Ahead of assembly polls in Haryana, a video has been shared on social media with the claim that it showed a foot march by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers in the state.
The users who shared the video recently also claimed that the RSS, considered as the ideological parent organisation of the BJP, was working on a war-footing in the poll-bound state.
However, a PTI Fact Check investigation revealed that the video is not recent and does not depict Haryana. The footage dates back to October 2022, showing an RSS march in Malappuram, Kerala, during the Vijayadashami festival.
The video was widely shared as a current event linked to the Haryana polls, misleading many.
One post on X (formerly Twitter) accompanying the video reads: “RSS in Haryana. Great to see they are in Hyper Active mode now. All internal issues between RSS & BJP were settled. They know MatraBhumi Bharat is beyond any Egos. Proud to be swayamsewak.” This post has received over 190,000 views and nearly 3,000 retweets.
To verify the video's origin, the PTI Fact Check team utilised InVid Tool Search and Google Lens to analyse key frames from the footage. These searches led to an Instagram post by the handle ‘Sangha Shakthi' dated October 7, 2022, showing the same video with a caption indicating that the march took place in Tanur, Malappuram, Kerala.
Additionally, a Facebook post from the same day by Vishwa Samvad Kendra–Kokan confirmed the location as Malappuram on the occasion of Vijayadashami.
Further geolocation efforts, using signboards visible in the video, pinpointed the exact location of the march in Malappuram, confirming the false context in which the video has been circulated.
This incident underscores the need for caution when interpreting social media posts, particularly in the charged atmosphere surrounding elections.
The full version of the story can be read here.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Delhi Continues To Breathe Toxic Air, AQI At 371, Trains Delayed
Mayawati Blames "Casteist" Mindset Of Jat Community For Loss In Haryana Election Results 2024 LIVE Updates: "Those With 5-Star Lives Instigating Poor Over Caste": PM Slams Rahul Gandhi "Can't Accept Verdict": Congress Raises Doubts Over Haryana Counting Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest TIME Magazine Shares Elon Musk's To-Do List, He Responds This Asian City Is Emerging As Sex Tourism Hub. It's Not Where You Think Coldplay In Ahmedabad: Hotel Inflates Price After Booking, Netizens Fume Check Marking Scheme Of CBSE Class 10 Mathematics Paper Delhi Continues To Breathe Toxic Air, AQI At 371, Trains Delayed Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.