Authors
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: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asking for votes for the BJP.
Fact: The viral video is edited. The President of the West Bengal Congress did not ask to vote for the BJP.
Ahead of the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, a video of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is widely circulating on social media, which shows him demanding votes for BJP. In the viral video, the President of the West Bengal Congress can be heard saying, “Voting for BJP is much better than voting for Trinamool”. Posting that video many social media users claimed, “Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says it’s better to vote BJP than TMC”.
Following the video becoming viral on social media, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee launched an attack on Adhir Chowdhury for the failure of the I.N.D.I. alliance in West Bengal. Taking their social media handle TMC wrote, “Why do we say that Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is BJP’s eyes and ears in Bengal? Despite his name being mentioned in Saradha chief Sudipto Sen’s letter, he has never been summoned by Central Agencies. He has never uttered a word against the BJP-led Centre’s unjust withholding of Bengal’s funds He can be heard canvassing for the BJP During his visit to Baharampur, CM Yogi Adityanath didn’t make any attacking statements against him.”
Archive versions of such posts can be seen here and here.
Fact Check/ Verification
The viral video depicts Adhir Chowdhury campaigning for Murtaza Hossain who is fighting in this election for Congress from West Bengal’s Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency.
Further investigation revealed that a longer version of a similar video was posted on the official Facebook page of the West Bengal Congress on April 30, titled, “West Bengal Pradesh Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is addressing a public meeting in support of Left Front-backed Indian National Congress candidate Murtaza Hossain (Bakul) at Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency in Lalgola”.
At the 25:09-mark of that video Chowdhury can be heard saying, “Modi is no longer as confident as before. They used to say Iss Baar Charso Paar. Now they are not saying this. According to recent surveys, 100 seats have already slipped out of Modi’s hand, and it continues declining. Congress and the Left must win. Without their victory, secularism in India will be abolished. Voting for BJP is much better than voting for Trinamool. So no TMC or BJP, only vote for Congress candidate Bakul (Murtaza Hossain). He will always be with you.”
News agency ANI also posted the video on May 1, 2024.
Congress has already complained about the viral video. The party claims that a part of Adhir Chowdhury’s speech is being viral on social media with misinterpretation.
Conclusion
Thus it is clear that the viral video is an edited one. The President of the West Bengal Congress did not ask to vote for the BJP.
Result: Missing Context
Source
Video by West Bengal Congress, dated April 30
Video by ANI, dated May 1, 2024
Authors
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.
