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 рдХрд╛ рдЦреБрд▓рд╛ рдкреНрд░рдЪрд╛рд░. 700 рд▓реЛ BJP рдХреЛ рд╡реЛрдЯ рджреЛ.]” This video has been retweeted over 500 times.

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: рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА рдореЗрдВ BJP рдХрд╛ рдЦреБрд▓рд╛ рдкреНрд░рдЪрд╛рд░ 700 рд░реБ рд▓реЛ рд╡реЛрдЯ рджреЛ ]” It has been viewed over 7,000 times.

рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА рдореЗрдВ BJP рдХрд╛ рдЦреБрд▓рд╛ рдкреНрд░рдЪрд╛рд░ 700 рд░реБ рд▓реЛ рд╡реЛрдЯ рджреЛЁЯСЗ

Caught : Delhi Bjp openly bribing voters & buy’s Each vote for 700 rs
рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА рдореЗрдВ BJP рдХрд╛ рдЦреБрд▓рд╛ рдкреНрд░рдЪрд╛рд░ 700 рд░реБ рд▓реЛ рд╡реЛрдЯ рджреЛ
Cover Mey 700 Rupey : Delhi Mey BJP Ka Khula Campaign 700 Rupey lo vote do

Posted 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: рджреАрджреА рдХреЗ рддрд░рдлрд╝ рд╕реЗ рдЧрд┐рдлрд╝реНрдЯ рд╣реИ, рдПрдХ рд▓реЛрдЧ рдХрд╛ Rs ренрежреж рд╣реИред]” 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 рдХреМрд╢рд▓реНрдпрд╛ рджреЗрд╡реА рдмрдВрд╕рд▓]’ and ‘Vote Lotus [Translated from рдХрдорд▓ рдЫрд╛рдк рдореЗрдВ].’

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.

Donate to Alt News!
Independent journalism that speaks truth to power and is free of corporate and political control is possible only when people start contributing towards the same. Please consider donating towards this endeavour to fight fake news and misinformation.

Donate Now

About the Author

ЁЯЩП Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.