Fact Check: 2021 Video From Assam Erroneously Shared As Recent Protest Against Rahul Gandhi In Manipur

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited relief camps in the Jibram and Churachandpur districts of Manipur on July 8 to meet with individuals displaced by the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribes. This was his first visit after becoming the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, and his third since the violence began in May 2023.

A video circulating on social media claims that Manipuris chanting slogans against Gandhi, featuring the logo of news agency ANI. It alleges that people chanted “go back” during his recent visit to Manipur.

The video is shared on Facebook with a caption: “Rahul Gandhi has been asked to go back in Manipur by residents, as his inflammatory speeches would trigger in to new clashes. This was Yesterday 8/7/24, so he had to return. Aag lagaane gaya tha .. jalta jalta wapas aaya”

Here’s the link to the above post. (Archive)

FACT CHECK

NewsMobile fact-checked the above claim, and found it to be FALSE

Putting the viral video keyframes through Reverse Image Search, the NM team detected an NDTV report, dated January 2024, which states that the incident occurred at a roadside eatery in Assam’s Nagaon on January 21. At that time, the crowd raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi and displayed placards with messages like “Anyay Yatra” and “Rakibul go back,” targeting Rakibul Hussain, the Congress MP from Assam’s Dhubri constituency and former MLA from Nagaon’s Samaguri seat.

Further investigation led to a longer version of the viral clip shared by ANI on January 21, confirming that the protest took place in the Ambagan area of Assam’s Nagaon.

#WATCH | Assam: A large number of people carrying posters of ‘Rahul Gandhi go back’ and ‘Anyaya Yatra’ held a protest against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Ambagan area of Nagaon this evening. pic.twitter.com/e4fFIwqFSa

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Assam on January 18. On January 21, he and other leaders stopped at a restaurant in Ambagan on their way to Rupohi for a night halt, where they faced a crowd raising slogans against them. Security personnel had to escort them out of the eatery. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded its seven-day journey in Assam on January 25. During this period, Assam police lodged an FIR against Rahul Gandhi and other participants for allegedly inciting people to disobey lawful orders and endangering life and property.