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.
Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are around the corner. The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party is being projected as the biggest challenge to incumbent CM Yogi Adityanath’s return to power. It is in this context that social media users are sharing an image, that claims to show a set of promises by Akhilesh Yadav, including construction of 2000 new mosques in UP, Rs 1,000 crore for Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, and abolition of ‘Love Jihad’ law, among others if the SP government comes to power in UP.
The viral image, which is being circulated in Hindi, reads’ 2000 new mosques will be built in western UP and Purvanchal, Rs 1000 crore will be given for Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Ayodhya will be renamed, 30% reservation will be given to Muslims by reducing the reservation of Dalits and backwards. Love Jihad law will be abolished. This is my promise to Muslims, says Akhilesh Yadav’.
The image carries an image of Akhilesh Yadav as well as the logo of Samajwadi Party. It is being widely shared on social media platforms ahead of the UP polls.
The 2022 Uttar Pradesh election for 403 assembly seats will be held in seven phases starting from February 10. The second phase of UP elections will be on February 14th, third phase on February 20th, fourth phase on February 23, 5th phase on February 27, 6th phase on March 3 and the last phase will be conducted on March 7. The results will be out on March 10.
The state is witnessing frantic political activity ahead of the polls, with some high-profile turncoats as well. Several former BJP leaders, including Swami Prasad Maurya and Dharam Singh Saini, have joined the ‘cycle brigade’. While Yadav’s family members including his sister-in-law Aparna Yadav and uncle Pramod Gupta recently joined the saffron party.
Religion and caste have always been dominant factors in Uttar Pradesh politics. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, dated January 12, 2022, CM Yogi Adityanath said that the state will witness a “80% versus 20%” election and that the BJP will retain power in the state. The opposition has alleged that Yogi’s comments seek to create a polarisation between the majority Hindu and minority Muslim population in the state.
Fact Check/Verification
To verify the veracity of the viral claim, we conducted a Google keyword search and looked for ‘2000 New Mosques In UP If SP Forms Government,’ and ‘Akhilesh Yadav Promises 2000 New Mosques In UP’. However, we did not come across any report suggesting that the Samajwadi Party-chief has made any such promise.
We also looked up the viral image on the official Twitter handle of the Samajwadi Party. However, there was no tweet mentioning any ‘promises’ to build 2000 new mosques in UP, Babri Masjid, 30 per cent reservation for Muslims by Akhilesh Yadav if the SP is voted to power in Uttar Pradesh.
Newschecker team also contacted Samajwadi Party’s spokesperson Vandana Singh who informed us that the viral claim was baseless, and no such announcement has been made by Akhilesh Yadav or the Samajwadi Party. Singh also accused the BJP IT cell for spreading such rumours.
Conclusion
The viral image claiming that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has promised to build 2,000 new mosques in Uttar Pradesh if voted to power is fabricated and fake. Samajwadi party has not made any such announcement.
Result: Fabricated News/False Content
Sources
Direct Contact
Self Analysis
(This article was originally published in Newschecker Hindi)
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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.
