Authors
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.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
Claim
Rahul Gandhi blamed Prime Minister Modi for unemployment among eagles
Newschecker also received the same claim on our WhatsApp tipline (+91 9999499044) to be fact checked.
Fact
We checked the viral video and noticed that Rahul Gandhi appeared to be speaking at a public event in Delhi. We then looked up the keywords “Rahul Gandhi” “unemployment” “Delhi” “speech” on YouTube and found a video matching the frame of the viral video. The video, uploaded on the YouTube page of the official page of the Congress party, on Februrary 2020, with the hashtag #दिल्ली_में_आ_रही_है_कांग्रेस, revealing that the speech was made ahead of the Delhi elections in 2020.
On further search using custom search on Google, around February 5, 2020 revealed many media reports that revealed that he was talking at an event in Kondli, in New Delhi.
We then found the full video of Rahul Gandhi’ speech on YouTube.
At two minutes and 30 seconds into the video, Rahul can be heard blaming Narendra Modi for communalising the environment in India. “What is the reason for this? Many people will say that the reason in Narendra Modi, that the reason is BJP, that the reason is RSS,” he can be heard saying.
Later, three minutes into the video, Rahul Gandhi can be heard saying that the youth of India are lost and in fear because of unemployment. At about 3:49s, Rahul Gandhi be heard saying “they are not getting employment since the last 5 years.”
On further listening to the video, at 10 minutes and 7 seconds into the video, we hear “Congress party Zindabad slogans” following which Rahul Gandhi points to the sky and asks the audience as to why the eagles had gathered over the sky. He is then heard saying “This garbage … give me an estimate of the cost it would take to clear this garbage….5 crore? 10 crore? Look, a 10 year old is saying that 10 Crores will be required. So… even if we say it will take Rs10 Cr? A few days ago, Narendra Modi has waived off Rs. 1,30,000 crore in tax for the richest people in India. You live in dirt 24/7, and those people live in palaces and aeroplanes in peace.”
The three sequences have been edited together to make it appear as though Rahul Gandhi was blaming Narendra Modi for unemployment among eagles.
Result: Altered Media
Sources
Video posted on YouTube page of Indian National Congress, on February 5, 2020
Video posted on YouTube page of Rahul Gandhi, on February 5, 2020
Report published on the Times Of India, dated February 6, 2020
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Authors
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.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
