RSS March Video Misrepresented Ahead of Haryana Polls

A misleading video purportedly showing an RSS march in Haryana ahead of assembly polls has been debunked. PTI Fact Check revealed the footage was from Malappuram, Kerala, during the Vijayadashami festival in October 2022. The video was shared widely on social media as a current event linked to Haryana elections.

In the run-up to the Haryana assembly polls, a video circulated on social media claimed to show a foot march by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers in the state.

However, a PTI Fact Check investigation found that the video is outdated and depicts an event from Malappuram, Kerala, in October 2022 during the Vijayadashami festival. This fact-checking effort debunked the misleading context attached to the clip.

One prominent post on X (formerly Twitter) promoting the video read: "RSS in Haryana. Great to see they are in Hyper Active mode now. All internal issues between RSS & BJP were settled. They know MatraBhumi Bharat is beyond any Egos. Proud to be swayamsewak," amassing over 190,000 views and nearly 3,000 retweets.

Using tools like InVid Tool Search and Google Lens, PTI Fact Check traced the video's origin to an Instagram post dated October 7, 2022, by 'Sangha Shakthi,' confirming the location as Tanur, Malappuram. Further verification from a Facebook post by Vishwa Samvad Kendra–Kokan corroborated this finding.

This case highlights the necessity of verifying social media information, especially amid the heightened political climate during elections. For more on the story, visit http://bit.ly/4e8kEHU. To fact-check claims or social media posts, PTI Fact Check can be contacted via WhatsApp at +91-8130503759.

(With inputs from agencies.)