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
Congress banners show inverted Tricolour at Priyanka Gandhi’s feet installed in Bengaluru ahead of her rally.
Fact
The video dates back to at least June, 2023. Geo-location tools confirmed that the video is from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. A Kannada audio has been digitally overlaid on it.
With the election season at its peak in the country, political parties have launched massive offline and online campaigns to woo the voters. Prominent political figures are addressing rallies and public meetings in constituencies due to vote in the second phase of Lok Sabha Polls on April 26. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi will be campaigning in Karnataka on Tuesday, including a public meeting in Bengaluru.
Ahead of Gandhi’s Bengaluru rally, multiple social media users shared a video showing Congress party banners featuring an inverted Tricolour at Priyanka Gandhi’s feet. Those sharing the video claim that it shows the banners installed in Bengaluru for the Congress leader’s upcoming rally. The Kannada audio overheard in the video says, “Priyanka Gandhi’s banner …the Tricolour is shown upside down..How can those who don’t know how to put the tricolour properly rule the country?”
Multiple X and Facebook users shared the video claiming, “Upcoming Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rally posters in Bengaluru show Indian flag upside down, with green on top, video goes viral”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Priyanka Gandhi,” “banner” and “Tricolour upside down” on Google led us to a report by Firstpost, dated August 22, 2023. Carrying screengrabs from the viral video, the report stated, “Congress has been doing every possible thing to woo voters in Madhya Pradesh, but not all seem to be right in the party’s effort. A video shared by BJP shows senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s posters in the poll-bound state with upside down tricolour placed over her feet.”
The report featured an X post by @SureshNakhua, dated August 22, 2023, carrying a slightly longer version of the viral footage, stating, “Congress in Madhya Pradesh deliberately places the #Tiranga upside down in its poster !!!…”
We also found an X post by @kakar_harsha, dated June 12, 2023, carrying a longer version of the viral video.
Also Read: Lok Sabha Polls- Old Video Falsely Linked To PM Modi’s Rally In Jalore
Notably, the audio in this version is in Hindi, and not Kannada. In this video, a person can be heard saying, “A reversed Tricolour at Priyanka Gandhi’s feet…this is Gwarighat road… they don’t understand Tricolour, how will they understand the country (translated from Hindi)”
It is likely that an audio in Kannada was overlaid in the video to give an impression that the footage is from Bengaluru.
We then looked up “Gwarighat and Madhya Pradesh” on Google, and found the location to be from Jabalpur.
We were also able to spot the exact location seen in the video on Google Street View.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi had addressed a rally in Jabalpur on June 12, 2023, while campaigning for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections. The banners were likely installed ahead of the same.
Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024- Old Video From Thane Shared As Man Throwing Ink On EVM In Nagpur
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that an old video from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh showing a Congress banner with an inverted Tricolour has been falsely linked to Priyanka Gandhi’s campaign in Bengaluru for the Lok Sabha Polls.
Result: False
Sources
X Post By @SureshNakhua, Dated August 22, 2023
X Post By @kakar_harsha, Dated June 12, 2023
Google Street View
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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.
