Authors
An image of men standing on and disrespecting the Indian tricolour flag is being attributed to the ongoing farmers’ protest on social media platforms. The image also shows a man wearing a turban holding his shoes over the flag laid on a street.
The caption with the claims reads, “क्या इन्हीं किसानों पर भारत गर्व करता है। ऐसा लगता है जैसे की विदेशी आतंकवादी, किसानों के भेष में देश में घुस आए हैं।अपने ही देश के झंडे का ऐसा अपमान।थू है इन दोगलों पर।।I Love you हिंदुस्तान बिहार”
Translated from Hindi to English it reads, “Is India proud of these farmers? It seems as if foreign terrorists have entered the country in disguise as farmers. Such insult to the flag of our own country. Who is on these meddles. I Love you Hindustan Bihar”
Similar claims shared by other users can be viewed here.
We also received this image on our Whatsapp helpline number (9999499044) asking us to verify it.
Fact Check/ Verification
Through a Google reverse image search of the photograph in context, we found that it was shared by multiple Twitter users in 2019.
In one of the tweets published in August 2019, we noticed the same logo of Dal Khalsa UK on the image. In the current claims, “UK” has either been cut from the frame or some images don’t include the logo entirely. The image also shows a date stamp of 15/08/2013.
Taking these details as cue, we did a relevant keyword search and found the viral image on the Dal Khalsa UK blog post published on 17 August, 2013. As per the post, Sikhs, Kashmiris and other minority groups rallied against the Indian government on 15 August, 2013 in Central London.
The first paragraph of the blogpost reads, “Sikhs, Kashmiris & other minority groups gathered on the 15th of August 2013 in Central London to protest against Indian Oppression & Occupation. Since 1947 the Sikh Nation has been under Indian Occupation with numerous attempts to destroy the Sikh Homeland in Panjab & the Sikh Nation climaxing in a Genocide in 1984. Since then no stone has been left unturned to crush the Sikh Nation be it socially,economically,politically,religiously & even environmentally.”
The blogpost includes the viral image along with other photographs from the 2013 protest in London.
We also came across other images of Sardar Manmohan Singh Khalsa, the man shown holding his shoes over the Indian flag. He was one of the founders of Dal Khalsa UK group who passed away on 20 November 2017.
This claim comes amid farmers’ protesting against the three agricultural laws introduced by the Central government. Indian social media has witnessed an array of misleading and fake news circulating on its platforms related to this.
The claim in context has been done in our Punjabi fact-check and Hindi fact-check as well.
Conclusion
Image of men standing on the Indian flag is from 2013 during a protest in Central London. Contrary to the claim, it has nothing to do with the ongoing farmers’ protest.
Result: Misplaced Context
Our Sources
Dal Khalsa UK: https://dalkhalsa.blogspot.com/2013/08/indian-independence-day-protest-indian.html
The Tribune India: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/dal-khalsa-founder-passes-away-in-uk-500979
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