With a few days to go before the start of phase 1 of Lok Sabha Elections 2024, political parties have intensified their campaign and are visiting every constituency to seek votes. While the opposition has united under the umbrella of the INDIA alliance that includes Congress, AAP, etc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call of 'Abki Baar 400 Paar'. With the election fever sweeping across the country, the spread of misinformation and fake news is also amped up on social media. Recently, multiple verified profiles & I.N.D.I.A supporters shared a video with the claims that hundreds of BJP flags were burnt to ashes by angry farmers of Punjab.
In the viral video, multiple farmers were seen burning BJP flags. I.N.D.I.A supporters shared the video to aware people not to believe the media's exit poles that is showing that the BJP is winning at least 6 seats in Punjab. Congress Maharashtra Spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil shared the video and stated that the BJP is facing difficulties even in campaigning in the state of Punjab. Talking about the video, Atul Londhe Patil stated that the angry farmers burnt down the flags when BJP candidates visited a Punjab village for their Lok Sabha Elections campaign.
Another Congress leader Vivek Singh shared the video with the caption, "BJP leaders are not able to campaign in villages of #Punjab but are winning 6 seats in #GodiMedia exit polls. Don't be deceived by the Godi Media
Let us unite with all our might in the fight to #SaveDemocracy."
The truth behind the Punjab BJP flags burning viral video
However, True Scoop News tried to verify the claim through Google's reverse image search. On reverse image searching, True Scoop News found out that the video that is going viral on social media is old. I.N.D.I.A alliance leader shared the video with a piece of misleading information.
The original was found on a YouTube channel that was published in 2021. According to the channel, this video is from Ellenabad, Haryana. Farmers set thousands of BJP flags on fire. The same video was found on a Facebook page named Bebaak Awaaz. This video was shared on Facebook page on 7 October 2021. At the same time, its caption reads - BJP's condition in Ellenabad Assembly by-election, farmers burnt BJP flags. Watch the Original Video Link Here