Fact Check: Parvesh Verma embarrassed after positive response from Delhi resident on water, electricity? No, viral video is edited
A clip is going viral on social media with the claim that a Delhi resident embarrassed BJP candidate Pravesh Verma by stating that the AAP government provides them with clean water and free electricity.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 3 Feb 2025 4:44 PM IST
Claim: The video shows a Delhi resident, in the presence of BJP candidate Pravesh Verma, stating to the media that they receive clean water and free electricity.
Fact: The video is misleading as it has been edited. In the full version, the woman clarifies that the tap water outside is dirty and that she receives an electricity bill after exceeding the 200 free units.
Delhi is set to vote across all 70 constituencies on February 5, with the election results to be announced on February 8. In this context, a video clip of India Todayās news director Rahul Kanwal interviewing Pravesh Verma, the BJP candidate from the New Delhi Assembly constituency during the campaigning, has been circulating on social media.
In the clip, Verma can be heard claiming, āThe residents do not receive clean water at home, there is no proper system, and everyone uses a common toilet.ā At this point, Kanwal turns to a local woman and asks, āDo you get clean water at home?ā She nods and replies, āYes, the water supply is fine.ā
Kanwal then asks, āDo you get a proper electricity supply?ā The woman nods again, saying, āYes.ā Verma follows up, asking, āDo you receive an electricity bill? How much is it?ā The woman responds, āWe get 200 units free.ā
Kanwal quips to Verma, āSir, it is not entirely as you are saying that nothing has been done. Look, she says they are getting free electricity.ā Verma counters, āBut they still receive a bill.ā Kanwal responds again, āBut they are getting clean water.ā
Taking a satirical dig at Verma, the official X handle of AAP shared the video with the caption, āThe public did Moye-Moye to Pravesh Verma in front of the TV camera.ā (Moye-Moye is often used humorously to imply someone was caught off guard or embarrassed.)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found the viral clip misleading, as it is edited and does not show the full response of the woman.
We conducted a keyword search and found the interview published on India Todayās YouTube channel on January 29, titled āBJP's Parvesh Verma Confident Of Defeating Kejriwal In New Delhi Assembly Constituency.ā
In the interview, Verma alleges that the Kejriwal-led AAPās Delhi government has done no development in the last 11 years. He criticises the concept of freebies and questions AAPās claims of a global model of educational development, pointing out that the children of AAP ministers do not attend government schools. He also alleges that sewers in the slum area are blocked, residents do not receive clean water, and they have to rely on a common toilet.
The viral clip appears at the 19:23 mark, capturing Kanwal and Verma as they visit a slum area during the interview.
Verma can be heard saying, āThe residents do not receive clean water at home, there is no proper system, and everyone uses a common toilet.ā At this point, Kanwal turns to a local woman and asks, āDo you get clean water at home?ā She nods and replies, āYes, the water supply is fine.ā
Kanwal then asks, āDo you get a proper electricity supply?ā The woman nods again, saying, āYes.ā Verma follows up, asking, āDo you receive an electricity bill? How much is it?ā The woman responds, āWe get 200 units free.ā At this moment, unlike the viral video, Kanwal does not immediately quip. Instead, the footage shows the woman responding, āā¹500āā¹600 per month.ā This part of the response about the electricity bill has been edited out from the viral clip.
Following this, Kanwal remarks to Verma, āSir, it is not entirely as you are saying that nothing has been done. Look, she says they are getting free electricity.ā Verma counters, āBut they still receive a bill.ā Kanwal responds again, āBut they are getting clean water.ā The viral clip ends here and does not include Kanwal further asking the woman whether the supplied water is clean or dirty. In the full video, she responds, āThe tap water outside is dirty, but I have an RO system installed at home.ā This crucial part was omitted in the viral version.
After this, Verma asks Kanwal, āNow what do you have to say?ā Kanwal responds, āWhy should I say anything? Let the people speak.ā
Verma, standing near the colonyās tap water point, then begins a conversation with the residents. He asks whether every home has a water supply tap and whether they receive clean water. A resident responds that there is only one tap in the mohalla and that while sometimes the water is clean, at other times it is completely dirty.
The residents also complained about the sewer system, with one of them stating that while twenty-five toilets were approved for construction, only ten were built, which are used by around five to six thousand people.
This extended version clearly shows that the viral video has been edited and shared out of context.
We also found the interview published on the website of India Today on January 29, titled āVote for AAP if they worked for Delhi, or vote for us: BJP's Parvesh Verma.ā This video also shows the same sequence of questions and answers after the 19:23 mark between Kanwal, Verma and the woman.
Therefore, we conclude that the viral clip is misleading, as it is edited and does not show the full response of the woman.