Amid the ongoing Uttar Pradesh elections, a clip from an interview of Akhilesh Yadav with NDTV’s Srinivasan Jain is being circulated widely on social media. In the clip, Jain can be heard asking the SP chief, “We are also hearing that you will be going to London on the 11th? And you have booked your tickets.” In his reply, Yadav purportedly states, “To that, I will say who is not going abroad…If you have done your homework, then I would like to know why can’t I go? What can I do if you don’t have kids or your kids aren’t going?”
The 19-second clip is being shared with the claim that Akhilesh Yadav is planning to leave for London on March 11 foreseeing his party’s loss in the UP elections. The results for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls will be announced on March 10. Facebook user ‘Sri Ram Bhakt Jitendra’ also shared the video with this claim. (Archive link)
“अखिलेश यादव ने ली लंदन जाने की टिकट अडवांस”
11मार्च, परिवार सहित लंदन हो सकता है फ़रार…✍पहले बता रहा हूँ, बाद में मोदी पर उंगली मत उठाना..!!😕
Posted by श्री राम भक्त जितेन्द्र on Monday, February 21, 2022
One Ashwani Tripathi, along with several other Facebook users, promoted the clip and accompanying claim.
The video also made its way to Twitter.
Doctored video clip
After watching the viral footage, Alt News suspected that it was doctored. We noticed sudden jump cuts in the audio at the 0:06 and 0:11 mark, which suggested that parts of the video were edited out.
We performed a keyword search on Twitter, which led us to a tweet posted by NDTV India on June 23, 2021 that carried a clip from the interview with Akhilesh Yadav. After watching this 59-second clip, it was clear that the viral video has been edited.
सपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष अखिलेश यादव (@yadavakhilesh) ने NDTV से कहा, ‘क्या मैं बेटी का एडमिशन कराने लंदन नहीं जा सकता?’ pic.twitter.com/8bGMVl3Jdy
— NDTV India (@ndtvindia) June 23, 2021
The interview exchange between the Yadav and Jain is as follows:
Sreenivasan Jain – “We are also hearing that you went to London in between, is this true?”
Akhilesh Yadav – “The real question is, do I have to now tell you who went to London and who didn’t go abroad? You tell me, did I go to London?”
Sreenivasan Jain – “No, I’m asking you this.”
Akhilesh Yadav – “No, I want you to tell me.”
Sreenivasan Jain – “I don’t have these details, that’s why I’m asking you.”
Akhilesh Yadav – “No, I want you to tell me. If you have done your homework then I want to know from you about when I went.”
Sreenivasan Jain – “That’s why I’m asking you to clarify.”
Akhilesh Yadav – “Am I not allowed to go for my daughter’s admission? What can I do if you don’t have kids or your kids aren’t going?”
NDTV India also uploaded a video of the interview on its YouTube channel. In the 26-minute long clip, scenes from the viral video appear at the 10:52 mark. It is worth noting that during this interview, Sreenivasan Jain does not mention March 11, or any date for that matter.
On February 23, 2022, Jain himself posted a tweet clarifying that the viral clip has been doctored. He wrote that his audio has been morphed and Yadav’s answer has been distorted.
Just got this on WA. My audio has been morphed, Akhilesh’s answer has been distorted. While one is always up for a laugh, it appears this clip has been used to spread misinfo during the elections, and hence am flagging here. https://t.co/0vorwp0V8e
— Sreenivasan Jain (@SreenivasanJain) February 23, 2022
To sum it up, an edited clip from an old interview of Akhilesh Yadav was falsely circulated with the claim that he is set to leave for London on March 11, following the announcement of the results of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
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