Old video of workers alleging AAP paid them to join rally viral with farmers’ protest spin

A video is being shared on Facebook and Twitter in which multiple labourers from Haryana’s Bahadurgarh claim they haven’t been given the agreed-upon sum of ₹350 per person before coming to a protest rally. As per the video, about 118 people joined the rally. This has been shared with Hindi text claiming, “AAP party’s jihadi mentality, watch this ground report and understand the truth behind farmers’ protest.”

This video was shared by @kapilthakur8938, a member of BJP Yuva Morcha, on December 3. It gained over 5,000 views. (archived link)

BJP member Surendra Poonia also tweeted the video.

350 रुपये दीजिये…क्रांति शुरू कीजिये

केजरीवाल के क्रान्तिकारी 👇 pic.twitter.com/h1bbJydrva

— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) December 7, 2020

Another user @ArunDeshpande20 shared the clip and wrote, “Truth behind Farmers’ agitation Rs. 350/- a day pay to show big number gathering.”

Truth behind Farmers’ agitation Rs. 350/- a day pay to show big number gathering. @HMOIndia pls make a note and stop innocents from getting fooled by #AAP, #Congress #AkaliDal #Leftists #FarmersBill_2020 #Farmers pic.twitter.com/fr4CunlAfY

— Arun Deshpande (@ArunDeshpande20) December 5, 2020

It was shared by multiple uses on Facebook including Shobha Joshi whose post drew about 4,000 views. (archived link)

Video verification

Based on our research, we found that the video is from 2018. Twitter user @AnkurMalviya6 had uploaded it on March 29, 2018, with the claim that AAP was bribing people to join their rally.

On the same day, Aarti from AAP’s national social media team refuted the claim and tweeted a juxtaposed video — viral video and a video of the man seen in the viral video — stating that the man was threatened to give that statement. She wrote, “Another Fake Propaganda Bursted by the Same Man Right pointing backhand index They made him lie for the sake of their jobs.”

AAP paid ₹ 350 to get Crowd for @ArvindKejriwal ‘s Haryana Bachao Rally
झूठ झूठ झूठ
Another Fake Propaganda Bursted by the Same Man 👉🏼
They made him lie for the sake of their jobs. pic.twitter.com/c0fIQ9GT9i

— Aarti (@aartic02) March 29, 2018

In 2018, ANI had published a video that shows labourers alleging that they were promised food and Rs 350 each to be present at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s public rally on March 26, 2018.

#WATCH Labourers allege that they were promised Rs 350 each and food, to be present at Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s public rally in Haryana’s Hisar yesterday but they neither got money nor food. pic.twitter.com/Qw9IJhp34w

— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018

Alt News has not independently verified if the bribery allegations against AAP are true. However, it was denied by the party.  But more importantly, the video is not related to the ongoing farmers’ protest.