Biker rally or fake news? Fact check puts to rest ISIS flags at Congress Akola event
With the Maharasthra polls approaching, a video showing banners of Palestine, Iran, Iraq, ISIS and Hezbollah waved at a Congress party rally has gone viral. But what sparked tension is allegations that it was from a rally held by Congress candidate Sajid Khan Mannan Khan in Akola West, Maharashtra.
Yet, a detailed fact-checking by India Today and other teams of investigators establishes that the video has nothing to do with the Congress rally held in Akola, nor is it related to the present elections in Maharashtra. As it turns out, the video is related to a Milad un Nabi bike rally held in September in Latur, Maharashtra-more than a month before the video surfaced on social media.
The Viral Claim
The video, with inflammatory captions suggesting that the flags displayed were of controversial entities like ISIS and Hezbollah against which the Congress party was being seen to be supporting, went viral among social media circles. One of the many viral posts with such a caption read: "No Indian flag seen; only flags of Palestine, Iran, and ISIS at a Congress rally in Akola!"
Media houses such as Indian Herald and Inkhabar took up the claims and further sensationalized the video by reporting flags as part of the election rally. It stoked a heated debate online, particularly on the issue of political rallies and their associated symbolism.
Verification of the Viral Video
Using a reverse image search, the fact-checking team tracked the viral video back to a bike rally in Latur which was during Milad un Nabi celebrations in the month of September 2024. In the video, there is a bike procession with several flags but the location could be easily verified by seeing key landmarks such as Telephone Bhavan in Mahatma Gandhi Chowk, Latur.
Further probe, however, led to a YouTube upload in September where the same video was found and identified as a Milad un Nabi rally. The viral video, thus misattributed to the Congress rally, has absolutely no connection with any political event held in Akola.
What Does It Mean for Misinformation in Elections?
This incident underscores the growing problem of misinformation during election seasons, where videos and photos are often taken out of context or intentionally manipulated to stir political unrest. It also highlights the importance of fact-checking before accepting viral claims as truth, especially in politically charged environments like the run-up to Maharashtra elections.
As the election campaign is heating up, voters and people at large have to be keen to discern information largely shared through social media. It is in such a scenario that false claims inform the public, which further creates fictional division and anger among people.
For instance, the video footage of the bike rally in Akola was nothing but a case of misinformation. First claims were made that there were raised flags at the Congress rally that showed controversy, but an extensive fact-check revealed that footage was from another whole different event held in Latur. So, it is essential that citizens of Maharashtra are not misled as elections near, and dependable sources should be used rather than fake news and online hoaxes.
