Since the past one week, a 20-second video has gone viral with the claim that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is paying Rs 700 in exchange for a vote. On January 21, Twitter user @Azmath955886122 wrote, “BJP’s blatant propaganda, take Rs 700 in exchange for a vote [Translated from BJP का खुला प्रचार. 700 लो BJP को वोट दो.]” This video has been retweeted over 500 times.
BJP का खुला प्रचार. 700 लो BJP को वोट दो.👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/ArsDbKp3ld
— 🇮🇳❤️ Azmath Sultan 🇮🇳❤️ INC❤️🇮🇳 (@Azmath955886122) January 21, 2020
It is noteworthy that the Delhi assembly elections are set to be held on February 8.
Facebook page ‘Hyderabad Metro News’ also shared the viral video titled, “In Delhi, BJP’s blatant propaganda, take Rs 700 in exchange for a vote [Translated from: दिल्ली में BJP का खुला प्रचार 700 रु लो वोट दो ]” It has been viewed over 7,000 times.
दिल्ली में BJP का खुला प्रचार 700 रु लो वोट दो👇
Caught : Delhi Bjp openly bribing voters & buy’s Each vote for 700 rs
दिल्ली में BJP का खुला प्रचार 700 रु लो वोट दो
Cover Mey 700 Rupey : Delhi Mey BJP Ka Khula Campaign 700 Rupey lo vote doPosted by Hyderabad Metro News on Thursday, 23 January 2020
Similarly, several users have shared it on Facebook and Twitter.
Alt News has received several requests on WhatsApp (98252 55790) and it official mobile application to fact-check the claim.
VIDEO FROM CHHATTISGARH
In the viral video, the woman can be heard saying, “This is a gift from elder sister, Rs 700 per person. [Translated from: दीदी के तरफ़ से गिफ़्ट है, एक लोग का Rs ७०० है।]” and offering a pamphlet. Alt News did a keyframe analysis of the video and noticed that the pamphlets have the symbol of BJP. This has been highlighted in red below.
The white pamphlets also carry text in Hindi which says ‘Kaushalya Devi Bansal [Translated from कौशल्या देवी बंसल]’ and ‘Vote Lotus [Translated from कमल छाप में].’
Alt News did a keyword search on Google and found a report by Dainik Bhaskar from December 2019. According to the report, the viral video surfaced online on the night before elections in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh. According to the report, Kausalya Devi Bansal, a BJP candidate from ward 19, and her relative were allegedly bribing voters. The report also added Bansal’s statement that the video is fake.
Alt News found Bansal’s Facebook profile where she had posted an image in 2014 which states that she contested from Mahasamund, Ward 19 for BJP.
Alt News compared a screenshot from the viral video with the Facebook cover image of Bansal in order to corroborate her identity. As evident, she is the woman in the white saree in the viral video.
Alt News could not independently verify the allegations against Bansal however, the clip is unrelated to upcoming Delhi polls.
