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.
Yet another week has gone by and what a week it has been! With Ram Navami marking the end of the Hindu festival of Navratri on Sunday, 10th April, social media is flooded with videos claiming to show provocative rallies and sloganeering by Hindutva groups outside mosques in several parts of the country. While many of these incidents were true, many of them were also verified to be false. And with the ongoing economic crisis in neighbouring Sri Lanka, several social media users are falling prey to unverified claims comparing the economic situation in India with that of the island nation. All these and more, Newschecker brings you the top five fact checks that were published this week:
Video of Mob Chanting Jai Shri Ram Slogan Outside Mosque Has Nothing To Do With The Kolar Violence
Just days after a rally celebrating the Hindu New Year was attacked in Rajasthan’s Karauli, a similar incident has come to light in Karnataka, where miscreants threw stones at a ‘Shri Ram Shobha Yatra’ in Mulbagal area on Friday night. While several netizens took to social media platforms to express outrage over the Kolar violence, some alleged that the violence occurred after members of the yatra stopped in front of a mosque and played loud music and raised Jai Shri Ram slogans. One among them was journalist CJ Werleman who tweeted a video showing several people with saffron flags, playing loud music in front of a mosque, claiming that ‘Hindutva terrorists carried out stone pelting attacks against mosque in Mulbagal.’ Newschecker has found the video to be unrelated to the Mulbagal incident. Read the full fact check here.
Was Luthra Sharif Dargah In Chhattisgarh Targeted By Saffron Clad Men? No, Viral Claim Is Misleading
Ever since arson and violence broke out in Rajasthan’s Karauli over a religious procession to mark the Hindu New Year, social media has been abuzz with several claims around similar clashes during the 9-day navratri period in various parts of the country. One such video, which was widely shared on social media, stated that the Luthra Sharif dargah in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur was attacked by participants of one such procession. Newschecker has found the claim to be misleading. Read the full fact check here.
Did JNU Students Fake Injuries During Recent Clashes At The Campus? No, Viral Claim Is Misleading
The Jawaharlal Nehru University, one of India’s premier institutes, was in the news once again, this time due to clashes allegedly over serving non-vegetarian food in the hostel mess. Soon after, videos and images showing the aftermath of the conflict emerged on social media platforms. In this backdrop, a set of images are being widely shared on social media alleging that the JNU students faked injuries. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue. Read the full fact check here.
Is India’s Total Debt As A Percentage Of GDP In Line With That Of Sri Lanka? Viral Claim Is Misleading
In light of the recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka, a graphic comparing the debt to GDP ratio of Sri Lanka and India is going viral on social media along with the claim that India will soon face an economic crisis similar to the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka. Newschecker has verified this to be false. Read the full fact check here.
Viral Video Of ‘Suman Kalyanpur Singing At The Age Of 84’ Is False
A video of an elderly woman singing in a pristine voice is going viral on social media, claiming to show famous yesteryear playback singer Suman Kalyanpur at the age of 84. In the video an elderly woman along with an elderly gentleman can be seen singing a duet song which was originally performed by Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar for the film Patita, released in 1953. The video has been shared on Facebook by user Rakesh Sharma along with the caption ‘Suman Kalyanpur singing the song at the age of 84’. Newschecker has found this claim to be false. The full fact check can be read here.
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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.
