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.
Claim
Fight breaks out between Congress and BJP spokespersons during a panel discussion ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Manipur.
Fact
Viral video dates back to 2016 and shows brawl between panellists during a news debate on an Afghanistan TV channel.
A video has recently gone viral, purportedly showing a brawl between Congress and BJP spokespersons during a panel discussion on a Manipur-based TV news channel. A year-long ethnic conflict has cast a shadow on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state, scheduled in two phases on April 19 and April 26, as several civil society groups and the affected people question the relevance of holding elections amid recurring clashes and lingering hostilities.
The archived version of the tweet can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes of the video, which led us to this Youtube video by TV9 Bharatvarsh, dated February 21, 2019, headlined “Kabul TV Guest fighting”.
We also came across this Pakistan-based The News International report, dated February 19, 2019, stating that participants of a TV talk show became embroiled in a fight live on air in Afghanistan as a debate descended into violence. A similar report can be seen here, confirming that it is not related to the upcoming elections.
We learnt that the fight broke out during a debate on Afghan news channel, 1 TV Kabul, in June 2016. The viral excerpt can be seen from the 25:20 mark, confirming that is not a fight between Congress and BJP leaders during a panel discussion on a Manipur-based news channel.
Also Read: Viral Video Of Shoe Being Hurled At Mansukh Mandaviya Is Old
Conclusion
Old video of fight during news debate on Afghanistan TV channel falsely claimed as brawl between Congress and BJP leaders during a panel discussion ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Manipur.
Result: False
Sources
Youtube video, TV9 Bharatvarsh, February 21, 2019
Youtube video, 1 TV Kabul, June 7, 2016
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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.
