Photo credit- Business Today
As the 2019 general election ends today, Fact Crescendo has compiled a list of the most prominent instances of misinformation this election season. The pedlars of misinformation, who resorted to social media to sway the electorate ahead of voting, used every trick possibly available in the digital era misleading the readers.
This article comprises of fake newspaper clips and TV news bulletin screenshots–
1) False newspaper clipping claims that PM Modi’s family blames him for his father’s death
Claim– A clipping of a newspaper is circulating on social media this election season. It talks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged incidents from his childhood. “मोदी के भाई बहन नरेंद्र मोदी को ही अपने पिताजी के मौत का जिम्मेदार मानते है (Modi’s brothers and sister blame Narendra Modi for their father’s death),” the clipping is headlined.
It says that PM Modi’s father, Damodardas Mulchand Modi, used to make ends meet by pickpocketing and stealing coal and iron from the railway station where he worked as a tea seller. He traded the stolen items for gold, which, in turn, it was stolen by Narendra Modi when he was a young boy. His father, unable to cope with his son’s actions, suffered a cardiac arrest and died. The family could not get back the stolen gold despite lodging an FIR The story ends by claiming that former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee suppressed the case and the FIR against Narendra Modi in 1996.
Fact Check– We found that no newspaper has ever printed such news. The language used in the paper gives the essence that the claim is fake. Moreover, we found that this news clip’s write up is copied from a 2 years old Facebook post. This a digitally created image.
2) Fake News bulletin claims that Smriti Irani said “If PM Modi loses then I will commit suicide”.
Claim– A screengrab of ABP News, attributing a quote to Union Minister Smriti Irani is circulating widely on social media. It claims that Smriti Irani said, “If PM Modi loses then I will commit suicide.” The viral post attempted to add credibility to the claim by providing a corresponding screenshot of a news report allegedly telecasted by the said channel.
Fact Check– We found that the screengrab is fake. The alleged channel has not broadcasted any such bulletin. The remotest reference to such a statement made by Irani states, “The day ‘pradhan sevak’ Narendra Modi ji decides to retire, I will also leave Indian politics”.
3) Fake News Bulletin claims that Yogi Adityanath said, “I will burn down the country if BJP does not come to power.”
Claim– A screengrab of Mantavya News, attributing a quote to Uttar Pradesh CM, Yogi Adityanath is circulating widely on social media. It claims that Yogi said, “I will burn down the country if BJP does not come to power.” The viral post attempted to add credibility to the claim by providing a corresponding screenshot of a news report allegedly telecasted by the said channel.
Fact Check– We found that the alleged screengrab of Mantavya News is a morphed image, which attributes an outrageous statement to the UP CM.
4) Morphed image of a newspaper with fake quoting Mamata Banerjee.
Claim– A newspaper cut out allegedly from a popular Bengali daily বর্তমান (Bartaman) was shared on social media with its headline reading, “Mamata say- Give me 42 seats and I will show you how to make the Hindus cry.”
Fact Check– We observed that the font, size and colour of the words “হিন্দু (Hindu)” and “কাঁদা তে (cry)” do not match the words in the rest of the sentence. They are not in proper alignment, are larger than the other words and are in a deeper shade of black. Moreover, replacing some words from the original image. In the original image Mamata Banerjee said- Give me 42 seats I will show you how to shake up Delhi.”
5) Fake News Bulletin claims that Shashi Tharoor said, “I will throw shoes at a Shivling if that is what it takes to remove PM Modi from his seat.”
Claim- A news clip circulating on social media with a claim that Shashi Tharoor said that he will throw shoes at a Shivling if that is what it takes to remove PM Modi from his seat.
Fact Check– We found that it is a morphed news clip. Originally, the news clip does not have the narrative written along with this news.
6) Morphed Newspaper clip claims Amit Shah said, “Ram Mandir shall never get established.” and Narendra Modi said “To win the trust of Hindu it was necessary to kill the Muslim farmers.”
Claim– A newspaper clip was circulating on social media with two claims attributing a quote to BJP President Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi. It mentioned that Amit shah said, “Ram Mandir shall never get established.” Below this statement another quote has been mentioned which says Narendra Modi said, “Tow in the trust of Hindu it was necessary to kill the Muslim farmers.”
Fact Check– We found that it is a morphed newspaper clip. Originally the statement “Ram Mandir shall never get established” was said by Akhilesh Yadav. Mulayam Singh Yadav originally said the quote attributed to Narendra Modi. He said, “To gain the truth on Muslims, it was necessary to shot the Hindus.”
7) Morphed Newspaper clip claims Modi government has stealthily sent 200 ton gold to foreign country.
Claim- A newspaper clip was circulating on social media with a claim attributing a quote by BJP President Amit Shah. It mentioned that Amit shah said, “Theft and profiteering is the habit of the tradesmen in this country”.
Fact Check– We found that it is a morphed newspaper clip. Originally, Amit Shah never said any such statement in any rallies as claimed.
7) Morphed Newspaper clip claims Amit Shah said, “Theft and profiteering is the habit of the tradesmen (Baniya) in this country”
Claim- A newspaper clip was circulating on social media with a claim attributing Modi government. It mentioned that RBI’s 200 tonnes of gold sent stealthily to a foreign country by the Modi Government.
Fact Check- We found that it is a morphed newspaper clip. Originally, the saved 200 tonnes gold is in the foreign bank since 2009.
9) Amit Shah making a statement of returning the black money in 100 days.
Claim- A news clip was circulating on social media with a claim attributing a quote by Amit Shah. It mentions about Amit Shah claiming that if their government come in power, they will get back all the black money in 100 days.
Fact Check– We found that it is a morphed news clip. Originally, Amit Shah did not say any such statement. The post used the image from a released manifesto of BJP which said that BJP promises to build Ram Mandir.
10) Attempt to attack the Daund (Pune) MLA Rahul Kul
Claim- A news clip was circulating on social media with a claim that there was an attempt to attack the Daund MLA Rahul Kul.
Fact Check– We found that it is a 7 months old news clip. Originally, this is an old story is spreading the wrong context on the backdrop of Lok Sabha elections and out of context is now being spread as a false correlation.
