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
Video of a youth lashing out at the government over unemployment in the country.
Fact
Video dates back to January 2022, and has been shared out of context.
As the opposition attacks PM Modi on unemployment, a video of a visibly disgruntled youth narrating his ordeals, and lambasting the government over lack of jobs has surfaced on social media platforms. Multiple social media users shared the footage with #Election2024, linking it to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Newschecker found that the video is old, and has been shared out of context.
In the video, the outraged youth speaks in detail about the difficulties his parents have faced to educate him, and lashes out at the government saying “Don’t bring the youth to the streets, or you will come to the streets too.”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Voter Fraud In Assam? Viral Video Showing Man Casting 5 Votes For BJP Candidate Is From Mock Poll
Fact Check/Verification
We observed that the youth speaks about Railway being the largest sector for jobs, mentions Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and says “if you sell the Railways where will the youth go.” This led us to conclude that the youth’s outrage might be linked to an issue with Railway recruitment.
On carefully analysing the video, we noticed the watermark of BBC on the top left corner in the viral footage. We also spotted “Bihar, Patna” written on the top right corner in the video.
Taking a clue, we looked up keywords “Unemployment,” “Patna,” “Bihar” and “Railway” on the official YouTube channel of BBC News Hindi which yielded a video report dated January 27, 2022. It featured the viral video of a youth narrating his ordeals, and lambasting the government over unemployment.
The description of the video stated that it shows the present situation in the coaching hub Bhikhana Pahari-Musallahpur area of Patna where students and police had come face to face regarding the NTPC-RRB exam.
The video was also shared by BBC News Hindi on their official X handle on January 27, 2022, stating “The anger of a youth from Bihar, who was upset regarding the railway recruitment exam, burst out like this.”
In January 2022, several aspirants had taken to streets protesting against alleged irregularities in the Railway recruitment examination in Bihar. Reportedly, the aspirants opposed the railway ministry’s decision to hold the exam in two stages, claiming the second stage for final selection is tantamount to “cheating” those who appeared and cleared the first stage of the RRB-NTPC exam. Multiple outlets had reported over the RRB NTPC exam 2021 in Bihar. Such reports can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: 2019 Video Of Mob Attacking BJP Leader Revived Amid Lok Sabha Polls
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that a 2022 video showing a youth lambasting the government over unemployment, and narrating his ordeals has been shared out of context amid Lok Sabha Elections.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
YouTube Video By BBC News Hindi, Dated January 27, 2022
X Post By BBC News Hindi, Dated January 27, 2022
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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.
