India TV Fact Check: A video is circulating on social media in which it is claimed that Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Modi government, is criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This video has been widely shared with various claims. However, upon fact-checking, it was determined that the video is approximately 12 years old, and the claims made in conjunction with the video are false. The video does not contain any criticism of Prime Minister Modi by Nitin Gadkari.
What is going viral?
A video is circulating on social media in which it appears that Gadkari, is using the word "Prime Minister" and saying that 'what the Prime Minister is saying goes against democracy.' This two-minute video was shared on Facebook and another platform on October 16, 2023, with the caption: "For the first time, BJP leader Nitin Gadkari's statement against Modi Ji in support of democracy. Our country needs such strong leaders."
The video with the caption "Support leaders who hold socialist views, no matter which party they belong to" was shared by a user named Gyanendra Awasthi on Facebook on October 17. The caption used by this user is similar to the one used by the previous user on the X platform.
India TV did fact check
Upon careful examination of the video, it became evident that both Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Ravi Shankar Prasad appeared much younger than they do today. Furthermore, in the video, Nitin Gadkari can be heard making statements such as, "Those who say there is zero corruption in the 2G spectrum, are saying such things today." Additionally, Gadkari makes a reference to the Emergency. Based on these remarks by Gadkari, it can be concluded that he did not make this statement in reference to the current Modi government.
Subsequently, we used Google Lens to search for specific frames from the video. The search results directed us to a YouTube video. Upon opening this video, it was evident that it was uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The video was published exactly 12 years ago, on August 16, 2011. Its title is "BJP Byte: Anna Hazare & Prime Minister: 15.08.2011," and it encompasses a discussion regarding the events related to Anna Hazare and the Prime Minister that transpired on August 15, 2011. The complete video is given below-
In the full video clip uploaded here, Nitin Gadkari is seen saying after three minutes, "Those who came out against the Congress party, the Congress has tarnished their character. Those who were talking to Anna Hazare for finding a solution, are now calling Anna Hazare corrupt." Gadkari's statements in this context clarify that these remarks were made in 2011 and pertained to the then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was the leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at that time.
What came out in the fact check?
When we fact-checked this video, it became evident that Nitin Gadkari made these statements in the year 2011. At that time, the central government was led by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), and the Prime Minister was Manmohan Singh. The video clarifies that the statements made by Nitin Gadkari were not directed at the current Modi government. Therefore, the claims made in the caption are not accurate.
