pregnant, among others.” The Bill adds two more grounds to the definition – “(i) assault resulting in death of child, and (ii) assault committed during a natural calamity, or in any similar situations of violence.”
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 passed after the Nirbhaya case allowed the death penalty for rape cases but only in ones where the accompanying brutality leads to death or leaves the victim in a persistent vegetative state, and in cases of repeat offenders.
The clipped video has been widely circulated on Facebook.
The video was also sent on the Alt News app for verification.
An old speech of president Ram Nath Kovind talking about capital punishment to child rape offenders has been shared on social media a misleading claim. The Modi government has not introduced any new laws on rape with blanket provisions of the death penalty for all cases related to the crime. Since the gang-rape and murder of a veterinary doctor in Hyderabad, social media has been brimming with misinformation.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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6th December 2019 / 5:48 pm / Last updated: 6th December 2019
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"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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Modi Sarkar's three-year anniversary celebrations - Indian media's top five cheerleading moments - Alt News
Sam Jawed
30th May 2017 / 6:35 pm / Last updated: 30th May 2017
Fierce independence, fearlessness and a determination to always stand up to the powerful and fight against the abuse or misuse of power were listed as the finest virtue of journalism by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, when he delivered the second Ramnath Goenka Memorial Lecture earlier this month. Media is after all the fourth pillar of democracy and has the most crucial role in holding those in power to account. “Thus the need to ask questions of those in power is fundamental for the preservation of our nation and of a truly democratic society. This is a role that the media has traditionally played and must carry on playing”, said the President.
The role of media in a democracy is an academic discussion. In reality, the most visible role in some sections of Indian media these days is “cheerleading” for those in power. The recent coverage of the three year celebrations of the Modi Sarkar by the media is a case study in point that separates journalism from cheerleading.
Let us look at the top five cheerleading moments that we witnessed to mark the occasion:
“Three years on, Modi sweeps the polls”. The Economic Times cover page to mark “Teen Saal Bemisaal“, the three year anniversary of Modi Sarkar, raised many eyebrows for good reason. It is not often that we see such an over-the-top adulation of the government by a leading national paper. Or is it?
Economic Times also brought us other gems, like “Globetrotter Prime Minister: How Modi turns the world into his office“.
In case the celebrations marking the third anniversary of Modi government left you wondering about the benefits that the Indian economy derived out of the mammoth demonetisation exercise, India Today’s piece had some valuable insight. In an article by Rahul Kanwal titled “PM Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move gave economy Rs 5 lakh crore advantage“, the benefits as per a government report were neatly listed out. Kanwal deserves a mention for exemplary individual effort for playing the government mouthpiece.
The story of Kanwal’s cheerleading will not be complete without reading the brilliant takedown by Mayank Jain in this thread.
Sorry, Rahul but this story is as far removed from facts as you seem to be from investigative journalism. https://t.co/OjTgJzltDv
— Mayank Jain (@Mayank1029) May 25, 2017
All eyes have been on the newly launched channel that boasts of not only being “India’s only independent news venture” but a “movement”. Tall own claims aside, Republic completely lived up to our cheerleading expectations in its first three weeks. Therefore, many hearts skipped a beat when Arnab Goswami said he has five straight questions on the completion of three years of Modi Sarkar. Was he finally going to address a question to the government? Was he going to hold them to account? No, he didn’t disappoint us in any way. Lo and behold, his first question was about Rahul Gandhi. And then he had one about Nitish Kumar. Finally he moved to critical questions which he presumed the nation would want to know, i.e., whether Narendra Modi is the most popular Prime Minister of India since independence and whether 2019 is now a foregone conclusion.
Watch the video to see Arnab at his sycophantic best.
Arnab's five questions to the viewers. Tune in to Republic TV and join The Debate #3yearsofModiGovt pic.twitter.com/6ZUbHV9WUT
— Republic (@republic) May 26, 2017
Republic also brought us the results of a survey to tell us what percentage of people supported the biggest achievements of Modi government, like surgical strikes and demonetisation. Though growth of the fringe was mentioned as a letdown by a small percentage of people, other “minor” issues like unemployment, did not even find a mention, at least in their tweets.
You may be wondering what a propaganda website like Postcard news is doing in this serious list. There are many reasons behind it. It is included to bring a glimpse of the extreme of the spectrum. One where cheerleading meets fake news and distortion of facts. The other reason is that it is shared widely by the cheerleaders of the government on social media. But the biggest reason to include them is to show how one can even spin “unemployment”, which is one of the biggest challenge that the country faces, into a positive story. After bringing us a story two months ago that unemployment had actually halved under the leadership of PM Modi, on completion of three years, Postcard news brought us some real facts of employment “Achche Din” are here and unemployment is actually a myth. Before you laugh out loud at it, remember this is what will go around the country on WhatsApp and an old school friend will soon share these “real facts” with you, if he hasn’t done so already.
No one can beat the cheerleading effort of the Gujarati newspaper Divya Bhaskar. The publication has come up with a video that draws a parallel between Prime Minister Modi and the character of Baahubali. The text accompanying the video explains further, “On the completion of three years of Narendra Modi led NDA government, people look at Prime Minister Modi as Baahubali. We have also drawn comparisons between Bahubali and Modi on eight issues where Modi’s conduct is similar to Baahubali. So, at the end of three years, lets watch Narendra Baahubali-3“.
Words can’t do justice to this epic cheerleading. Sit back and enjoy the video on “Eight points that make Modi Narendra Baahubali-3”.
That’s all folks, we hope you enjoyed this collection of “Teen Saal Cheerleading Bemisaal”. Watch out for more as some sections of the media not only continue to look away from any critical evaluation of the government but also actively deflect attention away from its failures. Meanwhile the opposition parties and their leaders and the liberals continue to be their favourite punching bags.
Nobody's cheerleader, I tweet at @samjawed65
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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30th May 2017 / 6:35 pm / Last updated: 30th May 2017
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"author": "Sam Jawed"
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1,931 |
Modi supporter and OpIndia founder Rahul Raj (@bhak_sala) gets trolled endlessly for not being a fan of Yogi Adityanath - Alt News
Pratik Sinha
20th March 2017 / 8:55 pm
Scores of people have been trolled endlessly by Modi Bhakts on social media over the past few years for having an opinion which doesn’t confirm to their worldview. Recently, Gurmehar Kaur got rape threats for speaking out against ABVP and for a six-month-old documentary in which she appealed for peace between India-Pakistan. But, what happens when one of their own dares to have an opinion that is different from the herd?
Rahul Raj, who runs a Facebook page called Bhak Sala, is at @bhak_sala on Twitter and co-founded the right-wing website OpIndia.com got a taste of what it is like to go against the Bhakt narrative. Rahul Raj was recently in the middle of a controversy when TMC MP Derek O’Brien called out his name among a list of 26 odd names who are abusive on social media. O’Brien had said, “26 of such users, who issue rape and communal threats on Twitter, are followed by the Prime Minister of India,” mentioning the Twitter handle of a user Rahul Raj, @bhak_sala. After this incident, Bhakt Sala went off social media for a while after claiming that he was unfairly targeted and that his parents were concened about his safety.
On 18th March, the day before Adityanath became the CM of UP, Rahul Raj sent out a couple of tweets stating his dislike for Yogi Adityanath after it was announced that he would be the next Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
He reiterated his doubts regarding Adityanath in a tweet on 20th as well.
Rahul Raj described the hypocrisy of appointing Adityanath as the CM after asking for votes on the agenda of Development with the phrase “Nadi bolkar nahar mein kuda diya”. Well , that was the cardinal mistake. It is already 48 hours past Rahul Raj’s initial tweet and he’s still being trolled on Social Media. Here’s a glimpse.
Tired of the endless trolling, Rahul Raj questioned if there’s space for even a minor disagreement in the right wing ecosystem in India?
Being one of the prominent members of that very ecosystem, Rahul Raj should already know that the answer to his question is a big NO, there is NO space for disagreement in the right wing ecosystem. Ask Gurmehar who was called Wh*re, B*tch, R*ndi and more for not subscribing to the Bhakt worldview.
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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20th March 2017 / 8:55 pm
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"author": "Pratik Sinha"
}
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Modi's 2019 Kolkata rally video shared by BJP leaders as recent rally in Mangaluru, Kutch - Alt News
Shinjinee Majumder
3rd September 2022 / 1:14 am / Last updated: 3rd September 2022
A 30-second clip of Narendra Modi waving at the crowd at a rally is being shared by BJP politicians, including Amit Malviya and Priti Gandhi, with some claiming that the video was shot in Kutch and others suggesting it is from Mangaluru. PM Modi held a roadshow in Bhuj in Kutch district on August 28, 2022 after inaugurating the Narmada canal. He visited Mangaluru on September 2 where he laid the foundation stone for projects worth ₹3,800 crores.
Amit Malviya tweeted the video on September 2 with the hashtag #Mangaluru, indicating that the video was shot in Manguluru. He later deleted the video. (Archived link)
Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, the state general secretary of BJP Andhra Pradesh, too, shared the video, claiming that it was shot in Mangaluru. (Archived link)
#Modi #Mangaluru ❤️ @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/eJC9vuVZF6
— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) September 2, 2022
Local journalist Suraj Suresh shared the same video with the caption, “Here’s how PM Modi was greeted in Mangaluru today”. (Archived link)
Here’s how PM Modi was greeted in Mangaluru today pic.twitter.com/XuPHYeu7sC
— Suraj Suresh (@Suraj_Suresh16) September 2, 2022
BJP politician Priti Gandhi had tweeted the same video on August 28 (the day of the Bhuj roadshow) with the caption, “This is the rousing welcome that the people of #Kutch gave our Honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi ji today. Unimaginable fervour!!” (Archived link)
This is the rousing welcome that the people of #Kutch gave our Honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi ji today. Unimaginable fervour!!#KutchWelcomesPMModi pic.twitter.com/LXqvKceUSt
— Priti Gandhi – प्रीति गांधी (@MrsGandhi) August 28, 2022
Through a reverse image search and keyword search, Alt News found that the same video had been uploaded in April 2019 after an election rally in West Bengal. Interestingly, both Priti Gandhi and Amit Malviya had tweeted the video in 2019 after the rally in Kolkata. (Archived links- 1,2)
The video was also posted by the official handle of @BJP4India on April 3, 2019 with the caption, “Electrifying atmosphere at PM Shri @narendramodi’s public meeting in Kolkata”. (Archived link)
Electrifying atmosphere at PM Shri @narendramodi‘s public meeting in Kolkata. #DeshKeLiyeModi pic.twitter.com/m7Xwc7R1bS
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 3, 2019
PM Modi’s official handle, too, had tweeted the video on April 3, 2019, with the same caption, stating that the video was shot in Kolkata. (Archived link)
Electrifying atmosphere at PM @narendramodi‘s rally at Kolkata. #DeshKeLiyeModi pic.twitter.com/CByv1i6OS3
— narendramodi_in (@narendramodi_in) April 3, 2019
Below we have compared stills from the 2019 video and the 2022 video. They are evidently the same video.
The video of the Kolkata rally was also uploaded by the official YouTube channel of Bharatiya Janata Party. The Modi chant can be heard at 3:36 of the video while Modi is seen waving at the crowd.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2QB_x_AePk?start=217]
Hence it is evident that an old video from a BJP rally in Kolkata was shared as recent by BJP politicians, including Amit Malviya and Priti Gandhi with varying claims. Some suggested that the video was shot in Kutch while others shared it as a video from Mangaluru. Both Malviya and Gandhi had shared the same video in 2019 after the Kolkata rally.
Student of Economics at Presidency University. Interested in misinformation.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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3rd September 2022 / 1:14 am / Last updated: 3rd September 2022
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"author": "Shinjinee Majumder"
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Modi's speech on MEA website is not Modi's speech at Davos - Alt News
Arjun Sidharth
25th January 2018 / 3:12 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland was multifaceted. PM Modi’s speech, laced with extempore, touched upon a wide range of issues from cyber security and nuclear safety to terrorism and global warming. However, much of what he spoke can be revisited only by watching the video of PM Modi’s historic speech, because they find no mention on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) website. The MEA on its website www.mea.gov.in has a section called ‘Media Centre’. In the sub-section ‘Speeches and Statements’, the MEA uploads all speeches, statements and keynote addresses that have been made by the Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Foreign Secretary, among others. The Prime Minister’s keynote speech was uploaded on the website shortly after the PM had concluded his speech.
A perusal of the statement revealed glaring omissions from the official document of the speech. Some of the issues that PM Modi touched upon in his address curiously found no mention in the document.
1. “Aaj data sabse badi sampada hai. data ke global flow se sabse bade avsar ban rahe hain, aur sabse badi chunautiyan bhi”
Aaj Data sabse badi sampada hai, Data ke global flow se sabse bade avsar ban rahe hain aur sabse badi chunautiyan bhi: PM Modi #Davos #WorldEconomicForum pic.twitter.com/NmwSuocYH5
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
The official text of the speech has no mention of data and the global flow of data. This part of PM’s speech is entirely missing from the document.
2. “Terrorism is a big threat but an even bigger threat is when you give definitions like ‘good terrorism’ and ‘bad terrorism”
Terrorism is a big threat but an even bigger threat is when you give definitions like good terrorism and bad terrorism: PM Modi at #WorldEconomicForum in #Davos pic.twitter.com/xvDRiN3JN3
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
This part too was missing from the MEA document on the Prime Minister’s keynote speech. Instead, what we found in its place was this:
“The first is Terrorism. Because of our belief in co-existence of races and religions; and because of our belief in non-violence, we have always opposed terrorism. I say with full conviction that terrorism is bad in all its forms and facets. It is bad irrespective of its territory of origin or target of operation. We all must unite in fight against terrorism. India stands firmly with all such forces. “
3. “Cybersecurity and nuclear safety are of utmost importance”
LIVE | Cybersecurity and nuclear safety are of utmost importance, says #PMModiAtDavos https://t.co/ZaZSezC6B4
— The Quint (@TheQuint) January 23, 2018
The MEA document makes no mention of either nuclear safety or cyber security. This part is completely missing from the text of the speech.
4. In India, democracy, demography and dynamism are giving shape to development and destiny
In India democracy, demography and dynamism are giving shape to development and destiny: PM Narendra Modi at #WorldEconomicForum #Davos pic.twitter.com/C3OQsCkZux
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
PM Modi’s preference and penchant for alliteration was on full display at the WEF summit, but not in the official text of the speech.
5. “Climate change is a huge threat right now. Snow in the arctic is melting; many islands are sinking or are about to sink”
Climate change is huge threat right now, Snow in the Arctic is melting,many islands are sinking or are about to sink: PM Modi #WorldEconomicForum #Davos pic.twitter.com/dSJ0vCLi7F
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
The official text has no reference to this quote of the Prime Minister. There is no mention of the Arctic. Instead, the text attributes the following words to the Prime Minister:
“The second global challenge is the problem of climate change. In our culture, we treat the Nature as mother. We also believe that man only has the right to milk it; not to destroy it. That is why, through Paris Agreement, we have assured the global community that our development process would be entirely in line with our cultural ethos towards environmental safeguards. In fact, we are not only aware of our responsibilities towards climate change; we are willing to take lead in mitigating its effects”.
6. “Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of Trusteeship to use things according to need is important. He was against use of anything for one’s greed. Today we are exploiting nature for our greed. We need to ask ourselves if this is our progress or regression”
Mahatma Gandhi’s Principle of Trusteeship to use things according to one’s need is important. He was against use of anything for one’s greed. We’re today exploiting nature for our greed. We need to ask ourselves if this is our progress or regression: PM Modi #WorldEconomicForum pic.twitter.com/TlMxv06Qgm
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
While the official text does refer to Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of trusteeship, it has been worded differently and does not match with what the Prime Minister spoke. The text is as under:
“The biggest recent advocate of this trusteeship philosophy was Mahatma Gandhi;
Gandhi Ji also used to say there is enough in Nature for your Need; but not for your greed;
Due to this belief, we have learnt to live in a way that is conducive to existence of man vis a vis man as well as Nature; which is conducive to the needs of today as well as next generations”
7. “Many societies and countries are becoming self-centred. It seems that globalisation, as opposed to its definition, is shrinking. Such misplaced preferences cant be considered a lesser threat than terrorism or climate change. We must admit shine of globalisation is fading”
Many societies & countries are becoming self-centred. It seems that gloabalisation, as opposed to its definition, is shrinking. Such misplaced preferences can’t be considered any lesser threat than terrorism or climate change. We must admit shine of globalisation is fading: PM pic.twitter.com/lWtH97NU6A
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
PM Modi’s critique of globalisation at the WEF summit is missing from the official text. In fact, there is no mention of the word ‘globalisation’ in it.
8. “Last time an Indian PM came to Davos was in 1997, when Deve Gowda ji had come. That time our GDP was little more than 400 billion dollars. Now, it is six times more”
Last time an Indian PM came to #Davos was in 1997, when Deve Gowda ji had come. That time our GDP was little more than 400 billion dollars, now its more than six times: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/5hEwB1V6ev
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda features nowhere in the document, and neither does the reference to India’s growing GDP.
9. “In 2014, after 30 years, 600 crore Indians provided complete majority to any political party to form a Govt at the centre”
The faux pas by PM Modi was the talking point on social media on the day of the speech. While the error would expectedly have been expunged from the official text, there was no mention at all of the Prime Minister’s assertion.
10. “1997 mein chidiya tweet karti thi, ab manushya karte hain, tab agar aap Amazon internet pe daalte toh nadiyon aur jungle ki tasveer aati”
1997 mein chidiya tweet karti thi, ab manushya karte hain, tab agar aap Amazon internet pe daalte toh nadiyon aur jungle ki tasveer aati: PM Modi #Davos #WorldEconomicForum pic.twitter.com/2Q9GoUp6YJ
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
PM Modi was at his characteristic best, using his play with words to entertaining effect. The official text by comparison is drab, as it does not contain this part of the speech.
The media entities which published the text of the Prime Minister’s speech at Davos- Indian Express, NDTV, Hindustan Times and ABP Live too did not produce the text of the speech verbatim but simply reproduced the official text put up by the MEA on its website. Interestingly, on the Prime Minister’s personal website www.narendramodi.in, the speech at Davos has been published verbatim, which makes one wonder why mainstream media rushed to publish the MEA version of the speech and not the original version as it exists, when it is available on PM Modi’s website. Also, why has the MEA not published the original speech?
(Left: MEA version of speech. Right: Version of speech on www.narendramodi.in)
This egregious discrepancy in what the Prime Minister spoke at the plenary session of the forum, and the official version of the speech as put up by the MEA is glaring and raises serious questions. The Prime Minister’s speech on an international forum is a matter of record. The MEA by putting out a corrupted version of PM Modi’s speech has tampered with it in letter and spirit.
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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25th January 2018 / 3:12 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/modis-speech-mea-website-not-modis-speech-davos/",
"author": "Arjun Sidharth"
}
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1,935 |
Coronavirus: Ministry of Health debunks fake notice viral as clarification on state holidays - Alt News
Archit
14th March 2020 / 11:11 am / Last updated: 14th March 2020
Several users have shared a PDF file or its screenshot which appears to be a notice from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The subject line states it is a ‘clarification regarding the declaration of holidays for the states – Maharasthra, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim.’ It further states –
Alt News has received several requests to fact-check this image on WhatsApp (+917600011160) and on our official Android application.
On March 13, Ministry of Health tweeted the screenshot of their press release debunking the viral claim. The tweet also has a link to its official website.
#CoronaVirusUpdate :
Fact check on fake O.M of Health Ministry.
Details can be seen here: https://t.co/e9BFk3M70b@PMOIndia @drharshvardhan @AshwiniKChoubey @PIB_India @MIB_India @DDNewslive @ANI @DG_PIB @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/YPghdkZM76
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 13, 2020
The press release was posted on March 13 at 7:19 PM by PIB Delhi. It informed, “A fake O.M. from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has been doing the rounds today. The fake O.M. is regarding the subject “Clarification regarding declaration of holidays for the States” and is dated March 13, 2020. It is clarified that the above mentioned O.M is fake and has NOT BEEN issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Necessary action under extant law is being initiated.”
Therefore, the viral document which states it offers “clarification regarding the declaration of holidays for the states- Maharasthra, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim” is false. It was debunked by the Ministry of Health via press release. Alt News has debunked several other misinformation around coronavirus, including a fake health advisory circulating in the name of UNICEF.
🙏 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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14th March 2020 / 11:11 am / Last updated: 14th March 2020
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{
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/moh-states-viral-pdf-that-offers-clarification-regarding-the-declaration-of-holidays-is-false/",
"author": "Archit"
}
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1,936 |
Mohan Bhagwat did not say nationalism means Hitler, fascism - Media misreports - Alt News
Archit
24th February 2020 / 8:42 pm / Last updated: 24th February 2020
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief, Mohan Bhagwat, was at Mukherjee University, Ranchi on February 19. Since then, several media outlets have reported that Bhagwat said, “Avoid using the word ‘nationalism’, as it is derived from Hitler or Nazi.”
The report was first published by ANI (archive link) which was later picked up by The Quint (archive link), NDTV (archive link) and Economic Times (archive link). Times of India (archive link) attributes the report to Press Trust of India (PTI), while The Hindu (archive link) sourced the report from PTI and IANS.
India Today (archive link) and Hindustan Times (archive link) have published independent reports.
NDTV also covered Bhagwat’s speech on TV claiming that he said nationalism implies nazism.
Similarly, several Twitter accounts also shared the viral claim.
Alt News performed a keyword search on YouTube and found Bhagwat’s full speech uploaded by VSK JHARKHAND in two parts (part 1, part 2) on February 19. At 4:00 in the first part, Bhagwat begins to speak about nationalism. Prior to this segment, he spoke about the policies by RSS and how they are linked with India’s growth.
At 4:30 mark, Bhagwat shared his experience from his trip to the United Kingdom. He said, “Some years back, I visited the UK because of RSS’s work and spoke to intellectuals there. I had a discussion with 40-50 people from the city about the RSS. One of our workers from the UK told me to be cautious while using English words since it is not our mother tongue.” In the next part, Bhagwat quotes the worker in direct speech – “You will use the word as per the books you have read. But while speaking, the meaning is often lost. That’s why you shouldn’t use the word nationalism.”
[Translated from कुछ वर्ष पूर्व संघ की योजना से UK जाना हुआ तो वहाँ के बुद्धिजीवियों से बात होती थी। चालीस पचास शहरी लोगों से संघ के बारे में चर्चा हुई। वहां के अपने कार्यकर्ता ने कहा कि शब्दों के अर्थों के बारे में सावधान रहिए, अंग्रेज़ी आपकी भाषा नहीं है और आप अपने पुस्तक में जो अंग्रेज़ी पढ़ी है उसके अनुसार बोलेंगे. परंतु यहां बातचीत में शब्दों के अर्थ भिन्न हो जाते हैं. इसलिए आप नैशनलिज़्म इस शब्द का उपयोग मत कीजिए.]
At 5:17 mark, Bhagwat continues to directly quote the worker, “If you say nation, it’s fine. If you say national, it is fine. Even nationality is fine. But don’t use the word nationalism because nationalism has roots in Hitler, nazism, and fascism. The word has got a bad reputation there. But we know that as a nation whenever India has grown, the world has benefited.”
[Translated from आप नैशन कहेंगे चलेगा, नैशनल कहेंगे चलेगा, नैशनैलिटी कहेंगे चलेगा, नैशनलिज़्म मत कहो। क्योंकि नैशनलिज़्म का मतलब होता है हिटलर, नाज़ीवाद और फ़ासीवाद। अब ऐसी ही शब्द वहाँ बदनाम हुआ है। परंतु हम जानते हैं कि एक राष्ट्र के नाते भारत जब-जब बड़ा हुआ तब तब दुनिया का भला ही हुआ है.]
Rajiv Tuli, state executive member RSS-Delhi, spoke with Alt News and said, “Mohan Bhagwat ji was sharing an anecdote from this trip to the UK. Media organisations have misquoted him.”
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was, therefore, quoting an RSS worker he claimed to have met in the UK. The words were not his but stated by the worker.
🙏 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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24th February 2020 / 8:42 pm / Last updated: 24th February 2020
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mohan-bhagwat-did-not-say-nationalism-means-hitler-fascism-media-misreports/",
"author": "Archit"
}
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1,937 |
Mohandas Pai falls for impostor BBC website listing Congress among world's most corrupt parties - Alt News
Alt News Desk
17th September 2018 / 6:54 pm
The fake news website BBCNewsHub.com has struck again claiming among other people, T.V. Mohandas Pai and BJP MP, Subramanian Swamy as its latest victims. “Shocking list. One Indian political party included” tweeted Pai while sharing an article listing the ten most corrupt political parties in the world in 2018. The list was published in July 2018 and featured the Indian National Congress among other parties from different parts of the world. According to this list, INC ranks 2nd among the most corrupt political parties of the world. Pai has now deleted his tweet.
BBC News Hub is a dubious website that is not related in any way to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The ‘About us’ section is equally hilarious. It states, “bbcnewshub.com is best place to provide complete, brief, correct, healthy and strong content for the respectable visitors which are related to all over the world. It provides the national and international current and all type of information.”
The poorly worded article is full of grammatical mistakes. The article starts with a laughable description of political parties, stating that “a political party is a union of people who work conjointly and struggle against one another to win political power; political parties do hire member or contenders, these parties are also to run and organize elections to decide the government of any country in the world.” It goes on to describe Indian National Congress as “the powerful reigning party in India” and then announces that “every general election is leaded by Indian National Congress due to its majority in most regions.”
It is difficult to imagine that anyone would fall for this website after reading the first few sentences. Even the title reads as Top 10 list of most corrupt political “party” in the world. But T.V. Mohandas Pai had plenty of company in others who also took such an obviously fake website at face value and shared its list. From an author of fake news website Postcard News to Vivek Agnihotri and Subramanian Swamy, the list is long.
Social media users brought it to Mohandas Pai’s notice that he has tweeted a link to a fake news website. This did not seem to deter Pai who chose to defend his tweet.
Fake site or not, most of the political parties there are over 50 years, their history is known, their corruption is also known https://t.co/uyTxPx8AV9
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) September 17, 2018
Trushar Barot, Digital Launch Editor with BBC also tweeted to Mohandas Pai requesting him to delete his tweet as it could lead to perpetuation of this misinformation, to which Pai replied,
Why don’t you officially deny this and say that you have nothing to do with the address? It is your responsibility to look after your brand! Even you publish wrong news and people protest you just do not care too. https://t.co/mXmzJecOWj
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) September 17, 2018
It was only later in the day that Mohandas Pai deleted his tweet.
In November last year, the same website listed PM Narendra Modi among “Ten most corrupt Prime Ministers in the world”.
In yet another ‘list’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s family ranked 2nd among ‘Top 10 Most Corrupt Families In The World 2018’.
Mohandas Pai is no stranger to this tendency of falling for fake news. Earlier, the former Infosys director had retweeted a tweet by Times How, a parody account of Times Now.
Several media organisations including Alt News have busted the claims of this fake news website in the past, yet social media users continue to fall for it. In most cases when people come across content that reinforces their beliefs and prejudices, they share it without exercising any critical evaluation.
Follow @free_thinker
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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17th September 2018 / 6:54 pm
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{
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/mohandas-pai-falls-for-impostor-bbc-website-listing-congress-among-worlds-most-corrupt-parties/",
"author": "Alt News Desk"
}
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1,938 |
Moneycontrol, News18 misquote economist Abhijit Banerjee on UPA policies, former clarifies - Alt News
Jignesh Patel
7th May 2020 / 1:21 pm / Last updated: 7th May 2020
On May 4, Finacial news website Moneycontrol.com quoted Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banjeree saying, “The real problem in the short run is that the weak UPA policies were embraced by the current govt”. The statement was quoted from his interview with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the economic impact of COVID-19 crisis. Last week, Gandhi interacted with Banerjee and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan. Both individuals were reportedly consulted for Congress’s NYAY scheme, which the party had promised ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Just In | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi talks to Nobel laureate Professor Abhijit Banerjee about the #economic impact of #COVID19.
The real problem in the short run is that the weak UPA policies were embraced by the current govt: Professor Abhijit Banerjee. https://t.co/uzYkuKnFHs pic.twitter.com/XOBeNkOL0a
— moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom) May 5, 2020
CNN News18 too quoted Banerjee saying that “weak UPA policies” were embraced by current BJP-led government.
#NewsAlert – The real problem in the short run is that the weak UPA policies were embraced by the current govt: Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee. pic.twitter.com/6lTBWdqoNq
— CNNNews18 (@CNNnews18) May 5, 2020
Since then, several users have quote-tweeted the tweet by Moneycontrol.com and mocked Gandhi. Rishi Bagree, who is followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, tweeted a screenshot of the tweet with the caption, “Mother of all Backfire.”
Hours after posting the original tweet, Moneycontrol.com issued a clarification saying that they misrepresented Banerjee’s view. However, the original tweet has not yet been deleted.
UPDATE: We misrepresented Prof #AbhijitBanerjee‘s views earlier.
Here’s the FULL quote: “The real problem in the short run is that these policies, good policies, put in place by UPA are inadequate & this govt in a sense absolutely embraced them..”
The error is deeply regretted. pic.twitter.com/YjBY8y3e7R
— moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom) May 5, 2020
At 2:14 minutes in the interview, Gandhi starts by saying that he wants to discuss the impact of the lockdown and the subsequent economic devastation it has caused on the poor people.
“So, one of the main things I wanted to discuss with you is the impact of COVID and the lockdown and the economic devastation on our poor people. And, how we should be thinking about it. I mean we’ve had in India for some time, a policy framework, particularly when we were in the UPA, of providing sort of a floor for poor people. MGNREGA, Right to Food etc. and now a lot of that work is going to sort of fall by the wayside because we have this disease come in, and millions and millions of people are going to fall back into poverty. This is something… How should one think about this?” questions Gandhi.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS2L7mHvcgs?start=134]
To which Banerjee replied: “I think that these are kind of separable in my view. In the sense that I think the real problem in the very short run is that these I think more policies.. good policies put in place by the UPA are inadequate. And the government in a sense absolutely embraced them. I mean it was not that there was a particular partisan disagreement. That was very clear that the UPA instruments will be used for doing whatever it is. I think what is harder to wrap one’s head around is for what do you do about the people who are not covered by that. That is a lot of people. The migrants in particular.”
In the next few minutes, Banerjee elaborates on what he meant by “inadequate” policies.
“One of the ideas that was mooted I think in the last years of the UPA but also embraced by the current government was the idea that the Aadhaar would be made national and therefore would be used for PDS and other things. So, the Aadhaar based claims on PDS would be … you would be eligible for it wherever you are. That would have been wonderful to have that right now. We sort of looking back I would say that would have saved a lot of misery because I think a lot of people would have then gone to the local ration shop and said here is my Aadhaar. I am you know I am eligible for PDS, I am collecting PDS in Mumbai, even though my family resides in Malda or Darbhanga or whatever. That’s my claim and so I think the fact that didn’t happen means that there’s a bunch of people for whom there isn’t really a system. They aren’t eligible to MGNREGA because they are in Bombay there is no MGNREGA in Bombay…that they are not eligible for PDS because they are not actually residents. Part of the problem in the very short run is that the conceptualisation of the welfare structure was based on the idea that anybody who’s really not in where they are supposed to be is actually working and is earning an income and therefore we don’t have to worry about them. And that’s what has collapsed.”
Simply put, Banerjee said the policies put in place by the UPA regime were good but are currently inadequate because they don’t cover a large section of the poor, migrants in particular. He elaborated how the migrants stuck in different parts of the country are facing problems in procuring ration through the Public Distribution System (PDS) as the infrastructure of Aadhaar is not being used for the same. Banerjee also explained how migrant workers are not eligible for rations in states where they are not residents.
Moneycontrol.com and News18 misquoted economist Abhijit Banerjee. While the former has added a clarification (without deleting the erroneous tweet), News18 is yet to provide an explanation. The channel, however, tweeted another clip of their broadcast on the interview with a more accurate quote while failing to refer to the earlier misquote.
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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7th May 2020 / 1:21 pm / Last updated: 7th May 2020
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/money-control-misquotes-nobel-laureate-abhijit-banerjee-saying-weak-upa-policies-were-embraced-by-the-current-govt/",
"author": "Jignesh Patel"
}
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1,939 |
Old video falsely shared as JeM raising anti-India slogans after Mamata Banerjee's victory - Alt News
Anuradha Prasad
19th May 2021 / 7:39 pm
A video has been shared on social media with the claim, “Jaish-e-Mohammed’s spirits elevated after Mamata Banerjee’s victory in West Bengal. They even took out a procession. Listen to #Jaish-e-Mohammed’s slogans raised at their terrorist camps. India you will die, Modi you will die, Hindus you will die…Pay careful attention on the religion of terrorism.”
पश्चिम बंगाल मे ममता की जीत पर जैश ए मोहम्मद के हौसले हुए बुलंद।
निकाला जुलुस
जेश ए मोहम्मद का आतंकी ठिकाना और उनके नारे सुनो इंडिया तेरी मौत आई।
मोदी तेरी मौत आई।
हिंदुओं की मौत आई जैश आईं जैश आईं……
ध्यान से देखो आतंकवाद का मजहब क्या है
👇👇 pic.twitter.com/5glSKyDf2B
— बिजेंद्र चौधरी 💚 कृष्ण भक्त ❤️🕉️ (@Krishna__Bhakt) May 16, 2021
The video has been shared by multiple Twitter users.
*पश्चिम बंगाल मे ममता बनर्जी की जीत से जैश ए मोहम्मद के हौसले बुलंद हैं. निकाला जुलुस.*
*जैस_ए_मोहम्मद का आतंकी ठिकाना और उनके नारे सुनो इंडिया तेरी मौत आई। मोदी तेरी मौत आई। । हिंदुओं की मौत आई जैश आईं जैश आईं..ध्यान से देखो आतंकवाद का मजहब क्या है।@HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/MhWeh1mNVJ
— Sarita (@Sarita25148177) May 18, 2021
It is also widespread on Facebook.
Alt News has received fact-check requests for the video on its mobile application as well.
We searched parts of the slogan on Google and found a report by DNA published on December 12, 2020. According to the report, the video is from the Balakot camp in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. This is the same place where the Indian Air Force had carried out airstrikes in 2019. The video shows sloganeering against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The video was uploaded by several platforms under Zee Media. (1, 2, 3 and 4)
At least a five-month-old video has been falsely shared as JeM raising slogans against India after Mamata Banerjee retained power in West Bengal.
Alt News has debunked a plethora of misinformation related to West Bengal since before the start of the assembly elections this year.
A journalist and a dilettante person who always strives to learn new skills and meeting new people. Either sketching or working.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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19th May 2021 / 7:39 pm
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{
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/months-old-video-of-jaish-e-mohammad-shared-with-west-bengal-elections-false-spin/",
"author": "Anuradha Prasad"
}
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1,940 |
Morphed Aaj Tak graphic falsely claims Pakistan PM's wife and driver tested positive for coronavirus - Alt News
Archit
11th April 2020 / 10:59 pm
An image of a TV which is tuned into Aaj Tak has gone viral. The image shows a grim-looking Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan with the Hindi text suggesting that Khan’s wife and his driver have been tested positive for coronavirus. The viral image also stated that Khan’s coronavirus test result was negative.
Indore-based BJP member Gaurav Tiwari tweeted the viral image and inquired if the news is true or not. He asked, “Imran Negative?” This has been retweeted over 600 times. (archive link)
Similarly, Twitter user @seriousfunnyguy also posted the viral image. This user addressed Khan’s wife as Begum and highlighted that Begam and the driver got infected. This was retweeted over 500 times. Readers should note this account is followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has over 64,000 followers. (archive link)
Alt News has received several requests to fact-check this on WhatsApp (+91 76000 11160) and on our official Android application.
At first glance, Alt News noticed the following inconsistencies in the viral image which indicates that it is morphed:
We compared the viral screenshot from an April 11 bulletin of Aaj Tak on YouTube to show the descrepencies.
India Today director Rahul Kanwal also clarified that the viral image is fake.
pic.twitter.com/DZlb1ai0Ct
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) April 11, 2020
Furthermore, Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Faisal Javed Khan tweeted and clarified, “News regarding PM Imran Khan tested positive for #Covid19 is NOT True. Please refrain from spreading Fake News.”
News regarding PM Imran Khan tested positive for #Covid19 is NOT True. Please refrain from spreading Fake News. Arise TV please correct.
May ALLAH keep everyone safe.
Prayers 🙏
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) March 27, 2020
Therefore the claims made in the viral image are false. In the past few weeks, several such screenshots have been circulated to spread misinformation. On April 3, Alt News reported how India Today graphic was morphed with false claims that PM Modi has extended the coronavirus lockdown till May 4.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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news-altnews
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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11th April 2020 / 10:59 pm
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{
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/morphed-aaj-tak-graphic-falsely-claims-pakistan-pms-wife-and-driver-tested-positive-for-coronavirus/",
"author": "Archit"
}
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1,941 |
Morphed ABP News graphic claims UP govt will not provide scholarships to students this year - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
10th September 2020 / 10:26 am
A purported graphic plate of ABP News is circulating on social media. It claims that the channel reported that students in Uttar Pradesh will not be given scholarships this year due to budget constraint. “यूपी छात्रों को इस साल छात्रवृत्ति नहीं मिलेगी बजट की कमी,” reads the text.
The graphic was shared on Facebook group ‘Samajwadi INDIA : DIGITAL Army’ drawing close to 300 likes.
The graphic is viral on Facebook.
It has also been shared on Twitter with the message, “इसलिए कहतें हैं पढ़ा लिखा नेता चुनों लुंगी वाला अनपढ़ बेलचट्टा चुनोगे तो यह सब कुछ सहना पड़ेगा.” The tweet below is by the handle @BarkhaS37691560.
Alt News has also received verification requests on its mobile application.
We were unable to find any media reports claiming that the UP government has decided to not provide scholarships to students this year due to budgetary cuts.
A report by Live Hindustan from August 20 titled, “UP: Scholarship of 20 lakh students stuck due to COVID,” said that the “state government did set aside a budget for scholarships this year but, for the money to reach the account of the budget department, the finance commission’s approval is needed. The commission is yet to approve.”
On September 2, ABP News carried the following report in Hindi—”UP: Good news for Grade 12 graduates, scholarship application issued, this is how you can apply.” The report stated that the education ministry will provide scholarships to 11,460 students.
Earlier in February, The Times of India reported that “the state budget made lesser provision for scholarships given to SC and OBC students in comparison to last year.”
A senior journalist at ABP News denied that the viral graphic was broadcast by the channel. It is noteworthy that the font in the viral image is different from genuine ABP News graphic plates. Its format also does not match the format of ABP News ‘breaking news’ graphic plate.
A morphed ABP News graphic plate is thus viral on social media to portray that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government in Uttar Pradesh has decided to not provide scholarships to students due to budget constraints.
Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.
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2024-05-27T18:24:05.489452
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10th September 2020 / 10:26 am
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/morphed-abp-news-graphic-claims-up-govt-will-not-provide-scholarships-to-students-this-year/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,942 |
Morphed ABP News graphic shows Rahul Gandhi wants India to be Islamic nation - Alt News
Kalim Ahmed
2nd July 2021 / 7:22 pm / Last updated: 6th December 2021
A screengrab of an alleged ABP News graphic plate airing a tweet of Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi is viral on social media. The screenshot has two captions on top. The first states, “Even after seeing this tweet of Pappu aired on ABP News TV channel, those who choose to support the Congress party will not only betray their country but also their religion.”
[Translated from: सही निर्णय आपकी सोच। एबीपी न्यूज़ टीवी चैनल पर भी दिखाया गए पप्पू के इस ट्वीट को देखने के बाद भी जो कांग्रेस का समर्थन करेगा वो वास्तव में अपने देश : तथा धर्म) से गद्दारी ही करेगा।]
The second caption reads, “Rahul Gandhi has tweeted this just now from Wayanad, all members of this group must read this.”
[Translated from: अभी-अभी राहुल गांधी वायनाड से ट्वीट किए हैं आप सभी ग्रुप के मेंबर यह ट्वीट जरूर पढ़ना !!]
The tweet attributed to Rahul Gandhi claims he wrote that the BJP is following the agenda of Hindu Rashtra by passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. “The agenda of our ancestors has always been an Islamic country which is why we created two Islamic countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We can’t witness India becoming a Hindu Rashtra,” it further states.
[Original text in Hindi: नागरिकता बिल पास करा कर बीजेपी हिंदू राष्ट्र के एजेंडे पर चल रही है हमारे पूर्वजों का एजेंडा हमेशा से इस्लामिक कंट्री पर रहा है इसीलिए हमने दो इस्लामिक कंट्री बनाएं पाकिस्तान और बांग्लादेश अब हम भारत को हिंदू राष्ट्र बनते नहीं देख सकते]
The alleged graphic plate was also shared earlier in March.
Posted by Say NO to Bollywood on Monday, 8 March 2021
The screenshot was viral on Facebook and was shared multiple times over the years. Alt News has also received several requests to verify the claim on its official WhatsApp helpline number (+91 76000 11160).
We performed an advanced search on Twitter using multiple keywords in Hindi and English but were unable to find the tweet. Moreover, the alleged tweet featured on the viral screenshot carries many grammatical errors, apart from the absence of punctuation marks such as comma and full-stop.
The two captions on top of the screenshot have been circulating for a few years now. Vishwas News had debunked the fake tweet after it was posted by Facebook user Vikram Singh Bhati in 2019. The second caption matches the message Bhati had shared two years ago.
Alt News juxtaposed the viral screenshot with a genuine screenshot from a video posted by ABP news on YouTube.
There are a few dissimilarities that can be observed:
1. The font in the viral image is completely different from the font used in the genuine graphic plate.
2. The shade of red used in the logo as well as around the borders is darker in the viral image.
3. In the viral image, there is no shadow behind the file image of Rahul Gandhi. In fact, there appears to be a blur (marked using a green arrow). This suggests that a genuine graphic could have been overlayed with the file image.
Alt News spoke with Sanjay Bragta, Vice President News Gathering at ABP News Network (ANN), who denied that the viral graphic was broadcasted by the channel. Moreover, had Rahul Gandhi tweeted something of this nature, it would’ve been covered by the media since he is one of the leading opposition members. But no reports exist.
Hence, a morphed ABP News graphic plate is viral to portray that Congress wanted to establish India as an Islamic country.
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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2nd July 2021 / 7:22 pm / Last updated: 6th December 2021
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/morphed-abp-news-graphic-shows-rahul-gandhi-wants-india-to-be-islamic-nation/",
"author": "Kalim Ahmed"
}
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1,943 |
Morphed: Akhilesh Yadav congratulated on the possibility of becoming PM - Alt News
Pooja Chaudhuri
22nd May 2019 / 8:20 pm
A Facebook page ‘PMO India : Report Card’ shared a photograph of a billboard that seemed to congratulate former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on the “possibility” of becoming the Prime Minister. The post was liked over 8,600 times and shared by more than 2,500 people at the time of writing this article. The hoarding said, “प्रधानमंत्री बनने की हार्दिक सम्भावना श्री अखिलेश यादव | शुभ अखिलेश, खुश देश, खुश प्रदेश | निवेदक – सुनील सिंह ‘साजन’ एम.एल.सी, लखनऊ उन्नाव | (The possibility of becoming the Prime Minister Shri Akhilesh Yadav. Auspicious Akhilesh, happy country, happy state. Advertiser – Sunil Singh ‘Sajan’ MLC, Lucknow Unnao.)”
Several individual users and Facebook pages also circulated the imagery.
A few Twitter users have also shared the photograph of the hoarding.
A journalist with The Hindu, Nistula Hebbar, also circulated the image of the hoarding while tweeting, “Can Hindi pundits (who poke holes in other non Hindi speakers’ Hindi posts) please explain this…?’
Alt News found images of the same hoarding with a different text shared by social media users in January 2019. “नव वर्ष की हार्दिक संभावना श्री अखिलेश यादव (A heartfelt possibility of the new year Shri Akhilesh Yadav.)” – read the actual text of the billboard. It appears that the hoarding was installed with a grammatical error in the sentence. Instead of the word ‘संभावना (possibility)’, the hoarding should’ve carried the word ‘शुभकामनाएं (best wishes).’
The distinction in the text on the two hoardings is evident in the photo montage below.
SP’s Sunil Singh Yadav, MLC Lucknow and Unnao, whose name was mentioned on the billboard, called out the misinformation on Twitter. He wrote in Hindi, “After being boycotted by the public, BJP’s IT cell (internet terrorist)l, which is trying to capture EVMs, has stooped low. They have meddled with an old hoarding of mine and circulating rumours. Such cheap tactics will not weaken but strengthen society’s fight.”
जनता से दुत्कारे जाने के बाद #ईवीएम हथियाने के जुगाड़ पर लगी #भाजपा की आईटी (इंटरनेट टेररिस्ट) सेल नीचता पर उतर आई है। मेरी पुरानी होर्डिंग में छेड़छाड़ कर अफ़वाह फैला रहे हैं। इन घटिया हरकतों से समाजिक न्याय की लड़ाई कमजोर नही और मजबूत होगी। pic.twitter.com/ww5QKoexMh
— Sunil Singh Yadav (@sunilyadv_unnao) May 22, 2019
Earlier, Alt News had debunked photoshopped images of hoardings targetting Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal.
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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22nd May 2019 / 8:20 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/morphed-akhilesh-yadav-congratulated-on-the-possibility-of-becoming-pm/",
"author": "Pooja Chaudhuri"
}
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1,944 |
Morphed BBC article links black fungus with cow urine - Alt News
Archit
26th May 2021 / 2:42 pm
A screenshot of an alleged BBC article headlined ‘Black fungus: Indian scientist find link with cow urine 9,000 cases of rare infection [sic]’ is widely circulating on WhatsApp. The byline says that it has been authored by Soutik Biswas.
The screenshot is massively viral on Facebook. Alt News found at least 99 such posts.
It has also been shared on Twitter.
Can Black Fungus stop people from consuming urine? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/0mvQZrNQ55
— Faiz_Save_India (@Faiz_INC) May 26, 2021
We performed a Google search restricting the results to BBC’s website and found that no such article was available. Moreover, the headline carries grammatical errors which is unusual for an international English language media organisation.
“This is a fake post. We would urge audiences to check our website bbc.com/news,” BBC spokesperson told Alt News.
On May 9, BBC published an article on black fungus authored by Soutik Biswas. The article said that “Mucormycosis is a very rare infection. It is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables. Doctors believe mucormycosis, which has an overall mortality rate of 50%, may be being triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients”.
The following image compares the viral screenshot with a screengrab of the genuine article on BBC. We noticed 1) the font in the headline is different; 2) there no image icon of the author; 3) the line dividing the article and headline is darker in the viral screenshot.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, several BJP leaders continue to recommend unscientific treatments including cow urine as a cure for COVID-19. Recently BJP MLA Surendra Singh and BJP MP Pragya Thakur made headlines for recommending the same. In the past, cow urine has been recommended as a cure for cancer. Dr Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic told ABC News in 2009, “I think I’m perfectly comfortable in saying that I’m aware of no data that cow’s urine — or any other species’ urine — holds any promise … in treating or preventing cancer.” There is no peer-reviewed study that infers cow urine as an effective treatment for diseases.
A doctored screenshot of BBC’s website was shared to falsely claim that the outlet wrote an article headlined ‘Black fungus: Indian scientist find link with cow urine 9,000 cases of rare infection’.
🙏 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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26th May 2021 / 2:42 pm
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/morphed-bbc-article-links-black-fungus-with-cow-urine/",
"author": "Archit"
}
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1,945 |
Morphed billboard shows AAP promoting namaz, discouraging Hindu prayers in Gujarat - Alt News
Aqib Pathan
12th July 2021 / 1:16 pm / Last updated: 12th July 2021
A purported billboard of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) went viral on social media. The billboard reads in Gujarati, “નમાજ પઢશે ગુજરાત” which means, “Now Gujarat will offer namaz”. It also says, “ભાગવત સપ્તાહ અને સત્યનારાયણની કથા જેવી ફાલતુ પ્રવૃત્તિ છોડો” that translates to, “Stop performing Bhagwat Saptah and Satyanarayan Katha”. It is noteworthy that AAP is set to contest all seats in the Gujarat assembly elections next year. Editor-in-chief of Sirf News Surajit Dasgupta shared the image on Twitter but later took it down. (Archived link)
Several other Twitter users – @RenukaJain6, @ramnikmann, @ssoninb – further circulated the image.
The image is massively widespread on Facebook.
Alt News used relevant Gujarati keywords on Facebook and found several similar billboards. The official Twitter account of Aam Aadmi Party Dang district tweeted several images of the poster on July 10. The official Twitter account of the Aam Aadmi Party Bharuch district also shared some pictures of the poster.
આજ રોજ ડાંગ જીલ્લા ના વઘઇ તાલુકામાં આમ આદમી પાર્ટી લીગલ સેલ પ્રમુખ ડાંગ, ના નેતૃત્વ માં કાર્ય કરો સાથે પોસ્ટર અભિયાન કરવામાં આવ્યું..#હવે_બદલાશે_ગુજરાત pic.twitter.com/mvydW7KPRL
— AAP DANG DISTRICT | #Mission2022 (@AAP_Dang) July 10, 2021
Three people have been featured on the original billboard. Their names are mentioned under their photos (left to right) – Isudan Gadhvi, Gopal Italia, and Arvind Kejriwal. The comparison below highlights the parts of the original billboard that have been morphed.
In fact, the Muslim-looking person is Italia himself. With the help of a reverse image search, we found that an image of Gopal Italia was merged with a photo of Islamist armed group Ansar al-Islam founder Mullah Krekar.
In conclusion, several social media users including a journalist shared an edited image of the Aam Aadmi Party’s political billboard to falsely claim that AAP is promoting namaz and discouraging Hindu prayers in Gujarat ahead of assembly elections in the state next year.
Aqib is monitoring and researching mis/disinformation at Alt News
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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 July 2021 / 1:16 pm / Last updated: 12th July 2021
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/morphed-billboard-shows-aap-promoting-namaz-discouraging-hindu-prayers-in-gujarat/",
"author": "Aqib Pathan"
}
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1,946 |
Morphed: Book titled 'How to convert India into Christian nation' behind Sonia Gandhi - Alt News
Archit
1st June 2021 / 10:24 am / Last updated: 12th September 2022
An image of Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi is being shared on social media which shows that the bookshelf behind her apparently has the ‘Holy Bible’, a statue of Jesus and a book titled ‘How to Convert India into Christian Nation’.
Alt News has received requests on its Helpline Number +91 76000 11160 for checking the authenticity of the image. The text accompanying the picture says “Zoom and see right side. One book titled “How to Convert India into Christian Nation”. Any further proof required?”
Same image had gone viral in 2021
Twitter user @noconversion had first tweeted the image on May 31, 2021, gaining over 700 retweets. Another user, @asgarhid, drew more than 400 retweets for the picture.
BJP Tamil Nadu Secretary Sumathi Venkatesh and BJP supporter Renuka Jain had also shared the image. They later took down their tweets. Journalist and BJP support Meena Das Narayan tweeted the image as well.
The image was circulating on Facebook.
Many Facebook groups such as ‘Sudarshan News‘ with one lakh followers and ‘PMO India New Delhi*‘ with three lakh followers further promoted the image.
If one looks very carefully, the image carries a watermark of the Twitter handle @noconversion on the left, which hints that this handle had created the image.
A reverse image search led Alt News to a video posted by Congress in October 2020 where Gandhi questioned the Centre on the farmers’ agitation and the hike in fuel prices. The video was also tweeted by Rahul Gandhi. The viral image is a screengrab taken by PTI. Many videos of Sonia Gandhi in front of that bookshelf have been tweeted by Congress.
‘बदलाव की बयार है।’
कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी जी का बिहार की जनता के नाम संदेश आपसे साझा कर रहा हूँ।
नए बिहार के लिए एकजुट होकर महागठबंधन को जीताने का समय है। pic.twitter.com/ptmzjEjQuh
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 27, 2020
Alt News compared a screenshot from the video with the viral image. We noticed that the books ‘How to Convert India into Christian Nation’ and the ‘Holy Bible’ and the statue of Jesus are not present on the bookshelf in the video. Thus, the viral image is morphed.
🙏 Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.
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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1st June 2021 / 10:24 am / Last updated: 12th September 2022
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"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/morphed-book-titled-how-to-convert-india-into-christian-nation-behind-sonia-gandhi/",
"author": "Archit"
}
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1,947 |
Morphed CNN report claims Taliban has banned sanitary napkins in Afghanistan - Alt News
Archit
16th September 2021 / 2:54 pm
The Taliban has formed an all-male government after taking over control in Afghanistan. On September 14, at Kabul University, women were reportedly forced to hold placards in support of the Taliban and its strict interpretation of Islam, including separate education for men and women.
A couple of days later, some social media users shared an alleged screenshot of a news article by US-based outlet CNN. The screenshot portrayed CNN reporting that the Taliban has banned sanitary napkins in Afghanistan because it is not compliant with Sharia law.
This screenshot was shared by Twitter user @SaffronSunanda. After over 1,000 retweets, the user deleted his tweet. Multiple other users tweeted this screenshot on Twitter. (1, 2, 3)
Similarly, some Facebook accounts have shared this post as well. (1, 2, 3, 4)
The screenshot in question is manipulated. Alt News performed a keyword search and noticed that not only CNN but no media outlet has reported that the Taliban has banned sanitary napkins.
Analysis of the morphed screenshot
🙏 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 September 2021 / 2:54 pm
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{
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://www.altnews.in/englishclone/morphed-cnn-report-claims-taliban-has-banned-sanitary-napkins-in-afghanistan/",
"author": "Archit"
}
|
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