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.
Claim
In an open letter to Rahul Gandhi, the Manipur Congress President blamed Congress for the current crisis in the state.
Fact
A letter written by a leader of a Manipur regional party has been falsely attributed to the Manipur Congress President.
Amid the ethical violence in Manipur, several social media users claimed that the President of Manipur Congress has blamed the grand old party for the current crisis in the state in an open letter to Rahul Gandhi. They also shared a video report by India Today, alleging that the Manipur Congress Chief said that the party is “responsible for the current problem by infiltrating Rohingyas & Bangladeshi for its vote bank.” Newschecker found the claim to be untrue and that the India Today report has been used in a false context.
Multiple Twitter and Facebook users shared nearly one-minute-forty-second-long video report alleging that the Manipur Congress President has blamed the Congress for the current crisis in the state.A few others shared a shorter version of the same.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
We also received the claim on our WhatsApp tipline (+91-9999499044) requesting to be fact checked
Also Read: 2020 Video Uploaded By Gamer Falsely Linked To Manipur Violence
Fact Check/Verification
We carefully analysed the longer version of the viral video, and heard the anchor saying that a Manipur regional party leader Naorem Mohen wrote an open letter to Rahul Gandhi blaming the Congress party for the current crisis in Manipur.
Furthermore, the anchor never says that the Manipur Congress President wrote any such letter to Gandhi.
Following this, we looked up “Manipur,” “Rahul Gandhi” and “open Letter” on Google which led us to a report by India Today NE, dated June 24, 2023. The report elaborated, “The Manipur Patriotic Party’s General Secretary (Org), Naorem Mohen blamed the Congress Party for being the root cause of the present crisis in the northeastern hill state.”
Adding, “ Highlighting the current Manipur violence, Naorem Mohen alleged that the crisis is the outcome of the continuation of the British Policy of Meitei containment by the Indian National Congress Party by encouraging illegal immigration from Myanmar and Bangladesh and converting them into a vote bank and not because of a fight between two communities.”
The report further carried the full letter.
Also Read: Old Video From Myanmar Shared To Show Assault & Killing Of Kuki Woman In Manipur
We also found the full video report by India Today, dated June 26, 2023, where it has been clearly said that the letter was written by the Manipur Patriotic Party’s General Secretary, Naorem Mohen. The same can be seen below.
Another report by NorthEast Live, dated June 28, 2023, also mentions the Manipur Patriotic Party’s open letter to Rahul Gandhi.
We skimmed through Mohen’s Twitter account and found a press release by the Manipur Patriotic Party regarding the open letter to Rahul Gandhi.
Further, we also noticed that Mohen’s account had retweeted posts by multiple BJP leaders including Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jitendra Singh, G Kishan Reddy and Manipur CM N Biren Singh, as well as those by the right-wingers.
An article by Ground Report stated that Mohen is “known for his close ties to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).”
Further, we did not find any reports stating that the Manipur Congress President, Keisham Meghachandra Singh made any remarks against his own party.
Conclusion
Viral post claiming that the Manipur Congress President has blamed the Congress for the current crisis in the state is false.
Result: False
Sources
Report By India Today NE, Dated June 24, 2023
YouTube Video By India Today, Dated June 26, 2023
Tweet By @laimacha, Dated June 28, 2023
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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.
