A photograph of two men, who are seen donning a skull caps and burning the Indian National flag, is circulating in the Indian social media ecosystem. The text inscribed in the image reads, “राष्ट्रपति से मांग है तिरंगा जलाने वालो को ज़िंदा जलाया जाय, बीच चौराहे पर, (इसको धरम से नहीं जोड़े) [We demand the President. People who burn the tri-colour should be burnt alive at the crossroads. (Please don’t link this to religion -translated)]”. This post attempts to suggest that Muslims are burning the tri-colour in order to display their opposition to PM Modi. The poster has a call to violence with a demand that those burning the tri-colour should be burnt alive.
Many other individuals on Facebook and Twitter have shared this image.
From Pakistan
Upon reverse searching the image on Google, Alt News found that the image represents a group of protesters burning the Indian National flag in Pakistan and NOT India. In July 2015, this image was published along with a blog titled, “Pakistani protesters burn a poster of PM Narendra Modi”. On searching for the images related to the protest, we found the original photograph clicked by an Associated Press (AP) photographer.
The caption posted with the image reads, “Pakistani protesters burn an Indian flag during a protest in Multan, Pakistan, Thursday, June 11, 2015. Pakistan has reacted angrily to comments made by the Indian prime minister that reportedly acknowledged Indian forces had a role in the war that created Bangladesh, part of Pakistan until 1971 when separatists won independence after a war.”
An attempt was made to provoke violence against the members of the Muslim community by using a photograph from Pakistan.
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