Fact check: Farmer leader VM Singh is billionaire, but not member of Congress

Hyderabad: A screenshot of an ANI tweet carrying a statement by farmer leader Sardar VM Singh is viral on social media. Users claim that he is currently a part of the Indian National Congress (INC) and in 2009 he had assets worth Rs 6.32 billion.

"Meet so-called Kisan Sardar VM Singh He wants MSP as Law He is a Congress leader. He was a Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit. Contested Pilibhit on Congress ticket in 2004 (against Maneka Gandhi) and 2009 (opposite Varun Gandhi). Lost every time! In 2009 he had assets worth ₹6.32 billion (sic)," reads the message. (archive)

All his sins are washed by media. 'Farmer leader' VM Singh protesting against farm bills is actually a Congress leader accused in 8 cases, has assets worth Rs 631 crores according to his list of assets for Pillibhit Lok Sabha seat for 2009 https://t.co/rpYHmxKIko via @OpIndia_com

— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) December 13, 2020

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FACT CHECK:

The claim that Singh is currently a part of INC is false as he quit the party in 2011.

NewsMeter checked online for V.M. Singh and his political affiliations and found that he used to be an INC leader and had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit. However, he has not been a part of Congress since 2011.

According to The Hindu, he is no longer the National Convenor of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee after being removed for holding a separate discussion with the government.

We also found his official Twitter account. His bio mentions that he is an Ex MLA.

We also verified the worth of his assets and according to MyNeta.info his declared assets are of Rs 6.32 billion.

Hence, it is clear that VM Singh's assets are worth Rs 6.32 billion. However, he is no more associated with Indian National Congress.