The Karnataka leg of Congress’ ‘Bharat Jodo’ Yatra started on September 30, 2022, when Rahul Gandhi met farmers in Gundlupet. The journey that began on September 7, 2022, from Kanyakumari has already covered over 600 km and party supporters have reached Mysuru in Karnataka after covering the state of Kerala.
In this backdrop, an image of Rahul Gandhi in religious attire and tilak all over his forehead started doing rounds on social media. He is accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the background. Many users are sharing this image mocking Gandhi over his sudden change of attire as soon as he entered a BJP-ruled state. People are claiming that he did so in order to please the Hindu community.
A Facebook user posted the viral picture with the caption:
വേഷങ്ങൾ ജന്മങ്ങൾവേഷം മാറാൻ നിമിഷങ്ങൾ ഇന്നലെവരെയുള്ളത് മറന്നേക്കുക…. ഇത് കർണാടക വേഷം… ഇങനെയെങ്കിൽ ഇനിയും വേഷങ്ങൾ എത്ര മാറാൻ കിടക്കുന്നു അങ് കാശ്മീർ വരെ ഈ യാത്ര എത്തുകയാണെങ്കിൽ……!!!! മോഡി കെട്ടിയാടിയ വേഷങളേ തോൽപ്പിക്കാനായി ഒരു യാത്രയാണോ കോൺഗ്രസ്സ് ഉദ്ദേശ്ശിക്കുന്നത്…!! അങനെയെങ്കിൽ ഉറപ്പ്, ഈ യാത്ര കൊണ്ടും കോൺഗ്രസ്സ് രക്ഷപെടില്ല….. ഇന്നലെവരെ കേരളത്തിൽ നടത്തിയ യാത്രയിൽ കണ്ട രാഹുലിന്റെ രൂപം അല്ല അതിർത്തി കടന്നപ്പോൾ കാണുന്നതെന്നതത് ആശ്ചര്യകരമായ കാര്യമാണ്. വളരെ കഷ്ടമാൺ ട്ടോ….
(English Translation: The roles and the births Just a few minutes to change costume. Forget about the yesterday…. This is Karnataka attire… If this is the case, how many more roles are left to change, if this journey reaches Kashmir……!!!! Is Congress planning a journey to defeat the roles Modi has played…!! If so, it is sure, Congress will not escape from this journey also….. It’s surprising that Rahul’s face is not seen when he crosses the border, which is not seen in his trip to Kerala till yesterday. Very sad man…. )
You can check the picture here.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the viral picture and found the claims to be misleading.
We started our investigation by running a Reverse Image Search of the viral image and found a March 4, 2022, tweet on the official handle of the Indian Overseas Congress UK. According to the tweet, the photo was shot in Varanasi when Rahul and Priyanka visited the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in 2022 during the Uttar Pradesh elections.
Varanasi: Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visit Kashi Vishwanath temple
#UPElections2022 pic.twitter.com/QED2TVoJpj
— Indian Overseas Congress UK (@TeamIOCUK) March 4, 2022
Searching further we came across an Indian Express news article containing live updates from March 4, 2022. The Congress and the BJP were campaigning in Varanasi for the seventh and last phase of UP elections. Here too we can read the description of the image stating that Gandhis offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.
Finally, we came across a YouTube video titled: UP Election 2022: चुनाव के बीच बाबा विश्वनाथ के दर्शन करने पहुंचे Rahul Gandhi और Priyanka Gandhi published on the official YouTube channel of Republic Bharat on March 4, 2022.
The description of the video states that Gandhi came to offer prayers at the temple straight after landing in Varanasi. They conducted a party meeting after that, proving that the picture is indeed from their visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in March 2022 and not during their Karnataka visit in the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo’ Yatra.
Therefore, based on our investigation we can conclusively say that the viral image, claiming Rahul Gandhi changed into a religious attire as soon as he entered Karnataka to appease the Hindu community in the state, is misleading.
If you want to fact-check any story, WhatsApp it now on +91 11 7127 9799
Error: Contact form not found.
Click here for Latest News updates and viral videos on our AI-powered smart news