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
Former Andhra CM and TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu, whose party is in alliance with the BJP, said that all leaders are better than Narendra Modi.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Annamalai Got Only One Vote At A Booth In Coimbatore? No, Viral Image Is Edited
Fact
We looked up keywords “NDTV,” “Chandrababu Naidu,” “All leaders better,” and “Modi” on Google, which yielded a report by the outlet, dated February 11, 2019.
The report was about a daylong fast in Delhi demanding a special status for his state in February 2019. Multiple prominent opposition leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Arvind Kejriwal, Farooq Abdullah among others, joined the TDP Chief in his protest.
The report carried a video interview of Naidu during his day-long fast. Around 7 minutes 30 seconds into the video, we can spot the viral portion where the TDP Chief is heard saying that all leaders are better than Narendra Modi.
Quoting Naidu, a report by the NDTV read, “Aligning with the BJP is a political compulsion, but forming an anti-BJP front has become a democratic compulsion.”
Responding to the ruling party’s jibe that the proposed grand alliance has too many contenders for the Prime Minister’s role and it will be impossible for them to agree on a name, the Andhra leader said that they “need not worry about that” and wondered if they (the BJP) had any other leader for the role.
The TDP chief’s interview was also shared on NDTV’s official Facebook page in February 2019.
We did not find any recents reports on Naidu, who is being touted as the kingmaker in 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, criticising PM Modi. In a recent X post, the TDP chief in fact thanked PM Modi, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda for “their commitment to AP’s future”
Hence, Chandrababu Naidu’s 2019 remarks on PM Narendra Modi have been shared out of context.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Report By NDTV, Dated February 11, 2019
Facebook Post By NDTV, Dated February 11, 2019
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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.
