Fact Check: Viral video of woman criticising Rahul Gandhi is not CPI (M) leader Subhashini Ali
The claim is false as the video does not feature Subhashini Ali.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 3 May 2024 1:49 PM GMT
Screengrab of the viral video. (Courtesy: X/@jiten1302)
Hyderabad: A video of an old woman speaking critically of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and highly of prime minister Narendra Modi is viral on social media. The claim accompanying the posts suggests that the video featured the Communist Party of India (M) leader Subhashini Ali.
According to the woman in the video, Rahul Gandhi does not understand politics and India. “He cannot take the country forward,” she said. She adds that the world is going through a crisis and PM Modi is competent to run the country given the situation. She said that she believes that Modi is a messenger of peace.
“Please listen to Subhashini Ali Ji on Polling preference (assume she said so). She has this advice for the public!! All are requested to vote and please vote wisely in the interest of Bharat,” wrote an X user who shared the video. (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found the claim is false. Subhashini Ali confirmed to us that the woman seen in the video is not her.
We noticed that the woman was speaking into the mic with the logo of the news outlet 99 Khabar. Taking this cue, we looked for the video on YouTube and found an over 13-minute video published by the channel on January 29, 2024. The viral clip appears at a 6:55-minute timestamp.
The channel does not mention that it features CPI (M) leader Subhashini Ali. However, it stated in the caption that the video depicted the public opinion on PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
NewsMeter reached out to Ali, who refuted the claim of being featured in the video. She said, “Neither the face nor the voice is mine. The opinion expressed does not reflect my views.” Further attacking the ruling dispensation for attributing the video to her she said that this is the work of ‘bankrupt and dishonest people.’
Subhashini Ali (archive) also took to X to clarify that the video had been falsely attributed to her. She also mentioned reporting the video to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the police.
Here is the comparison of the woman in the viral video with Subhashini Ali, confirming that she does not feature in the viral video.
Hence, we conclude that the video does not feature CPI (M) leader Subhashini Ali. The claim is false.
