A viral video allegedly depicting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announcing his resignation from the party has been subjected to scrutiny by ChannelIAM Fact check. The video, which surfaced amidst the election fervour, has been debunked as fake, highlighting the critical role of fact-checking in combating misinformation.
False Claim Circulates:
The manipulated video portrays Gandhi purportedly making a resignation announcement during his nomination filing for the Lok Sabha elections in Wayanad, Kerala. However ChannelIAM Fact check, have confirmed that the original footage captures Gandhi’s legitimate nomination filing on April 3 for the upcoming general elections.
Election Context:
With the Lok Sabha elections in India scheduled in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, 2024, and the counting of votes set for June 4, Gandhi’s candidacy in Wayanad has drawn significant attention. He faces competition from Annie Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and K Surendran, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kerala unit.
Debunking the Hoax:
ChannelIAM Fact check has conducted thorough analyses, revealing that the viral video has been manipulated with a fake AI-generated voice clone of Rahul Gandhi. By cross-referencing key frames from the video, it was established that the original footage captured Gandhi submitting his nomination papers to the Wayanad district collector on April 3, 2024.
Confirmation of Original Footage:
Further investigation led to the discovery of a video shared by the Indian National Congress’ verified YouTube channel on the same day, titled ‘Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Wayanad.’ In this authentic footage, Gandhi makes no statement regarding his resignation, contrary to the claims made in the manipulated video.
The debunking of the viral video by ChannelIAM Fact check underscores the importance of vigilance and critical evaluation in navigating the digital landscape. As misinformation continues to proliferate, fact-checking initiatives play a vital role in preserving the integrity of information dissemination. By relying on verified sources and conducting meticulous analysis, the truth can prevail over falsehoods, safeguarding the public discourse and democratic processes.
