BJP leaders falsely claim 'pro-Pakistan' chant raised in SP rally ahead of UP polls - Alt News
Aqib Pathan & Priyanka Jha
5th February 2022 / 2:43 pm / Last updated: 5th February 2022
A 14-second video clip was shared by several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders with the claim that ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan was raised during an election campaign rally of a candidate of the Samajwadi Party (SP). The alleged slogan roughly translates to – “Press the button of cycle, make (UP) Pakistan”. BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra posted this video and later took it down. But an archived version can be accessed here.
BJP MLA Abhijit Singh Sanga from UP’s Bithoor also tweeted this video and claimed the same.
#जैसी_नियत_वैसी_बरक्कत।
ग्राम टिकरा में आज समाजवादी पार्टी द्वारालगे नारे पाकिस्तान बनाना है साईकिल का बटन दबाना है
राजनीति का यह तरीका मुनीन्द्र शुक्ला का बेहद शर्मनाक है
इन सब पर देश-द्रोह का मुकदमा लगना चाहिए#आएंगे_फिर_योगी_ही pic.twitter.com/ueXdp23HB0
— MLA Abhijeet Singh Sanga (@BJP4Abhijeet) February 4, 2022
The video was amplified by several other BJP members including Prashant Patel Umrao, Suresh Nakhua, Krishnandan Paswan and Y. Satya Kumar.
Navbharat Times journalist Shivam Bhatt has also shared this video and wrote, “Pakistan’s entry in UP elections”.
UP चुनाव में फिर हुई ‘पाकिस्तान’ की एंट्री.!
कानपुर के बिठूर से सपा प्रत्याशी मुनींद्र शुक्ला के समर्थकों पर पाकिस्तान के समर्थन में नारे लगाने का आरोप।
वीडियो में सुनाई दे रहा…पाकिस्तान बनाना है, साइकिल का बटन दबाना है। वीडियो वायरल। pic.twitter.com/zUa4OLdEAw
— Shivam Bhatt 🇮🇳 (@_ShivamBhatt) February 4, 2022
Navbharat Times, Aaj Tak, Asianet, Prabhat Khabar, Times of India were among the media outlets that carried reports claiming “pro-Pakistan” slogans were chanted in an election rally taken out by SP. Pro-BJP propaganda outlet OpIndia also published a similar report.
Alt News found a video statement uploaded by SP candidate from Bithoor, Munindra Shukla, where he refuted the viral claim.
भ्रामक वीडियो से बचे।
जो जीतने की स्थिति में नही होता है वो भ्रामक प्रचार करके कुचक्र रचता है लेकिन हम सभी को सारे कुचक्र तोड़कर सत्य का साथ देना है कृपया भ्रमित न हो…
भारत माता की जय
वंदे मातरम
जय हिंद
Posted by मुनींद्र शुक्ला द्वितीय on Friday, February 4, 2022
In a telephonic conversation with Alt News, Shukla said, “The contentious slogan – “Pakistan Banana Hai” – was not raised. The chant that was actually raised was – “Maati Chor Bhagana Hai” (Get rid of the sand thief).” Shukla explained, “The phrase ‘sand thief’ has been used for BJP MLA Abhijit Singh Sanga because he has indulged in illegal sand mining. It’s this phrase that BJP members are claiming was a pro-Pakistan chant. Why would we raise such slogans? Even the police have investigated this video. This is BJP’s tactic to communalise an incident to give it a Hindu-Muslim angle prior to elections.”
Shukla also shared a longer version of the viral video. This is 43 seconds long and the viral segment begins from the 20-second mark. In the video, we can hear “Mohar maro taan ke cycle ke nishan pe” (Press the cycle button) and “Maati chor bhagana hai, cycle ka button dabana hai” (Get rid of the sand thief, press the cycle button).
[vimeo 673654631 w=640 h=352]
In a video statement, Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) from Bithoor said that the video was examined and the word ‘Pakistan’ was not found. This clip was also aired by News24.
कानपुर प्रशासन ने अपनी जांच में पाया –
‘बिठूर विधानसभा के सपा प्रत्याशी मुनींद्र शुक्ला की रैली के दौरान ‘पाकिस्तान जिंदाबाद’ के नारे नहीं लगाए गए #UPElections2022 #Kanpur pic.twitter.com/uujv6GwkaW
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) February 4, 2022
In March last year, UP-based journalist Divas Pandey had tagged BJP MLA Abhijit Singh Sanga and UP government officials and reported that Sanga’s relatives were involved in illicit sand mining. He alleged that the activity was being carried out in the police’s presence.
#वायरल वीडियो के अनुसार जरकला #प्रधान के ट्रैक्टर से हो रहा #मिट्टी का अवैध खनन @DMKanpur @dgpup
भाजपा के विधायक @BJP4Abhijeet
के रिश्तेदार बने मिट्टी के ठेकेदार @myogiadityanath
रेलवे की आड़ में निकली मिट्टी गौरिया स्थित प्लांट में डाली जा रही
संरक्षण में खड़ी @Uppolice की जीप https://t.co/07M87eULle
— Divas pandey (@divaspandeynews) March 13, 2021
In conclusion, several BJP leaders and members shared a video of an election rally taken out by supporters of SP leader Munindra Shukla and falsely claimed that the slogan “Pakistan Banana Hai” was raised in the rally. This is false. The slogan that was raised was – “Maati chor Bhagana hai”.
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