An image is doing the rounds on social media with a quote that is attributed to actor Shah Rukh Khan. In this quote, it is claimed that Khan stated, “I would leave India if Modi becomes the PM of this country.”
The text reads, “Shah Rukh Khan, you once said that “I would leave India if Modi becomes the PM of this country.” So Mr Khan, I guess you would be a Man of your words. Show us that you got *****. Share this picture so much that this douche apologises for his words.”
Viral since 2018
“किसी को ये शाहरुख हकला दिखे तो बोलना कि 5 साल होने को आ गए, अभी तक भारत क्यों नही छोड़ा इसने (If anyone comes across this stammerer Shah Rukh Khan, tell him that it’s been 5 year, why hasn’t he left India?)” read a post by Facebook page I Support Narendra Bhai Modi Bjp (@bjpalindia). The aforestated caption was affixed to a purported screenshot of a Sudarshan News broadcast which showed a ‘tweet’ by Shah Rukh Khan, saying – “If Modi becomes Prime Minister, I will not only leave Twitter but also leave India.” This post drew over 2,500 shares at the time of writing this article.
Another Facebook page BJP Khargone Barwani shared the identical post as well, which drew over 1,100 shares. A few individual users on Facebook also circulated the alleged tweet by the Bollywood actor.
Morphed tweet
A 2014 photoshopped tweet attributed to Shah Rukh Khan gave birth to the claims viral on social media.
The tweet (now deleted) was made by a parody Twitter handle @jamsrk. If one zooms in on the tweet, the ‘j’ instead of an ‘i’ can be made out.
At around 10 am on May 18, 2014, actor Kamal Rashid Khan (KRK) had tweeted if there was any truth behind the statement made by Shah Rukh Khan.
After the fake tweet was widespread, Khan put out a clarification on May 19, 2014, at around 12:30 AM that it wasn’t him who made the statement.
Good time to tell all fools who r talking of a tweet that I didn’t tweet, u suck as much as the grammar of that fake tweet & I’m being kind.
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 18, 2014
Later, KRK claimed that it was his statement – “Ppl pls note I only said tat I will leave India if Modi Ji will become PM I have left India. SRK Salman or Aamir didn’t say anything at all.”
Ppl pls note I only said tat I will leave India if Modi Ji will become PM I have left India. SRK Salman or Aamir didn’t say anything at all.
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) May 18, 2014
The incident was also reported by the media, including Hindustan Times and The Times of India and Deccan Chronicle.
Misinformation spread by Sudarshan News
Alt News was unable to locate the Sudarshan News screengrab presently viral on social media. However, the media outlet indeed broadcast a show on the fake tweet, and it was anchored by its Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke.
Sudarshan News had also tweeted about that same day – “Sudarshan News’ Chief Editor Suresh Chavhanke’s attack on Shah Rukh Khan (translated)”
सुदर्शन न्यूज़ के प्रधान संपादक सुरेश चव्हाणके का शाहरुख खान पर वार..
देखिए आज रात 8 बजे बिंदास बोल में ‘मोदी… http://t.co/MlV5ynH693— Sudarshan News (@SudarshanNewsTV) May 18, 2014
This wasn’t an isolated instance when the media outlet spread misinformation. Alt News has found several cases in the past when Sudarshan News and its CMD Suresh Chavhanke circulated fake news, often communal in nature.