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
Photograph showing massive turnout at the recent INDIA bloc rally in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.
Archived versions of such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
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Fact
A Google lens search on the viral image led us to an article by Peoples Democracy, dated February 10, 2019. The report, featured the viral photograph and reported, “Tens of thousands of people, in some estimates a million, thronged the Brigade Parade Ground on February 3 at the call of the Left Front, to assert alternative policies and politics…The rally was addressed by general secretaries of five Left parties and CPI(M) state leaders.”
Also Read: Old Video Of Massive Gathering In Bareilly Shared As Funeral Procession Of Mukhtar Ansari
Furthermore, a slightly cropped version of the image, shared to show India bloc rally, was featured in a website called IndiaContent with the caption, “Kolkata Workers of leftist parties participate in a Left Front rally at the Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata on Feb 3 2019.” The image was credited to IANS News.
Another version of the photograph was also featured in Alamy with the caption, “Kolkata, India. 03rd Feb, 2019. Left activist from different part of state take part in the Left front Brigade rally ahead of General Election 2019. (sic) “
The Left parties had organised a rally in Kolkata’s February, 2019 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Multiple news outlets like this, this and this had reported on the same.
We could thus conclude that a photograph from a 2019 Left-Front rally in Kolkata falsely shared to show massive support to the recent INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan.
Result: False
Sources
Article By Peoples Democracy, Dated February 10, 2019
IndiaContent Website
Alamy Website
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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.
