Photo credit- Business Today
As the 2019 general election ends today, Fact Crescendo has compiled a list of the most prominent instances of misinformation this election season. The pedlars of misinformation, who resorted to social media to sway the electorate ahead of voting, used every trick possibly available in the digital era misleading the readers.
This article comprises of photo shopped images used for defaming Political effects–
1) Kanhaiya Kumar Campaign Vehicle photo-shopped with the image of Afzal Guru
Claim- A photograph of CPI Begusarai candidate Kanhaiya Kumar circulated on social media with Kumar allegedly campaigning behind a poster of 2001 Parliamentary attack convict, Afzal Guru.
Fact Check– The circulating image is from the CPI candidate’s election campaign rally in Begusarai. In the original photograph, Kanhaiya Kumar is not standing behind a portrait of Afzal Guru. Instead, he is standing behind the symbol of Communist Party of India. A video of this rally is available on YouTube.
2) Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh shown Campaigning for BJP.
Claim- A photograph movie stars of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh circulated on social media claiming that they are campaigning for BJP. The photograph showed the two sporting saffron scarves on which is printed ‘Vote for BJP N Modi’.
Fact Check– This is a digitally manipulated image. We did a reverse image search on Google and found that the image is originally from 30 November 2018 when the couple had visited Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. The scarves on their neck edited digitally with the sentence- ‘Vote for BJP N Modi’.
3) Indian leader Rahul Gandhi dining with Pakistani PM Imran Khan
Claim- An image has been shared multiple times on social media alongside a claim it shows Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Indian opposition Congress party, dining with Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Fact Check– We did a reverse image search on Google and found that this image is photo shopped. The above image doctored from this photo, posted on Twitter on July 5, 2015. In the original image, Imran Khan is dining with his wife Reham Khan.
4) Indian politicians went to Pakistan to get Balakot evidence.
An image is circulated of Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan interacting with the country’s army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa on social media. Political leaders like Shatrughan Sinha and Navjot Singh Sidhu, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Congress president Rahul Gandhi shown in the photograph, sitting in a corner.
Fact check – We did a reverse image search on Google and found that this image is photo shopped. The original image did not have the Indian politicians in the background. The photo is originally from a meeting held between PM Khan and his Army Chief related to some security issues.
5) Digitally altered image to show a Tsunami of supporters gathered for PM Modi’s Rally
Claims- An image depicting a tsunami of supporters was circulating with the claim that this is the image of PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah’s recent rally in Kolkata. Caption reads-
“This is not sand in front of the two bald heads. It is human crowd at the BJP Kolkata rally. Yesterday was an unusual day in Kolkata. Modi ji was in town! Mamata Banerjee was not! On the vast Brigade Ground was a massive crowd of 10+ lakh Karyakartas (figure given by the Kolkata Police)”
Fact Check– We found that the enormous crowd shown in the image which is digitally manipulated. The image was from December 2017 when PM Modi and Amit Shah were sharing a stage in Shimla. The event was the swearing-in ceremony of Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur.
6) Photo shopped image of Priyanka Gandhi wearing a cross
Claim- A photograph of Priyanka Gandhi wearing a cross necklace and a rudraksha necklace was shared widely on social media. The image claiming Priyanka Gandhi wearing a cross in Kerala rally. In the image on the right, Mrs. Gandhi is sporting a rudraksha necklace. This photo claiming to be from Uttar Pradesh. The attempt was to highlight the supposed hypocrisy and skulduggery of Priyanka Gandhi.
Fact Check- We found that the digitally altered picture of Priyanka Gandhi wearing a cross. Priyanka Gandhi was actually wearing a pendant, which was replaced with a cross necklace through Photoshop. The original photograph was from a rally in Uttar Pradesh in 2017.
7) Photo shopped image of Sharad Pawar at Narendra Modi’s residence.
Claim- A viral image claimed that there is photo frame with the image of Sharad Pawar at Narendra Modi’s residence. Narendra Modi and his mother shown in the image wherein in the background we can see the image of Sharad Pawar hung on the wall.
Fact Check– We found the image digitally edited. The original image had the image of Radha-Krishna in the background. The original image dates back to 23 April 2019 when PM had visited his mother at Gandhinagar.
8) Kareena Kapoor Khan and Taimur Ali Khan shown promoting BJP.
Claim- A viral image claimed that Kareena Kapoor Khan along with Taimur Ali Khan circulated on social media claiming that they are campaigning for BJP. The photograph showed the two sporting saffron scarf and a t-shirt on which is printed ‘Vote for BJP’ and ‘NAMO Again’.
Fact Check– We found the image digitally edited. The original image had no scarf or print. The original image dates back to 28 April 2019 when Kareena Kapoor Khan went to vote and took Taimur Ali Khan with her to the voting center in Mumbai.
9) Narendra Modi praying to Allah!
Claim- A viral image claimed that Narendra Modi is praying to Allah is circulated on social media claiming that the government formed on the basis of Ram Mandir has now become a Maulvi. The photograph showed that Narendra Modi is offering his prayer to Allah along with other Muslims.
Fact Check– We found the image digitally edited. The original image did not have Narendra Modi’s hands in the Muslim prayer form. The original image dates back to 11 July 2015 when Narendra Modi had visited Turkmenistan and laid a wreath at a mausoleum of the first president at Ashgabat.
