Fact Check: Stalin’s picture wearing gloves was taken during Covid period and not recent
Precautions taken during Covid restrictions shared as M.K. Stalin discriminating against the baby’s caste by wearing gloves
Pictures of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai individually holding children are being circulated on social media.
In the pictures, Stalin can be seen wearing gloves while holding a baby with his hand, while Annamalai does not. Social media users accuse M.K. Stalin of discriminating against the child’s caste by wearing gloves and holding the baby, while comparing him to Annamalai for not discriminating against the child’s caste.
The picture is being shared with the caption: “The difference between those who oppose Dharma and those who live by it.”
FACT CHECK:
We performed a reverse image search and found the same picture of M.K. Stalin went viral on Twitter in 2021. The picture was shared by media agency Sun TV News in February 2021. The photo was added under the category 'Election’.
Keeping the dateline in mind, it should be noted that this picture was not taken recently but over two years ago. The picture was taken when Stalin visited the kids during an election campaign in Kancheepuram constituency in Tamil Nadu in 2021.
In 2021, Covid was prominent. The government had imposed many restrictions at that time to prevent the rapid spread of Covid. These restrictions include using masks, sanitizers and gloves. M.K. Stalin was following protocols while visiting people during the election campaign. All leaders who campaigned for the election wore masks and gloves and maintained social distancing.
Another similar picture was shared by Times of India on February 24, 2021. Here too, Stalin can be seen wearing gloves while holding a child.
The picture of K. Annamalai holding a baby was taken from a news report by Polimer News from August 2023, when Covid restrictions were not followed strictly, in terms of using masks, sanitizers and gloves. The video was taken at Kariapatti, Tamil Nadu.
With this, it is clear that the picture of MK Stalin holding a baby in his arms while wearing gloves was taken when the Covid-19 protocol was in place. It doesn't show any caste discrimination.