Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
A video showing Telangana CM and Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Chandrashekar Rao calling PM Modi his “best friend” is going viral on social media platforms. Those sharing the video claim that KCR is a “changed man” after his daughter, K Kavitha, was named and questioned by the CBI in the Delhi liquor policy case earlier in December. Newschecker found the claim to be misleading, and that the video dates back to 2018.
In the 30-second-video, KCR can be heard saying, “I have nothing against Mr Modi. I have all respect for him… as honourable Prime Minister of India, I have all respect for him. Another important thing I am telling you…it should be noted and is very important… I am his best friend only… people hardly know what friendship we have between us…”
BJP leader Priti Gandhi tweeted the video with the caption, “After his daughter has been named in the Delhi Liquor Excise scam, KCR is suddenly singing like a canary!!” Several other Twitter users shared the viral clip claiming that the Telangana CM “has become Modiji’s fan and best friend” after his daughter was named in the scam.
Archived versions of such tweets can be seen here, here, here and here.
The footage is going viral on Facebook as well.
Links to such posts can be found here, here, here and here.
Also Read: This Viral Photograph Of PM Modi Standing Under A Clock That Reads 4.20 Is Edited
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “KCR,” “Modi” & “best friend” on YouTube led us to a video by Xplorer India, dated March 4, 2018, titled ‘ “I am Modi’s Best Friend” – CM KCR on his relationship with PM Modi.’
15 seconds in the video, we spotted the viral clip where KCR can be heard saying that he has “nothing against Mr Modi. I have all respect for him…”
He further said, “…before coming back from Delhi… I have sought an interview with Modi, which he could not accommodate ….”
Further, we searched for keywords “Modi,” “KCR,” “friend,” “best friend” & “press conference” in Telugu language and came across a video uploaded on verified YouTube channel of Around Telugu, dated March 4, 2018, titled ‘…KCR BEST Press Meet Video…Narendra Modi BJP…Telangana News’
At the counters of 31:40 minutes, we spotted the widely circulated footage on KCR saying that he is PM Modi’s best friend. Notably, here the Telangana CM is seen answering a question by a journalist. He further goes on to say that he has nothing against PM Modi or the BJP, and adds, “it is against the slow progress of the country….”
Following this, we looked up keywords “KCR says Modi Best friend” on Google which yielded a report by Times of India, dated March 4, 2018. Displaying a picture of KCR along with others at the presser, the report stated, “Days after his alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at public meetings in Karimnagar and Adilabad, TRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said on Saturday that he did not use any unparliamentary words against the PM.”
It quoted KCR as saying, “I have nothing against Narendra Modi and have respect for him. I am his best friend and we shared many issues in earlier meetings. He had praised the various schemes taken up by the government.”
We could thus conclude that the viral video dates back to 2018 and does not show any recent comments by the Telangana CM on PM Modi.
When was K Kavitha named in the Delhi liquor policy case?
We continued our investigation to ascertain the whereabouts of K Kavitha’s alleged involvement in the “liquor scam,” and found several reports from early December on CBI issuing a notice to KCR’s daughter in the case. One such report by Hindustan Times, dated December 2, 2022, stated, “K Kavitha, daughter of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear for questioning in the Delhi liquor policy case on December 6.”
Reportedly, Kavitha had requested the agency to postpone the questioning, which took place on December 11, 2022 at her residence in Hyderabad. A report by NDTV stated, “Telangana legislator K Kavitha, daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for over seven hours today over her alleged involvement in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy case.”
The report further elaborated, “K Kavitha’s name has come up in a remand report filed by the Enforcement Directorate, citing statements by an arrested Gurugram businessman, Amit Arora.The central agency claimed Ms Kavitha was a key member of the “south group” which paid at least ₹ 100 crore in kickbacks to leaders of Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) via another arrested businessman, Vijay Nair.”
Notably, the case in question pertains to a policy which was implemented by the Delhi government in November 2021, while the viral video dates back to 2018. We could thus conclude that the widely circulated video showing KCR calling PM Modi his “best friend” predates the central agencies alleging his daughter’s involvement in the Delhi liquor scam.
Conclusion
Viral claim that KCR called PM Modi his best friend after his daughter was named in the Delhi liquor policy scam is not true. The video dates back to 2018.
Result: Partly False
Sources
YouTube Video By Xplorer India, Dated March 4, 2018
YouTube Video By Around Telugu, Dated March 4, 2018
Report By NDTV, Dated December 11, 2022
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
