Did crowd shout ‘Modi, Modi’ at Ashok Gehlot’s rally in Tonk? No, doctored clip shared by Assam CM Himanta Sarma

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has shared a clip wherein Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot is seentrying to silence attendees at a rally who are heard shouting ‘Modi-Modi’. Standing next to Gehlot is Ghasi Lal Choudhary, the Congress candidate for Malpura asembly seat in Tonk district. Gehlot can be heard asking, “Who have you come to support?”. Sarma captioned the clip, “मोदी जी का गारंटी – आएगा तो मोदी ही” (Translation: Modi ji’s guarantee — only Modi will come to power). (Archive)

मोदी जी का गारंटी – आएगा तो मोदी ही https://t.co/HiXdZ3W5g9

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 23, 2023

Rajasthan goes to the polls on Saturday, November 25.

News 18 Bihar also reported on the alleged incident. They used the viral video in their reportage and tweeted it under the caption “CM गहलोत के सामने लगे PM मोदी के नारे” (Translation: PM Modi’s slogans raised in front of CM Gehlot). In the video, the news anchor can be heard reiterating the claim. (Archive)

CM गहलोत के सामने लगे PM मोदी के नारे। pic.twitter.com/EhUslsNBPR

— News18 Bihar (@News18Bihar) November 23, 2023

Right Wing influencer Rishi Bagree shared the viral video and claimed that the “public in Rajasthan greeted CM Gehlot with Modi-Modi chants”. (Archive)

Public in Rajasthan greeted CM Gehlot with Modi-Modi chants 😀 pic.twitter.com/03DCLYFrvk

— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) November 23, 2023

Several X users, including verified ones, amplified the claim. (Archives- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

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Fact Check

We found that the clip was from a rally held on Wednesday, November 22, in Malpura. The rally was organised to show support and solidarity for Ghasi Lal Chaudhary. The event was live-streamed from Gehlot’s official handle on Twitter and his official page on Facebook.

The viral clip has been taken from the live-stream of Gehlot’s speech. Noticeably, the Congress logo has been edited out of the viral clip. We located the viral section of his speech at the 4:00-minute mark of the Facebook live. No Modi-Modi chants can be heard in the live video. Gehlot’s speech was disrupted by a commotion in the audience which is when he is seen silencing them. Chaudhary, who is standing next to him, is also seen gesturing for the disruptors to settle down. However, nobody is heard shouting PM Modi’s slogans. It is evident that the Modi-Modi chants have been edited into this section of the viral video. Below, we have attached the viral portion of the speech.

We have reached out to Ghasi Lal Chaudhary for a statement regarding the commotion that ensued. The article will be updated if and when he responds.

Hence, it is evident that Modi-Modi chants have been edited into a section of Rajasthan CM Gehlot’s speech where he is asking disruptors at his rally in Malpura, Tonk to settle down. Several users including Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma amplified the clip with misleading claims.

The readers should note that this is not the first time Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been found sharing misinformation.

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