A purported graphic plate of ABP News is circulating on social media. It claims that the channel reported that students in Uttar Pradesh will not be given scholarships this year due to budget constraint. “यूपी छात्रों को इस साल छात्रवृत्ति नहीं मिलेगी बजट की कमी,” reads the text.
The graphic was shared on Facebook group ‘Samajwadi INDIA : DIGITAL Army’ drawing close to 300 likes.
The graphic is viral on Facebook.
It has also been shared on Twitter with the message, “इसलिए कहतें हैं पढ़ा लिखा नेता चुनों लुंगी वाला अनपढ़ बेलचट्टा चुनोगे तो यह सब कुछ सहना पड़ेगा.” The tweet below is by the handle @BarkhaS37691560.
Alt News has also received verification requests on its mobile application.
Fake graphic
We were unable to find any media reports claiming that the UP government has decided to not provide scholarships to students this year due to budgetary cuts.
A report by Live Hindustan from August 20 titled, “UP: Scholarship of 20 lakh students stuck due to COVID,” said that the “state government did set aside a budget for scholarships this year but, for the money to reach the account of the budget department, the finance commission’s approval is needed. The commission is yet to approve.”
On September 2, ABP News carried the following report in Hindi—”UP: Good news for Grade 12 graduates, scholarship application issued, this is how you can apply.” The report stated that the education ministry will provide scholarships to 11,460 students.
Earlier in February, The Times of India reported that “the state budget made lesser provision for scholarships given to SC and OBC students in comparison to last year.”
A senior journalist at ABP News denied that the viral graphic was broadcast by the channel. It is noteworthy that the font in the viral image is different from genuine ABP News graphic plates. Its format also does not match the format of ABP News ‘breaking news’ graphic plate.
A morphed ABP News graphic plate is thus viral on social media to portray that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government in Uttar Pradesh has decided to not provide scholarships to students due to budget constraints.
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