Fact Check: Video of clash between two pro-Khalistani groups falsely portrayed as Pakistanis vs. Khalistanis
NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading. The video portrays a clash between two pro-Khalistani groups.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 27 Dec 2023 10:59 AM GMT
Screengrab of the viral post. (Source: X/@Bimlli_Shake)
A video depicting a clash between two groups, where individuals can be seen hurling chairs and using sticks to attack each other, is circulating on social media. Claims accompanying the video say that it shows a confrontation between Pakistanis and pro-Khalistani individuals.
“Pakistanis were protesting with Khalistanis. One khalistani said Pakistan’s Punjab is also a part of Khalistan and Pakistanis started beating the shit out of sardars…This is Khalistani-Pakistani love,” wrote an X user who shared the video.
(Source: X/@Bimlli_Shake)
A Facebook user also shared the video claiming the same.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading. The video portrays a clash between two pro-Khalistani groups.
Upon a reverse image search of the keyframes of the video, we found it on YouTube, published by a channel named Parvasi TV on November 7. The caption stated that it shows a clash during Nagar Kirtan in the US’s Yuba City.
The verified YouTube channel of News18 Punjab/Haryana/Himachal also published the video on November 6, 2023, with an English translation of the Punjabi caption stating that it depicts a clash during Nagar Kirtan in Yuba City.
With these cues, we ran a relevant keyword search and found a video by News 18 English, published on November 7.
The channel reported that the clash broke out between two alleged pro-Khalsitani groups during the annual Sikh Nagar Kirtan in California’s Yuba City, where more than 2,00,000 people had gathered. It mentioned that certain elements of the groups are controlled by the Sikhs for Justice group. It also said that the reason for the rift remains unknown.
News18 reported that one of the groups allegedly flew a helicopter with a banner stating ‘Delhi Will be Khalistan’ during the event.
Finally, we searched for the Nagar Kirtan in Yuba City and found a report by ABC10 published on November 6. It said tens of thousands of people gathered in Yuba City for the 44th annual Nagar Kirtan, which is the largest Sikh festival outside of India.
It is, hence, clear that the viral video does not depict a fight between Pakistanis and pro-Khalistan supporters; the claim is misleading.
