Fact Check: Pappu Yadav cries after denied stage with Rahul Gandhi in Patna? Find the facts here

Hyderabad: On July 9, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress held a joint Opposition rally, featuring leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, to protest the Election Commission’s controversial Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

During the rally, news reports stated that Purnia Lok Sabha MP Rajesh Ranjan (Pappu Yadav) and Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar were reportedly stopped from boarding an open van just after Rahul Gandhi climbed the steps. Earlier, others, including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, were allowed onto the platform mounted atop the vehicle.

In this context, a video of Pappu Yadav crying while speaking to the media is circulating on social media, claiming that he broke down after not being allowed to share the stage with Rahul Gandhi. In the video, Yadav is also heard saying that he was attacked.

One X user shared the video and wrote, “Pappu Yadav wasn’t allowed to climb on stage with Rahul Gandhi. So, Pappu Yadav started crying.” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading, as the video is unrelated to the July 9 rally and is from 2018.

A reverse image search of the video’s keyframes led us to the same footage showing Pappu Yadav breaking down in front of the media, published by ABP News, The Quint and Live Cities on their YouTube channels on September 6, 2018.

According to these news outlets, Yadav became emotional on camera after allegedly being attacked in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur while en route to hold a rally.

We also found the video shared by Yadav on X on September 6, 2018, in which he questioned how ordinary citizens could feel safe if an MP with Y-category security can be attacked at gunpoint. He stated that he was targeted during the Nari Bachao Padyatra and alleged that both the State and Central governments were pushing the country toward ethnic and communal unrest.

We also found the incident reported by Aaj Tak, Dainik Bhaskar and NDTV stating that on September 6, 2018, Pappu Yadav was attacked in Muzaffarpur by unidentified men armed with pistols and lathis while on his Nari Suraksha Padyatra. He broke down in tears afterwards, stating that without CRPF protection, he could have been killed.

What has been Yadav’s reaction to the recent snub?

Yadav spoke to NDTV shortly after the incident and refrained from criticising the Congress.

“The people want me to endure the insult and remain silent,” he said. “I am silent only for their sake. I dedicate 23 out of 24 hours each day to the people of Bihar. I have nothing left for myself. I have given my life to this cause. I speak only for the poor.”

Therefore, we conclude that the viral video of Yadav wailing to the media on being attacked is from 2018. The claim linking it to the July 9 rally is misleading.