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.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Massive turnout of farmers and labourers for a rally in Jaipur in support of the Delhi Chalo protest march.
Fact
2017 video of a pro-farmer protest rally organised by a Rajasthan Congress leader.
A video showing a large group of people marching with flags and placards is being widely shared on social media platforms with users sharing the video claiming it to be recent. Those sharing the footage claim that it shows a rally in Jaipur, organised by farmers and labourers in support of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march, which is currently on hold following the death of a protester. Newscheker found the claim to be untrue. The video dates back to 2017, and is unrelated to the ongoing farmers’ protest.
Multiple social media users shared the footage claiming to show a massive turnout for a pro-farmers rally in Rajasthan. A few users additionally claimed that it was organised by the Congress.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
The two-minute-twenty-second-long-video has also found its way to YouTube.
Also Read: Video From US Showing PM Modi’s Effigy Tied To Tractor Shared With Digitally Manipulated Audio
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral clip led us to a YouTube video by SBL Music, dated June 27, 2018. The caption of the video suggested that the video is from a rally in Rajasthan. Furthermore, the attire of the people seen in the video also indicates that it was shot in Rajasthan.
After comparing both the footage, we concluded that they were shot during the same protest march.
The YouTube channel featured a clearer version of the viral clip. On carefully analysing the footage, we were able to spot the participants of the march waving the Congress party flags. Additionally, the placards seen in the video had text connected to farmers rights. We were also able to spot “Lal Nagar, Former Minister” written on a banner.
Taking a clue, we looked up “Lal Nagar, Ex-minister and Rajasthan” on Google which yielded multiple reports on Babu Lal Nagar, a Congress leader. Nagar was suspended from the party in 2013 over allegations of rape against him, while he was serving as the dairy and rural industries minister in the Gehlot government. He was, however, acquitted by a trial court in 2017, and subsequently rejoined the party in 2018.
Also Read: Video From Prayer Meet For Sidhu Moose Wala Falsely Linked To Farmers’ March
Following this, we searched for multiple keywords in Hindi and English such as “Babulal Nagar, Farmers rally, Congress, Rajasthan” etc on YouTube. One such search yielded a video by Dinesh Nagar, dated June 30, 2017. It carried visuals similar to those seen in the viral footage.
Furthermore, we found a longer version of the viral video shared by Babulal Nagar on his Facebook page on July 1, 2017.
2017 Video Resurfaces Amid Youth Congress’ March To Rajasthan Chief Minister’s Home
We noticed the posts making the claim surfaced online only in the past 24 hours. Notably, the Youth Congress organised a protest march to the Rajasthan Chief Minister’s house, in support of agitating farmers and unemployed youth on Wednesday. The protesters were lathi-charged, and the police used water cannons, and barricades to disperse them. Videos and images of the same have been shared multiple times online since yesterday. It is likely that in this background, the 2017 video was shared to show the current situation.
Conclusion
Hence, we could conclude that a 2017 video of an agitation has been falsely shared to show a farmers-labourers rally in support of the Delhi Chalo protest march in Jaipur.
Result: False
Sources
YouTube video by SBL Music, dated June 27, 2018
Video By Dinesh Nagar, Dated June 30, 2017
Facebook Post By Babulal Nagar, Dated July 1, 2017
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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.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
