Authors
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
Pro-Modi slogans raised at Ashok Gehlot’s poll rally.
Fact
Viral video is edited.
A video of a campaign rally of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is viral on social media, in which pro Modi slogans can be heard being raised in front of him. The video has been shared from many verified social media accounts.
However, in our investigation we found that the viral video was edited.
The 14 seconds viral video shows Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addressing a poll rally. Both Ashok Gehlot and an individual beside him can be seen trying to quieten the crowd as they can be heard raising pro-Modi slogans. The post can be seen here.
Apart from this, this video has also been shared by many other verified X accounts. Those can be seen here, and here.
Fact Check/Verification
We used the InVid Tool to extract key frames of the viral video and conducted a Google reverse image search on a few of them, which took to several pages carrying the same video.
One such page was the official Facebook account of Ashok Gehlot on November 22, 2023, and the caption revealed that it was from a poll campaign in Malpura Assembly in Tonk district.
At about 4 minutes into the Facebook video, we see the same sequence that is now viral. However, we do not hear the slogans in support of PM Modi in the live video, as can be heard in the viral video. Instead, Gehlot can be seen attempting to quell the crowd, who were creating ruckus.
Congress candidate Ghasi Lal Chaudhary, who was present next to him on the stage, can also be seen requesting people to be silent with folded arms.
We also found another live video from the official Facebook account of Rajasthan Congress on November 22, 2023, in which the same sequence can be seen playing out at about 2 minutes 20 seconds into the video. There are no pro-Modi chants here either.
During our investigation, we also found another post shared on 23 November 2023 from the Facebook account of Congress candidate from Malpura, Ghasi Lal Chaudhary, who has clarified that the viral post is false.
Further, Newschecker Hindi desk contacted Tonk district Congress President Hari Prasad Bairwa, who was present at the rally.
“The viral video is fake. There were no Modi-Modi slogans raised, rather the people present near the stage were raising slogans of ‘Ashok Gehlot Zindabad’, which was disrupting the Chief Minister’s speech. So he asked the people present there to remain silent,” he said.
Newschecker Hindi team further contacted local journalist Lekhraj Soni of Malpura, who was present in the rally. Soni confirmed that “No such slogans were raised during the rally as is present in the audio of the viral video, rather some people were raising slogans of ‘Ashok Gehlot Zindabad’ during the CM’s speech.
Conclusion
It is found that the viral video is edited and pro-Modi slogans were added to it separately. However, we cannot confirm if pro-Modi slogans were raised during the rally of Ashok Gehlot in Malpura, but only that the viral video is edited.
Result: Altered Video
Our Sources:
1. Ashok Gehlot FB Account: Video streamed on 22nd Nov 2023
2. Ghasi Lal Chowdhary FB Account: Post on 23rd Nov 2023
3. Telephonic Conversation with Tonk Congress Head Hari Prasad BairwaTelephonic
4. Conversation with Local Reporter Lekhraj Soni
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Authors
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.
