Fact Check: Photo of Ashok Gehlot bursting firecrackers in 2019 being shared as recent Diwali celebrations
By Newsmeter Network Published on 24 Nov 2020 8:30 AM IST
Hyderabad: An photograph of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot lighting firecrackers has gone viral with the claim that Gehlot celebrated this Diwali despite a firecracker ban in the state.
Many social media users have shared this image, calling him a hypocrite for banning crackers and arresting fireworks traders.
FACT CHECK:
The claim that Ashok Gehlot burnt firecrackers this Diwali despite ban is FALSE.
NewsMeter performed a reverse image search and found that the same picture was shared by Ashok Gehlot on Instagram on 28 October 2019 with the caption, "Celebrated #Diwali with #family #diwalicelebration". So this photo of him was from last year's Diwali.
The same picture, along with three other pictures of his family celebrating Diwali, were also posted by his son Vaibhav Gehlot on Twitter in October 2019 with the caption
"On the occasion of Deepawali, family worshiped Lakshmi Maa. #DiwaliCelebration #HappyNewYear #Lakshmipooja".
We also found the same picture posted by Hamara Samachar, from October 2019 on Facebook with the caption "Diwali Glimpse: CM Ashok Gehlot celebrated #Diwali with family. #HappyDiwali #HappyDeepavali".
NewsMeter had previously debunked a similar false claim related to Yogi Adithyanth lighting a firecracker at his residence this Diwali despite a ban. (click here to read)
Hence, the viral image claiming that Ashok Gehlot and his family celebrated Diwali in 2020 is FALSE.
