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
Massive turnout at PM Modi’s rally in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Also Read: Viral Video Of Shoe Being Hurled At Mansukh Mandaviya Is Old
Fact
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral footage led us to an X post by NDTV’s Akhilesh Sharma, dated April 3, 2019. Carrying a slightly shorter version of the viral clip, it stated “PM @narendramodi at Brigade Parade ground Kolkata rally today.”
We found that the video was also shared on the Prime Minister’s X account, @narendramodi_in, on April 3, 2019 stating, “Electrifying atmosphere at PM @narendramodi’s rally at Kolkata. #DeshKeLiyeModi”
The BJP’s X account had also posted the footage on April 3, 2019 to show glimpses of PM Modi’s rally in Kolkata.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed a rally in Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Reports on the same can be seen here, here and here.
Notably, Newschecker had first debunked the video on September 3, 2022 when multiple X users had shared it claiming to show visuals of a public rally by PM Modi in Mangaluru and Kutch. The same can be seen here.
We could hence conclude that an old video from the Prime Minister’s event in Kolkata has been shared to show massive turnout at PM Modi’s rally in Jalpaiguri.
Result: False
Sources
X Post By @narendramodi_in, Dated April 3, 2019
X Post By @BJP4India, Dated April 3, 2019
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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.
