A video where a crowd can be seen setting ablaze effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is circulating widely on social media. It is being claimed that the video was shot in a foreign country. The accompanying message says, “विदेशो मे साहब की थू थू हो रही हैं और अपने देश के जाहील भक्त इसे मास्टर स्ट्रोक बता रहे हैं तरस आ रहा हैं तुम पर भक्तों मे इस विडियो की कड़ी निंदा करता हुं (The master is being condemned in foreign countries and idiotic bhakts are calling this a masterstroke. I pity you bhakts. I staunchly condemn this video.)”

From the profile of an individual Facebook user Dilip Patel Gavli II, the video drew more than 60,000 views.

विदेशो मे साहब की थू थू हो रही हैं और अपने देश के जाहील भक्त इसे मास्टर स्ट्रोक बता रहे हैं तरस आ रहा हैं तुम पर भक्तों मे इस विडियो की कड़ी निंदा करता हुं

Posted by Dilip Patel Gavli II on Wednesday, 14 August 2019

The video has also been shared on Twitter.

It is viral on both platforms – Facebook, Twitter.

Old video of Citizenship Amendment Bill protest in Mizoram

The video in question is unrelated to the government’s recent move on Article 370. It pertains to a protest organised in Mizoram against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The video was broadcast by Northeast Live on January 23, 2019. According to the media outlet, “The influential Mizo Zirlai Paul (MZP) staged a statewide protest opposing the bill which it feels will threaten Mizo identity.” People can be seen burning the effigies of PM Modi and Rajnath Singh 0:18 seconds onward in the clip posted below.

The protest was also reported in mainstream media. “Effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh were burnt as protesters took out rallies from Aizawl’s seven district headquarters and at over 50 other places. Raising slogans and carrying placards, the agitators demanded the resignation of PM Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, alleging that the controversial bill will endanger the very existence of the Mizos,” per NDTV.

Since the dilution of Article 370, several old, unrelated videos have been floating on social media to depict people’s opposition to the government’s move. Recently, an old video of a funeral procession was shared as women protesting the revocation of J&K’s special status. Similarly, a contrasting narrative attempts to portray the Kashmiri people welcoming the decision.

About the Author

Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.