A 28-second video of Rahul Gandhi has been doing massive rounds on social media. Rahul Gandhi can be heard saying in the video, “You must have seen in pictures of Gandhiji (Mahatma Gandhi) that he is photographed with three or four women. But have you seen a picture of Mohan Bhagwat with a woman? Have you? It’s impossible.”
BJP leader Kapil Mishra shared the video taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi. (Archive link)
महात्मा गांधी जी के आसपास रहने वाली मनुबेन, सरला देवी, आभा और सुशीला और अन्य महिलाओं की डायरी, इंटरव्यू तो पढ़ लेते तो शायद आज राहुल गांधी ये ना बोलते जो बोल गए
गांधी तो शायद छिपाना नहीं चाहते पर कांग्रेस ने बहुत कुछ छिपाया हैं#DabbaJaan pic.twitter.com/mp85olvjua
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) September 15, 2021
Asianet News also tweeted the video. (Archive link)
WATCH: @INCIndia leader @RahulGandhi takes a dig at @RSSorg; says, “You’ll always see 3-4 women in Gandhiji’s photos, but have you seen a photo of @DrMohanBhagwat with any woman? Impossible!” pic.twitter.com/gsxPHQtBSi
— Asianet Newsable (@AsianetNewsEN) September 15, 2021
India Today executive editor Shiv Aroor further amplified the clip.
🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/h59h9Uo5mP
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) September 15, 2021
The footage is widespread on Facebook where people have portrayed Rahul Gandhi suggesting that Mahatma Gandhi was a ‘womaniser’.
Rahul Gandhi slams and criticizes Mohan Bhagwat for not having 3-4 women around him like Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi always had.
Please comment your thoughts?
Posted by Sharansh Guha on Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Fact-check
Alt News scoured the Indian National Congress YouTube channel in search of more information on this video. On September 15, 2021, Rahul Gandhi addressed a gathering of women on Mahila Congress Foundation Day. Scenes from the viral clip appear in the full video at the 17:52 mark. After the portion viral on social media, Rahul Gandhi explains why Mohan Bhagwat is not seen in the presence of women – “Because his organisation (RSS) suppresses women, it crushes them. But our organisation gives a platform to female empowerment.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s-Y7FCdd38]
Alt News co-founder Mohammad Zubair had quote-tweeted Aroor’s tweet with the full-length video. Aroor is yet to take down the clipped video that he shared out of context.
Full video 🤷🏾♂️pic.twitter.com/eJ0ccIwvgM https://t.co/souOTP6pE0
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 15, 2021
Journalist Siddharth Sharma of ANI also quote-tweeted Aroor and wrote that he was present at the event and the video posted by Aroor has been presented out of context.
I was present and Covering the Event, This is Completely out of Context What You are Presenting through this Edited Video Mr @ShivAroor https://t.co/qSufncyhUA
— Siddharth sharma (@siddharthjourno) September 15, 2021
Aroor later tweeted the full-length video after Alt News Hindi fact-check was published.
Had quote tweeted a clip from @AsianetNewsEN yesterday. Here’s the full video comment which begins with that clip: https://t.co/wmLtbJgb4m pic.twitter.com/ZHddsQ7DR6
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) September 16, 2021
A clipped speech of Rahul Gandhi was circulated with the claim that he was questioning Mahatma Gandhi’s character. The Congress leader is routinely targetted with clipped and edited videos of his speeches and statements.