BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra quote-tweeted a tweet by ANI reporting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu ate ‘langar’ at Golden Temple in Amritsar ahead of state elections. Gandhi can be seen wearing a mask in the video. Patra mocked him by tweeting, “Langar with the mask on? Only the eight wonder of the world can do this.”
मास्क पहन कर लंगर?
ये तो आठवां अजूबा ही हो सकता है! https://t.co/ugYOdenALE
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) January 27, 2022
BJP Punjab also tweeted the video claiming that Gandhi was sitting for the langar with an empty plate and a mask on his face.
एक तो श्री हरमंदिर साहिब के लंगर हाल में @RahulGandhi के मुंह पर मास्क और ऊपर से प्लेट खाली…
कांग्रेस की सिखों के प्रति नफरत की सोच को उजागर करती है pic.twitter.com/PWANkpBk6Y— BJP PUNJAB (@BJP4Punjab) January 27, 2022
Several other BJP leaders also shared the video including BJP SC Morcha chief Lal Singh Arya, BJP MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and BJP Delhi General Secretary Kuldeep Singh Chahal.
Even certain journalists mocked the Congress leader – Pramod Pandey from News Nation and Jitendra Pratap Singh from Sudarshan News.
The video is also circulating on Facebook.
False claim
While ANI’s video does not capture Rahul Gandhi eating, the Congress leader had himself broadcast a video of the langar where he can be seen opening his mask before consuming his food. This can be watched from 1:20 minutes in the video below.
हरमंदिर साहिब में पंजाब के भविष्य के लिए कांग्रेस उम्मीदवारों के साथ प्रार्थना की।
साथ बैठके लंगर का प्रसाद खाया। https://t.co/Qk8PdD00v4
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 27, 2022
After BJP leaders shared ANI’s video with a false claim, Congress leaders also came to Rahul Gandhi’s defence. They uploaded a video where he can clearly be seen eating the food with the mask off.
कितना ओछापन आ गया है BJPमें कि लंगर खाने को लेकर भी घटिया टिप्पणी करते हैं। वीडियो का वो हिस्सा ANI से ट्वीट कराते हैं जिसमें लंगर परोसा जा रहा है और राहुल जी मास्क पहन कर इंतज़ार कर रहे हैं।
जब लंगर ग्रहण करना शुरु करते हैं वे वीडियो ANI नहीं डालता,पात्रा अपनी मक्कारी दिखाता है। pic.twitter.com/1JiU9XEqlS— Alka Lamba (@LambaAlka) January 28, 2022
BJP members had used another image to mock Rahul Gandhi in a similar manner
On January 26, BJP Haryana IT cell head Arun Yadav had posted a picture of Rahul Gandhi sitting in front of a plateful of food with his mask on. “The first man to eat food with his mask on,” wrote Yadav.
मास्क लगा कर खाना खाने वाला पहला आदमी 😂 pic.twitter.com/P8lvc8Ncs1
— Arun Yadav (@beingarun28) January 26, 2022
This picture was shared by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee on January 24 along with other pictures that show Gandhi with his mask off.
அன்பும் பண்பும் நிறைந்த தமிழ் மக்களோடு உணவு உண்டது மகிழ்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது.
– தலைவர் ராகுல் காந்தி#ThalaivarRahulGandhi#VaangaOruKaiPaapom pic.twitter.com/hhc1VNvK1E
— Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (@INCTamilNadu) January 24, 2021
That same day J&K Pradesh Congress Seva Dal had also tweeted pictures from the event. The handle wrote that Gandhi ate food with weavers in Tamil Nadu.
Finally, It’s lunch time! ❤️
Rahul Gandhi having lunch with the weavers in Tamil Nadu today.#ThalaivarRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/VPBOr0KKTh
— J&K Pradesh Congress Sevadal (@SevadalJK) January 24, 2021
There are also videos that show Gandhi without a mask and eating the food.
BJP leaders and members, therefore, misrepresented an image and a video to mock Rahul Gandhi by falsely claiming that he consumed food with his mask on.
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