Several social media users shared an image of Congress (INC) leaders at a press meet and claimed the woman in it to be the “FakeNaxalBhabi” who was hugged by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Hathras.
You can read more such claims shared with the hashtag #FakeNaxalBhabi here.
Fact Check/ Verification
The woman in the viral image is Pratibha Borkar, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) social media in-charge. We found Borkar’s Facebook profile which includes the same image as in the claim.
A recent press conference with Congress leaders in Goa includes Borkar.
Boom in its 13 October fact check quoted Borkar, who confirmed, “Yes, that is me in the viral photo but I am not the Rajkumari Bansal as being claimed. I have not been to Hathras, Uttar Pradesh or met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Hathras. This is an attempt to discredit the work done by Goa Congress by sharing such stuff as anyone can make out that the two are different people.”
Where did the hashtag #FakeNaxalBhabi come from?
The claim in context began circulating after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi visited the family of the Hathras gang rape victim.
The hashtags #FakeNaxalBhabi and #NaxalBhabhi earlier targeted a woman named Dr Rajkumari Bansal. Social media claims alleged that she claimed to be the Hathras victims sister-in-law and had naxal links. In reality, Bansal is a Jabalpur-based forensic scientist.
After Bansal, the hashtag in context targeted Goa Pradesh Congress Committee’s Pratibha Borkar.
An India Today video includes Dr Bansal’s clarification that she is not related to the Hathras family nor does she have any Naxal links. Zee News includes a clarification from Bansal on the same.
Conclusion
The woman in the viral image with Congress leaders is Pratibha Borkar, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee’s social media in-charge. She is not related to the Hathras victim’s family nor did she visit them.
Result: Misleading
Our Sources
Pratibha Borkar: https://www.facebook.com/pratibha.borkar
Goan Reporter News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmXffD8x8_8
India Today: https://twitter.com/IndiaToday/status/1315909355716268032?s=20
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