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
Video shows RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav drunk while interacting with the media.
Fact
Playback speed of the video has been manipulated to show Yadav appear to be in an inebriated state.
Multiple social media users shared a video of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav being supported by another person, while commenting on the allocation of ministries to Bihar leaders under Modi 3.0, purportedly under the influence of liquor. Newschecker found that the playback speed of the video has been manipulated to show Yadav discernibly in an inebriated state while talking to the media.
In the 43-second-long video, Yadav can be heard saying, “I have just landed. And the way the departments were divided, though it’s the Prime Minister’s (decision) to allocate which ministry to whom, work should happen in all the departments. But, he (Narendra Modi) became the Prime Minister because of Bihar, and the ministries that have been given to the people of Bihar…they have been given ‘jhunjhuna’”
The footage has been shared widely on X with users claiming to show Tejashwi Yadav drunk during a press interaction.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Old Video Of Women Queuing Outside UP Bank Falsely Linked To Congress’ Poll Guarantee
The newly re-elected NDA government has eight ministers from Bihar including Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas President Chirag Paswan, HAM-S chief and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and JDU’s Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur among others. BJP leaders from the state, Satish Chandra Dubey, Nityanand Rai, and Giriraj Singh are also a part of the council of ministers under Modi 3.0
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the viral footage of the RJD leader, we noticed the watermark of Republic Bharat on the top right side of the screen.
Taking a clue, we searched for the keyword “Tejashwi Yadav” on the official YouTube channel of Republic Bharat. This yielded a video of Yadav, dated June 11, 2024, titled “What did Tejashwi Yadav say while taking a dig at the allocation of ministries? (Translated from Hindi)”
After comparing the keyframes of the viral clip with the YouTube video by Republic Bharat, we found them to be identical. Yadav can also be heard making the same remark in both the videos.
We, however, noticed that the duration of the viral video was 43 seconds, while the Republic Bharat footage was 30 seconds long.
Following this, we reduced the playback speed of Republic Bharat’s footage to 0.75 and found the intonation in Yadav’s speech similar to the one heard in the viral footage. This led us to conclude that the playback speech of the viral footage has been manipulated, and made slower to give an impression that Yadav was talking under the influence of alcohol.
A comparison between the playback speeds of both the videos can be seen below.
The viral footage was shared on X by news agency PTI on June 10, 2024. “It is the PM’s prerogative to allot ministries but work should happen in all the departments. However, he became the PM because of Bihar but the ministries given to Bihar’s leaders shows that they have been short-changed,” Tejashwi Yadav was quoted as saying.
A slightly longer version (39 seconds) of the video was also shared on YouTube by NDTV on Monday. On carefully analysing the video, we noticed that the clip showing Tejashwi Yadav’s remarks was 30-second-long, same as seen in the Republic Bharat’s footage.
News agency ANI also carried the 30-second-long footage of Yadav commenting on the ministry allocation to Bihar leaders in Modi 3.0.
We were not independently able to verify whether Yadav had consumed liquor ahead of the press interaction, however, the playback speed of the viral video has been manipulated to show the RJD leader discernibly in an inebriated state while talking to media.
Also Read: 2024 Lok Sabha Poll Results: NCP(AP) Candidate, Not BJP’s, Got 201 Votes In Lakshadweep
Conclusion
Hence, viral footage claiming to show RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav drunk while interacting with the press has been digitally manipulated.
Result: Altered Video
Sources
YouTube Video By Republic Bharat, Dated June 11, 2024
X Post By PTI, Dated June 10, 2024
YouTube Video By NDTV, Dated June 10, 2024
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates.
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.
