Following the thirteenth revision in the fuel prices in 15 days, petrol and diesel prices have jumped to Rs 104.61 and Rs 95.87 per liter respectively in Delhi on April 5, 2022.
In this backdrop, a video has surfaced on social media platforms featuring BJP MP Smriti Irani purportedly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the hike in fuel prices.
A Facebook user shared the video with a caption in Hindi that roughly translates to, “Every day when she was in opposition, she used to protest against inflation on the road. Now inflation appears to be good, enjoying the taste of power, the shameful statement”
(Original: विपक्ष मैं रह कर हर दिन रोड पर महगाई पर धारना देती थी अब महगाई अच्छी लगने लगी है क्ये की अब सत्ता की मालाई खा रही, शर्मनाक बयान)
In the viral video, Irani can be heard saying that our PM Modi helped the poor by increasing fuel prices and at the same time, played a masterstroke against the rich. Because, the rich drive cars.
The same video is also doing rounds on Twitter with a similar claim.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the video and found it to be edited.
We carefully observed the video and noticed that Smriti Irani’s lip movement is different from what is being said in the video.
We also checked but did not find any credible media report quoting any such statement by Smriti Irani.
On checking further using Reverse Image Search, we found the same video tweeted by news agency ANI on February 24, 2021.
“The spiteful & vengeful politics of Rahul Gandhi which insults not only the people & voters of Amethi but seeks to create a divide between the north & south India is to be condemned by every Indian citizen, says Union Minister Smriti Irani, reads the caption with the tweet.
Notedly, the video shows Irani speaking in English, hence, making it clear that in the viral video, audio has been superimposed.
In the original video, Smriti Irani reacted to Rahul Gandhi’s comments at the ‘Aishwarya Yatra’ in the southern state that he was used to a “different type of politics” in north India in February 2021. The Hindustan Times also published a report on this.
Therefore, with the above information, it can be concluded that the viral claim is false.
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