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.
With ongoing month of Ramzan nearing its end, and UP government’s recent crackdown on illegal loudspeakers, social media has seen a spurt of anti-Muslim claims recently. From old video of anti-CAA protests being shared to show a railway station being ‘targeted by Muslims’ over sirens disturbing Namaz, to another video from 2020 resurfacing in context of recent clampdown on ‘illegal’ loudspeaker by the UP government, fact checkers have been kept on their toes. And adding to he climate of misinformation were misleading reports by national and regional media on ‘Section 144’ being imposed in Aurangabad in wake of Raj Thackeray’s visit to the city. All that and more, here are some of the viral claims that were fact checked by Newschecker this past week:
Viral Video Of Railway Station Being Vandalised Over ‘Train Siren Disturbing Namaz’ Is False
A video spanning almost 2 minutes where an angry mob is seen running rampage at the Naopara Mahishasur railway station, vandalising the premises with sticks is going viral on social media. Users who shared the claim said that the railway station was being ‘targeted by Muslims’ as the sound of trains disturbed the Namaz. We found that an old video from the anti-CAA protests from December, 2019 is being shared as recent violence in a railway station in West Bengal over the train ‘siren disturbing Namaz’. Read more here.
Video Claiming Azan Recited On The Road Despite UP’s Decision On Loudspeakers Is Old & Unrelated
Several social media users on Facebook and Twitter are sharing a video that shows a group of men shouting out the Azaan on the road. The posts accompanying the video claim that these men were protesting the recent clamp down on loudspeakers by the UP government. But Newschecker has found that the video is from 2020, and unrelated to the recent directive by the UP government to remove illegal loudspeakers. Read more here.
No, Section 144 Not Imposed In Aurangabad Ahead Of Raj Thackeray’s Visit, National Media Outlets Publish Misleading Reports
Ahead of MNS President Raj Thackeray’s scheduled visit to Aurangabad on May 1, several media outlets, both national and Marathi, reported that section 144 has been imposed in the city. Our investigation reveals that Section 144 has not been implemented in Aurangabad. An order has been issued in Aurangabad under sections 37 (1) and (3) of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951. Read more here.
Oil Bonds Responsible For Sky Rocketing Fuel Prices? No, Viral Claim Is Misleading
The price of petrol in the national capital went up from ₹89.71 in January 1 2021 to ₹105.41 on April 25, 2022, while the retail prices of diesel went up from ₹73.87 on January 1, 2021 to ₹96.67 on April 25, 2022. The central government has blamed several factors for the rise in fuel prices- VAT applied by state governments and Oil bonds by the previous government among a few. We found that the claim that the oil bonds by the previous UPA government has prevented the government from bringing down the tax on petrol and diesel is misleading. Read more here.
Jawaharlal Nehru Publically Slapped By Swami Vidyanand Videh In 1962? Viral Claim Is False
A screenshot of a social media post along with a photograph of JawaharLal Nehru being restrained is being shared online claiming that the image from 1962 showed the first PM of India Jawahar Lal Nehru being held back by onlookers after he was slapped by Swami Vidyanand Videh for saying that “Aryans were refugees in India”. We found that a picture of Jawahar Lal Nehru being restrained at a Congress party meeting in Patna 1962 is being passed off as Nehru being restrained after being slapped by Swami Vidyanand Videh after Nehru said Aryans were refugees in India. Read more here.
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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.
