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.
Claim
Rahul Gandhi insulted Bharat Mata during his speech.
Fact
No, the viral video is clipped and shared out of context.
A video of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is going viral on social media, in which he is seen asking people the meaning of Bharat Mata during what appears to be public rally. The video is being shared on social media with the claim that “Rahul Gandhi’s hate towards PM Modi has turned into hate towards Bharat!”.
In the 18 seconds video, Rahul Gandhi can be heard saying, “everyone raises this slogan. We get to hear a lot about ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. But who is this Bharat Mata, what is this?
Andhra Pradesh BJP leader Ramesh Naidu was among those who shared the viral video from his X account can be seen here.
The video was also shared on the official X handle of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
This post has also been shared by other X users. Few of those can be seen here, here and here.
This post has also been posted by other users on Facebook with the same claim. Those can be seen here, and here.
Fact Check/Verification
Newschecker first scanned the comment section of the tweet by BJP’s official X handle and found another tweet by Supriya Shrinate, Chairperson of the Congress’ Social Media and Digital Platforms cell, on November 20.
Shrinate quote tweeted the the viral clip posted by the BJP and shared a 3-minute 40-second video where Rahul Gandhi can be heard saying “Chandna ji has just raised the slogan, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. So the question is that if everyone shouts this slogan, we get to hear a lot of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. But who is this Bharat Mata, what is this? The question is… If we all win, everyone does it, I do, you people do it, then who is this Bharat Mata?
Rahul can be further heard saying, “Look, Bharat Mata is this earth. This Bharat Mata is the people of this country. Your brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, poor people, rich people, elderly people, all the people in whom the voice of Bharat Mata echoes. This is Bharat Mata (Mother India). So I gave a speech in Parliament and said, ‘Look, I want to know who is this Bharat Mata, that means who are these people? How much population does she have? How many tribals, how many dalits, how many backward people, how many poor and rich people. If we chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and we are ready to give our lives for this, then we have to find out who is Bharat Mata? If we do not know how many backwards, how many dalits, how many poor people in this country, then what is the meaning of Bharat Mata Ki Jai? Therefore, this country will now have to do revolutionary work. This country will have to conduct an ethnic census.”
During our investigation, we also found a video made live on November 19, 2023 from Rahul Gandhi’s official YouTube account.
The 35 minute video carries the full speech given by Rahul Gandhi in the public meeting held in Bundi, Rajasthan where Rahul Gandhi can be heard making the viral statement at 01.21 minutes.
In addressing the meaning of Bharat Mata and the caste census, Rahul Gandhi can be heard saying, “I can guess that there are at least 50 percent backward people in the country. You can call them backward, OBC, labourers or farmers. Dalits constitute 15 per cent, tribals 12-14 per cent of the population in the country. That means, the largest part of Bharat Mata is Dalit, tribal and backward.”
We also found a report published on Amar Ujala on November 19, 2023. The report stated that during a public meeting in Bundi, Rahul Gandhi linked the caste census to Bharat Mata and criticized Prime Minister Modi.
Conclusion
We found in our investigation that Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a public meeting in Bundi, Rajasthan, had described the tribals, backward and Dalits of the country as Bharat Mata. Hence, his speech was clipped and the viral portion shared without context.
Click below to read this report in Hindi –
राहुल गांधी द्वारा भारत माता का अपमान किए जाने के दावे से क्लिप्ड वीडियो वायरल
Result: Missing Context
Our Sources
1. Video post by Supriya Shrinate’s X profile, dated 19th Nov 2023.
2. Live Video by Rahul Gandhi Youtube account, dated 19th Nov 2023.
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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.
