वायनाड में राहुल के जीतने के बाद #जश्न की तश्वीर, फ़ोटो में #तिरंगा ढूंढने बाले को उचित #इनाम की व्यवस्था…(Photo of celebration in Wayanad after Rahul’s win, those who find tiranga in the photo will be given a prize- translation).

The above message has gone viral on social media platforms since May 24, along with a photograph of a rally in which numerous green coloured flags can be seen. It has been shared in the Facebook group WE SUPPORT NARENDRA MODI with the message “If they had won everywhere then Pakistani flags would be seen in India, even after such humiliation you are mindless”(translated), apart from the group I AM WITH PM MODI AND YOU? and the page Begusarai Zee News.

The group has over 29 lakh members and has been found to spread misinformation in the past. The picture has gone viral on Twitter where it has been shared widely in the last 24 hours.

Old photograph

Alt News reverse searched the image on Google and found that it was taken in 2017. We found the same photograph in an article by The Hindu published on April 17, 2017.

According to the report, the people seen in the photograph are workers of the Indian Union Muslim League, a political outfit based in Kerala. The workers were celebrating a bypoll victory. By-election had taken place on the Malappuram Lok Sabha seat on April 12, 2017 in which IUML leader P N Kunhalikutty had emerged victorious.

IUML flag different from flag of Pakistan

The IUML flag has often been passed off as the national flag of Pakistan. As recently as April 2019, IUML flags at Rahul Gandhi’s pre-nomination roadshow were falsely claimed to be Pakistani flags.

Both flags- IUML and Pakistan, are green in colour. The similarity however ends there. The two banners have been juxtaposed and posted below for comparison.

An old photograph of a political rally, dating back to 2017 has been shared as a recent image, with the false claim that it represents celebration in Wayanad following Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha victory from there.

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About the Author

Arjun Sidharth is a writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry, where he managed news bulletins and breaking news scenarios, apart from scripting numerous prime time television stories. He has also been actively involved with various freelance projects. Sidharth has studied economics, political science, international relations and journalism. He has a keen interest in books, movies, music, sports, politics, foreign policy, history and economics. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and indoor gaming.