A clip of Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury purportedly asking people to vote for the BJP instead of the Trinamool Congress is viral on social media. Several influential users have tweeted the video, some condemning Chowhdury’s words, some urging people to listen to him.
For instance, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said, “Listen to him, Bengal.”
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury knows exactly how bad the situation in West Bengal, under Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, is. He wishes well for his home state.
Listen to him, Bengal. pic.twitter.com/4psl0vnY3X
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) May 1, 2024
On the other hand, the official handle of the All India Trinamool Congress tweeted the video saying Chowdhury was campaigning for and openly asking people to vote for the BJP.
After acting as eyes & ears of @BJP4India in Bengal, @adhirrcinc has now been promoted to be the voice of the BJP in Bengal.
Listen to how the B-Team member is openly asking people to vote for the BJP – a party that REFUSED to release Bengal’s rightful due & deprived our people… pic.twitter.com/yVJg7EU7KR
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 1, 2024
Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Saket Gokhale shared a similar tweet. He said, “…Congress Bengal chief @adhirrcinc publicly asks people in his rally to vote for the BJP & not the TMC…”
Finally – from the B-team horse’s mouth!
Congress Bengal chief @adhirrcinc publicly asks people in his rally to vote for the BJP & not the TMC.
While Mamata Banerjee fights against the full might of Modi+Central Agencies machinery, Bengal Congress is openly asking votes for… pic.twitter.com/9V4dny7Qeb
— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) May 1, 2024
Senior editor of CNN News 18 Pallavi Ghosh also tweeted the same video and asked, “… where does this leave the national india alliance?”
Battle for behrampore – @adhirrcinc says better to vote for BJP than the tmc – where does this leave the national india alliance – ? pic.twitter.com/ScJtH6mpCm
— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) May 1, 2024
Propaganda website OpIndia published a report on this video with the title, “‘Why vote TMC, better to vote for BJP’: Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in a public event in West Bengal’s Berhampore”. The report subsequently read, “Why to vote for TMC, better to vote for the BJP,” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reputedly said in Bengali during his speech in Behrampore, a video of which has surfaced online.”
Fact Check
The official Facebook account of the Indian National Congress West Bengal streamed the entire speech. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury addresed a public meeting in support of Left Front-backed Congress candidate Murtaza Hossain (Bakul) at Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency in Lalgola, Murshidabad, on April 30.
আজ লালগোলাতে জঙ্গিপুর লোকসভা কেন্দ্রে বামফ্রন্ট সমর্থিত ভারতীয় জাতীয় কংগ্রেসের প্রার্থী মুর্তজা হোসেন ( বকুল)-এর সমর্থনে এক জনসভায় বক্তব্য রাখছেন পশ্চিমবঙ্গ প্রদেশ কংগ্রেস সভাপতি অধীর রঞ্জন চৌধুরী।
Posted by Indian National Congress – West Bengal on Tuesday 30 April 2024
The post contains a longer version of the viral clip where Chowdhury states that Modi has already lost 100 seats and is progressively losing more seats, despite their campaign slogan being ‘Ab ki Baar 400 paar’. He then emphasizes why more voters should vote for Congress, to reduce the communal divide. He is then heard saying, “It better to vote for the BJP than to vote for Trinamool”. Then he adds, “Do not vote for the TMC, do not vote for the BJP. Always, all round the year, through the ups and downs, Bakul (Mortaza Hossain) shall be with you all. So please support Bakul.”
Referring to the viral claims on social media, the page claimed that it was a ‘conspiracy’ by the Trinamool IT cell which had circulated a clipped video of Chowdhury’s speech. The post added that the party would be taking legal actions against the ‘despicable attempts by the TMC’.
“দেখুন আপনারা তৃনমূল নামক দলটার ঘৃণ্য চক্রান্তের আরো এক নমুনা, হেরে যাওয়ার ভয় তারা করে বেড়াচ্ছে তৃনমূল আর বিজেপিকে- তৃণমুলের আইটি সেল চক্রান্ত করে গতকাল লালগোলায় কংগ্রেস প্রার্থী মুর্তজা হোসেন ( বকুল)- এর সমর্থনে আয়োজিত এক সভায় জননেতা অধীর চৌধুরীর বক্তব্যের আগের এবং পরের অংশ বাদ দিয়ে সোশাল মিডিয়া এবং মিডিয়াতে সম্প্রচার করছে। পুরো বক্তব্যটা শুনলে বোঝা যাবে অধীর চৌধুরী কি বলেছেন। তৃণমূল ও বিজেপির এই ঘৃণ্য চক্রান্তকে আমরা ধিক্কার জানাই, এই ভাবে কংগ্রেস কে পরাজিত করতে পারবেন না, আর অধীর চৌধুরী কে আটকানো যাবে না। আমরা এই চক্রান্ত এবং ঘৃণ্য প্রচেষ্টার আইনানুগ ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ করবো
ছিঃ ছিঃ ছিঃ তৃনমূল”—সৌম্য আইচ রায়
চেয়ারম্যান, মিডিয়া ও আউটরিচ কমিউনিকেশন বিভাগ, প:ব: প্রদেশ কংগ্রেস।Posted by Indian National Congress – West Bengal on Wednesday 1 May 2024
Hence, a clipped video of West Bengal Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s speech is being shared with the false claim that he asked for votes in favour of the BJP. The longer version of the video show Chowdhury urging his voters to vote for neither the Trinamool Congress, nor the BJP, but for the Left-backed Congress candidate.
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