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.
Claim
Prakash Raj urged Karnataka voters to not waste their vote on the Congress in upcoming state polls.
Fact
Cropped version of a 2019 video of Prakash Raj accusing the Congress members of spreading “fake news” against him has been shared out of context.
A video of Prakash Raj urging people not to “waste vote on Congress” is being widely shared online days ahead of the Karnataka polls. In the thirteen-second-long-video, the actor can be heard saying, “So don’t waste your vote on Congress. I have not joined any political party and I am an independent. And I seriously take offence of this dirty politics, stooping down of Congress party.” Newschecker found that the video is four-year-old, and that it is being shared out of context.
Several social media users, including verified handles, shared the viral footage claiming to show Raj’s message to the Karnataka voters.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Old Video Of Tyre Stuffed With Currency Notes Falsely Linked To Upcoming Karnataka Elections
Actor-turned-politician Prakash Raj is known to be a vocal critic of the BJP. He recently expressed his “shock” over Kannada superstar Kichcha Sudeep’s decision to support the BJP leaders in the upcoming Karnataka elections. Additionally, he also requested people to “Bring down #BJP Karnataka” in the forthcoming polls.
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Prakash Raj,” “don’t waste vote,” and “Congress” on YouTube led us to a video uploaded by Mana Stars on April 17, 2019
It carried a longer version of the viral footage where Raj can be heard saying, “Look at the dirty politics this congress is doing in Bangalore Central. A man who claims to be Rizwan’s PA. His name is Mazhar Ahmed. He has taken a photograph of me and Rizwan attending a candidate’s meeting and then has said Prakash Raj is supporting Congress. So don’t waste your vote on Congress. I have not joined any political party and I am an independent. And I seriously take offence of this dirty politics, stooping down of Congress party and Rizwan. Have given an election complaint. Please don’t believe in such rumours”.
Raj has contested the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections from Central Bangalore constituency as an independent candidate. Ahead of the polls, the actor-turned-politician had alleged that the Congress party members are spreading “fake news” by sharing a photograph of him and Rizwan (Congress party’s candidate from Central Bangalore constituency) to claim that he had joined the grand old party.
The video shows him making the same allegations.
We found that the full-length of the viral video was also shared by Prakash Raj on his official Twitter handle of April 17, 2019, stating, “FAKE NEWS by CONGRESS.. look at the dirty politics of this party. SHAME ON CONGRESS.. HAVE SENT THE COMPLAINT TO ELECTION COMMISSION WITH PROOF ..please spread and share to counter DIRTY POLITICS”
In a tweet dated April 17, 2019, Congress party’s Rizwan Arshad had also clarified, “Apparently, some fake news is being circulated about prakash raj’s association with me. Request ppl not to fall for such rumours. I hv fought this election on the agenda of development & I hv people’s blessing with me.@prakashraaj is an independent candidate & I wish him luck. (sic)”
Conclusion
A cropped version of 2019 video of Prakash Raj calling out the “dirty politics” of the Congress and urging people to not “waste their vote” on the party is being shared out of context.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
YouTube Video By Mana Stars, Dated April 17, 2019
Tweet By @prakashraaj, Dated April 17, 2019
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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.
