Fact Check: Video of Mohan Bhagwat saying Sangh does not support reservations internally is clipped
The claim is misleading as the video has been clipped and does not show the full context.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 14 May 2024 1:15 PM GMT
Screengrab from the viral post. (Courtesy: X/@iamAKstalin)
Claim: Video shows RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat saying Sangh does not support reservation policy internally but cannot state that in public.
Fact: The claim is misleading since the viral video is edited. In the extended video, Mohan Bhagwat advocates for constitutionally accepted reservations as long as necessary.
Hyderabad: A video of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat purportedly saying that the Sangh does not support reservation policy internally but cannot state that in public is making rounds on social media.
“We people of the Sangh oppose reservation from within, but cannot say it openly, Sangh Chief (Mohan Bhagwat). Modi, Yogi, Amit Shah, and all the BJP leaders are from the Sangh, will they be able to provide reservations?” wrote an X user, AK Stalin, sharing the video. (Archive)
(Courtesy: X/@iamAKstalin)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading as the video has been clipped and does not show the full context.
We skimmed through the comments on the post and found a user posting an extended version of the video. (Archive)
In that video, Bhagwat could be heard saying, “After coming here yesterday, I heard a video has been circulating here claiming Sangh does not support reservation policy internally but cannot state that publicly. However, this is completely untrue.”
He added, “The Sangh stands in support of all constitutionally accepted reservations since the implementation of the reservation policy. It also advocates for continuing this policy until it is necessary and until discrimination persists.” This was not included in the viral clip.
The viral clip carried the logo of ANI. Taking this as a cue, we looked for the video on ANI’s YouTube channel and found the extended version published on April 28, titled ‘“False video…”: Mohan Bhagwat on Acharya Pramod’s viral video on “ending caste-based reservation”.’ According to the news agency, the clarification of Bhagwat came after a video of Acharya Pramod speaking about caste-based reservation went viral.
We also came across a report by Editorji published on April 28, titled “After Acharya Pramod’s ‘anti-reservation’ video, Mohan Bhagwat backs quota.” According to the report, Bhagwat expressed the Sangh’s stance that reservations should be extended for as long as they are deemed necessary during his address at an educational institution.
The report mentioned that ‘Bhagwat’s statement comes after Congress shared a purported video of BJP leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam calling for an end to caste-based reservation’ amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Hence, we conclude that the viral video of Mohan Bhagwat is clipped and does not show the full context.
