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
Members of Kuki and Meitei communities singing an old Hindi song together.
Fact
Video features Shekinah Mukhiya and her father. A post on Mukhiya’s Facebook account clarified that they are “not from Manipur and have no association with the Kuki or Meitei communities.”
A video allegedly showing members of Meitei and Kuki communities, who have been involved in violent conflict in Manipur, singing an old Hindi film song together is going viral on social media platforms. Multiple social media users shared the footage to show “the beauty of diversity & love” amid the ongoing ethical crisis in the north-eastern state. Newschecker found that the viral video does not show a Kuki-Meitei duet. It, in fact, features a father-daughter duo from Uttarakhand, who have clarified that they have no links to Manipur.
Senior lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan was among others who shared the clip, claiming, “ We are Humans first. Rest is notional. One of them is a Kuki and the other is Meitei from sizzling Manipur. The beauty of diversity & Love”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Video From France Shared As Church Set Ablaze In Manipur Amid Ongoing Conflict
Fact Check/Verification
We skimmed through the comment sections of various posts carrying the viral footage, and spotted multiple users pointing out that the duo seen in the clip are in fact father and daughter and identified the girl as one “Shekinah Mukhiya.”
Taking a clue, we looked up keywords “Shekinah Mukhiya,” “father,” and “singing” on Google, which led us to the YouTube channel of Shekinah Mukhiya. We skimmed through the channel, and found that the viral video was shared on May 25, 2023. The description of the same read, “…Me and papa decided to cover this beautiful song Hum apki ankhon main…”
We found multiple “Father Daughter duet” videos on the YouTube channel, featuring the duo seen in the viral footage. Such videos can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Viral Photo Not A Protest By Meitei Community, But Anti-Narco Terrorism Demonstration
Further, we found a post on the official Facebook page of Mukhiya, dated August 7, 2023, clarifying that the viral video has been shared with a false narrative. The post clarified, “…we can confirm that the individuals in the video are Shekinah Mukhiya and her father, Vikash Mukhiya. It is important to note that we are not from Manipur and have no association with the Kuki or Meitei communities.”
According to the Facebook account, the duo is based out of Dehradun.
Mukhiya also called out the false claim on her Instagram story. A screengrab of the same can be seen below.
Mukhiya has also participated in multiple reality TV shows, such as this, this and this.
Conclusion
Viral post claiming to show a Kuki-Meitei duet is false. The video actually features a father-daughter duo from Uttarakhand.
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Channel Of Shekinah Mukhiya
Facebook Post By @shekinahmukhiya, Dated August 7, 2023
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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.
