“बीजेपी की समस्या कांग्रेस नही है, बीजेपी की समस्या लोगों की बढ़ती”जागरुकता है” बीजेपी को चाहिए अनपढ़, कमजोर, नंगे, भूखे, गरीब और गुलाम चमचे (BJP’s problem is not Congress party but the increasing awareness of the people. BJP wants illiterate, weak, bare bodied, hungry, poor and slave sycophants -translated)” This is quote ascribed to former Union Minister Arun Shourie by Facebook page, Viral In India. It has garnered close to 8600 shares and 4700 likes.
In a conversation with Alt News, Arun Shourie has denied having made any statement to this effect. He added, “Neither do I have a social media account including Facebook and Twitter nor do I own a website”.
Several other social media users have shared the same claim without any attribution which clearly indicates that a random statement has been ascribed to Arun Shourie to garner shares and run a political propaganda in the run up to the election.
In the past as well, fake quotes have been ascribed to politicians and public figures resulting in serious ramifications. Viral In India is owned and managed by Abhishek Mishra, who claims to be a ‘News/Media personality’ and an ‘RTI activist’ in his Twitter bio.
