Fact Check: Babulal Marandi called out PM Modi for divisive politics? Here is the truth

Jharkhand recorded a 64.86% voter turnout in the first phase of polling for the 2024 Assembly elections. As the state gears up for the second and final phase on November 20, the contest between the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified. Both parties are ramping up their campaigns, focusing on key issues like employment, resource management, and regional identity to sway voters.

In this context, a video featuring BJP Jharkhand chief Babulal Marandi criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting divisive politics has been circulating on social media, with claims suggesting that the remarks were made during the ongoing assembly elections.

In the video, Marandi could be heard saying, “The promises made by Modi ji in 2014 remain largely unfulfilled. Instead, divisive politics have taken centre stage, tearing society apart. Issues like cows, temple-mosque debates, religious conversions, and love jihad are being used to create unnecessary tensions between Hindus and Muslims. People did not elect this government to foster such divisions. Sadly, cruel jokes are being played on the poor. Who would support such a government? Anyone doing so is failing in their duty toward society. If Modi ji continues as Prime Minister, the situation in India could worsen over the next five years, leading to increased communal riots and halting the nation's progress. Who would want to see India turn into another Pakistan?”

A user on X shared the video and wrote, “Dramatic revelation and an explosive truth: The BJP's Jharkhand president is speaking the truth. He says that if Modi ji remains Prime Minister for another five years, India will turn into Pakistan, with riots and chaos becoming a daily affair.

What does Modi ji think about this? Will this leader also be labelled a Khalistani or told to go to Pakistan? I admire his courage. In the last eleven years, no BJP leader has dared to openly present Modi Ji's reality to the nation in front of the camera. But what he said is correct, and the process has already been started by Modi ji.” (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim misleading as the video is from 2018 when Marandi was not in BJP.

A reverse image search of the video’s keyframe led to its extended version uploaded by Facebook user Ashok Gope on December 14, 2018. The post included a caption quoting Babulal Marandi, saying, “Those who vote for the BJP are the worst kind of people in society.”

We also found the video posted by the Jharkahand Facebook page of local media outlet Taaza TV on the same date, stating Jharkhand Vikas Morcha president and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi when asked about the Rafale deal, stated that it would not be appropriate to comment on the Supreme Court's directives. However, he did not shy away from taking a dig at the current central government.

Kamlesh Mishra, the Jharkhand head of Tazza TV, confirmed NewsMeter that the video dates back to December 2018. He said, “Babulal Marandi at that time was leading the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and often criticised Prime Minister Modi and his policies. Marandi’s remarks were part of his regular criticism of the central government during that period.”

We also came across a report by The News Khazana published on September 2, 2023, which highlighted Marandi's earlier criticism of the BJP. The report mentioned that Marandi had once claimed that anyone who voted for the BJP would be considered worthless and that the Modi government and the BJP were turning India into Pakistan. However, as per the report, after joining the BJP, Marandi has shifted his focus, making baseless allegations against Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his government.

According to an India Today report, Babulal Marandi rejoined his parent party BJP, 14 years after quitting it. On February 17, 2020, Marandi merged his Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) with the BJP in an event held in Ranchi, which was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.

Hence, we conclude that Marandi’s video is from 2018 and does not show the recent criticism of PM Modi. the claim is misleading.