Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
Indian news agency ANI on April 3, 2024 (01:56pm), tweeted a 10-second clip of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam‘s (MDMK) chief Vaiko saying, “Congress betrayed Tamil Nadu on every front at the time,” which was promptly reported by several media outlets, including Hindustan Times, News18, and retweeted by BJP leaders. The MDMK is part of the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A bloc in Tamil Nadu, of which the ruling DMK is a key constituent.
Vaiko’s remark was seemingly in response to the journalist’s query on the recent Katchatheevu controversy that was triggered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim, citing a Times of India report, that the islet was “callously” given away by the Congress to Sri Lanka in 1974.
Later, Congress spokesperson, Supriya Shrinate, tweeted a 17-second video on April 3, 2024 (11:27pm), where Vaiko is heard saying, “These 10 years were a testing time for Narendra Modi. He is a traitor. He betrayed Tamil Nadu, he betrayed India, he betrayed Sri Lanka”.
Fact Check
Newschecker noticed that Vaiko seemingly gave contradictory statements on the Katchatheevu issue, raising our doubts. We first ran a keyword search for “Vaiko Katchatheevu”, which led us to this Times of India report, dated April 4, 2024, stating that Vaiko criticised both the Congress and PM Narendra Modi while speaking to a news agency in Chennai on the sidelines of his election campaign.
“He [Vaiko] said that while Congress allegedly bartered TN’s interests many years ago, Modi betrayed Tamil Nadu, betrayed India, betrayed Sri Lanka,” read the report, indicating that clipped videos of Vaiko’s interview on the sidelines have been doing the rounds of social media.
A further search led us to this Sun News tweet, dated April 3, 2024, sharing the full 37-second exchange between Vaiko and the reporter, where you can clearly see that the 79-year-old leader criticises both the Congress and PM Narendra Modi, which confirms that clipped videos are being shared by both the parties (Congress and BJP) to establish misleading narratives.
Conclusion
Clipped videos of Vaiko’s remarks to a reporter over the Katchatheevu row being shared misleadingly by political parties and news outlets.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Times of India report, April 4, 2024
Sun News tweet, April 3, 2024
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
