Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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
Protest in Maldives against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid the row that has erupted between India and the Maldives after PM Modi visited Lakshadweep to promote tourism, which was followed by Maldives ministers’ derogatory remarks against the Indian PM and India.
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Fact
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes of the video, which led us to this Scroll report, dated July 1, 2023, featuring the viral video. The report stated that a group of protestors staged an anti-India demonstration in Maldives with some wearing masks depicting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while others held banners that read, “India Out”.
“The immediate trigger of the protests on Thursday is not clear, but Opposition parties in Maldives have been using the “India Out” campaign since 2020 to target the government. In April last year, such protests had been banned after they gained traction under the leadership of former President Abdulla Yameen. At that time, the protestors had alleged that the government had become “a puppet of New Delhi” and was allowing India to have a military presence in the island country,” read the report.
A comparison of screenshots of the protest (right) with the video in the viral claim (left) confirms it is the same demonstration.
“The Maldivian government hit the damage control button after the “India Out” campaign by the country’s opposition on the occasion of Eid-Al-Adha. The Maldivian government has called the campaign against India a “dishonourable act and attempt to provoke hatred.” They also slammed the use of Narendra Modi masks during the protests. Bashing the opposition, the Maldivian government said it firmly stands by its “India First” policy,” read a Hindustan Times report on the protests, dated July 1, 2023. Similar reports can be seen here and here, confirming the viral video is of an old protest.
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Result: Missing Context
Sources
Scroll report, July 1, 2023
Hindustan Times report, July 1, 2023
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
