Fact Checker: Viral clip showing mass chanting “Modi-Modi” during Mallikarjun Kharge’s speech in Telangana is edited

Hyderabad: A video of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's speech allegedly disrupted by "Modi chants" is circulating on social media.

In the video, Kharge is seen shouting back at a gathering, saying, "Chup baitho, agar sunna hai to suno, nahi to get out. Tumhare mooh main…tumko jo hona wo kehte. Agar sunna hai to suno, warna apni jagah ko jao’ (Sit silently, if you don’t want to listen, get out. You are saying whatever is coming to your mouth. Listen if you want to, otherwise move on your way)."

Is Kharge really lashing out at the gathering for chanting “Modi-Modi” slogans at him?

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim to be false as the audio in the viral video has been manipulated.

Over a reverse image search of the viral video’s screengrab, we found an extended version of the same clip uploaded to the YouTube channels of multiple media outlets such as Times Now and Mojo Story on November 27. According to these reports, the video was from a campaign rally for the recently concluded Telangana Assembly Elections 2023.

The NewsMeter team carefully analyzed the video and found no instances of “Modi-chants” in the original version.

Other media outlets also covered the incident of Kharge lashing out at the crowd. According to a report by News 18, Kharge lost his cool at an unruly crowd of party workers on November 26 at a public meeting in Telangana’s Kalwakurthy. As Kharge was listing the poll promises of his party, the loud crowd disturbed his flow of thoughts. Seemingly agitated, Kharge scolded the audience. Reportedly, Kharge was campaigning for his party in poll-bound Telangana, where voting was due on November 30.

We also traced the original audio of the "Modi-Chanting" used in the viral video to a report by India Today dated September 7. According to the video report, the then Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was greeted with chants of “Modi, Modi” when he stopped his convoy to interact with a gathering of young people after attending an event at the municipal council. Gehlot greeted the raucous crowd with folded hands, got back inside his car, and left the scene. After his departure, ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans were also raised.

It is hence clear that the now viral video of Kharge is edited. The “Modi-chanting” heard in the video is edited from a different event.