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
Visuals show the condition of Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency.
Fact
Nearly five-year-old video from Kerala’s Kasaragod, and not Wayanad.
A video showing a massive gathering of people waving green flags, and sloganeering has been widely shared on social media platforms. Those sharing the footage claim that it shows the condition of Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency. Newschecker found that the video is nearly five-year-old, and from Kasaragod.
Newschecker received the video on our WhatsApp tipline (+91-9999499044) requesting to be fact checked.
Multiple X users shared the 45-second-long-video claiming to show visuals from Wayanad.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: 2024 Lok Sabha Elections- Old Video Shared As Massive Turnout At PM Modi’s Rally In Jalpaiguri
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the video, we noticed that the crowd was raising slogans about Satishchandran and Unnithan. Taking a clue, we looked up “Satishchandran,” and “Unnithan” on Google which yielded a report by Asianet Newsable, dated March 18, 2024. The report stated that in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls Congress’ Rajmohan Unnithan had won from Kasaragod. The UDF candidate was up against CPM’s KP Satish Chandran.
Notably, the Congress-led United Democratic Front also consists of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The green flags seen in the viral video are of the IUML.
Following this, we looked up keyframes of the clip on Google lens and found an X post by @RajivMessage, dated May 25, 2019, carrying a clearer version of the viral footage.
Also Read: 2016 Video Of Brawl On Afghan Channel Shared As BJP-Congress Fight During Debate On Manipur
In the 2019 video, we were able to spot “Aramana Silks” written on one of the hoardings seen in the viral video.
Following this, we looked up “Aramana Silks” and “Kasaragod” on Google and were able to spot a building identical to the one seen in the viral video.
Also Read: Viral Video Of Shoe Being Hurled At Mansukh Mandaviya Is Old
Conclusion
Hence we could conclude that a 2019 video from Kasaragod has been shared to show the condition of Wayanad, the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Result: False
Sources
X Post By @RajivMessage, Dated May 25, 2019
Google Images
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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.
