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
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr Mohan Yadav warns Muslims.
Fact
The video does not depict the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh; it features BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma from Bhopal.
A video has gone viral on social media claiming that newly appointed Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has warned Muslims. The video features a man addressing the media, stating, ‘Muslims can continue their religious practices, but any anti-national behavior will be dealt with firmly.’
In the viral video, the man is heard saying that “we are not stopping people from offering namaz, taking out muharram processions or fasting, but if someone raises anti-national slogans, he will not be spared.” The man added that sympathisers of Pakistan and the Taliban should go to Pakistan. The post is going viral on X and Facebook.
The claim is viral on WhatsApp circles as well.
Fact Check/Verification
Newschecker started by conducting a Google Reverse Image search using screengrabs of the video obtained from the InVid tool. This search led us to similar videos on YouTube which were shot from a different angle. One such video was shared on 23rd August 2021 from a channel called NYOOOZ UP- Uttarakhand. The title of the video was – “BJP नेता Rameshwar Sharma बोले- अगर मां का दूध पिया है, तो कुछ दिन Taliban में गुजारो…” (Rough Translation – BJP leader Rameshwar Sharma said – if you have drunk mother’s milk, then spend a few days with the Taliban …)
In the video, the man can be heard making the same statement as heard in the viral video. Additionally, several other YouTube channels also shared the video in August 2021, attributing it to Rameshwar Sharma, BJP MLA.
Rameshwar Sharma is a BJP leader from Huzur constituency in Bhopal. We checked Rameshwar Sharma’s official X account and further found that he was indeed the man in the viral video.
Further research revealed that the statement was in context of the alleged anti-national slogans that were raised in Ujjain in 2021, following which Rameshwar Sharma addressed the media with the viral statement. This was covered by several news reports.
Here’s a comparison of the images of Dr Mohan Yadav, who has been elected as the new chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, from his official X account.
Significantly, the same video had earlier gone viral when it was falsely claimed that the man in the video was the Ujjain Collector issuing threats to individuals who raised ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans. Newschecker Hindi fact checked this claim in May earlier this year. The article can be read here.
Conclusion
Our investigation has confirmed that the viral video is not of the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh but of BJP MLA from Bhopal Rameshwar Sharma and is two years old.
Result: False
Our Sources:
YouTube video by NYOOOZ UP- Uttarakhand on August 23, 2021
YouTube video by Mradubhashi on August 21, 2021
News published by Zee News on August 21, 2021
News published by India Today on December 12, 2023
Self Analysis
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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.
