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
Amit Shah said that the BJP will end unconstitutional SC/ST and OBC reservation if voted to power.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Also Read: Voter Destroys EVM During Lok Sabha Elections? No, Viral Video Is From Last Year’s Karnataka Polls
Fact
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral video led us to a PTI report published by Hindustan Times, dated April 23, 2023, titled “‘Will end Muslim reservation in Telangana if BJP wins’: Amit Shah” It featured an image of Shah in the same attire as seen in the viral footage with the caption, “Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the Vijay Sankalp Sabha, at Chevella, in Ranga Reddy on Sunday.”
The report stated, “Countdown for the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS Government in Telangana has begun and the BJP’s fight will not stop until the present regime is dethroned, Union Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday. Addressing a public meeting titled “Vijay Sankalp Sabha” at Chevella near here, Shah said if BJP comes to power in Telangana, reservations for Muslims will be removed.”
We then looked up keywords “Vijay Sankalp Sabha,” “Chevella,” “Amit Shah” and “reservation” on YouTube, which yielded a report by HW News English, dated April 24, 2023. Around 1:30 minutes into the video, Shah can be heard saying, “if Bharatiya Janata Party’s government is formed, we will end this unconstitutional Muslim reservation. This is the right of Telangana’s SC, ST and OBC, and they will receive this right…”
Shah’s address was live streamed on his official YouTube channel on April 23, 2023. We skimmed through the video, and noticed that Shah was speaking against the Muslim reservation in the state.
At the counters of 14:35 minutes, we spotted Shah saying, “…if Bharatiya Janata Party’s government is formed, we will end this unconstitutional Muslim reservation. This right belongs to the ST, SC and OBC communities of Telangana, and they will get it. And we will end the Muslim reservation…”
On comparing the hand movements, gestures and expressions of the Home Minister seen in the YouTube live video with the viral footage, we could conclude that certain snippets from Shah’s address have been clipped out to make it appear as though he were speaking of removing the reservation for SC/STs and OBCs.
Multiple outlets had reported Shah saying that the BJP will eradicate Muslim quota in Telangana if voted to power during the Vijaya Sankalpa Sabha at Chevella in April 2023. Such reports can be seen here and here.
We could thus conclude that an edited video of Amit Shah has been shared to falsely claim that the Home Minister said that the BJP government will end “unconstitutional” ST/SC and OBC reservation.
Also Read: Misleading Claims Around Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Shimla Bungalow Viral Again
Result: Altered Video
Sources
Report By PTI, Dated April 23, 2023
YouTube Video By HW News English, Dated April 24, 2023
YouTube Video By Amit Shah, Dated April 23, 2023
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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.
