Fact Check: Viral video showing party activists hurling chairs is not of TDP, JSP Atmeeya Sammelanam in AP
The BJP, TDP, and Janasena parties have forged an alliance for the upcoming assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. Also, the parties have reached a consensus on seat-sharing.
Makkal Sabhai
The BJP, TDP, and Janasena parties have forged an alliance for the upcoming assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. Also, the parties have reached a consensus on seat-sharing. As part of it, tickets were issued to few, leaving many other aspirants dissatisfied which triggered unrest among them. In this backdrop, a video of people entering into a dispute during a public meeting is going viral on social media platforms with the claim that it shows the visuals of the TDP-Janasena meeting in Andhra Pradesh.
A few users are claiming it to be the public meeting held in Vijayawada while others are claiming it to be the ‘Atmeeya Sammelanam’ meeting held in Dharmavaram. Here is the claim in Telugu shared by some users” TDP+ BJP+ JSP విజయవాడ ఆత్మీయ సమావేశం లో కుర్చీలతో ముష్టి యుద్ధం చేసుకుంటున్న కార్యకర్తలు..... అది.. అలా...కలిసిమెలిసి కొట్టుకుంటూ ఉండాలి... #EndOfTDP #EndOfJSP
Some users shared a claim that the party members of TDP and BJP fought by throwing chairs at each other in the presence of Chandrababu Naidu.
Fact Check:
The claim is False. The video does not show the visuals from ‘Atmeeya Sammelanam’ meetings conducted in Andhra Pradesh.
When Telugupost searched for the ‘Atmeeya Sammelanam’ meetings conducted in Andhra Pradesh, we found reports of the meetings. But there is no report of any incident during these meetings in either Vijayawada city or in Dharmavaram.
Video of Vijayawada Atmeeya Sammelanam can be seen here
Report about the Dharmavaram meeting can be seen here.
When we extracted the keyframes from the video and searched them using Google reverse image search, we found the same video published on YouTube by a user named UUUfacts with title in the Tamil language. The title of the video is ‘Let's fight for the chair. Can we throw chairs and fight?’ This video was published on April 7, 2024
When we carefully observed the viral video, we could see that ‘News 18’ and some Tamil letters were written on the banners of the stage. Upon further search, we found that News 18 Tamil Nadu is conducting a series of debates named “Makkal Sabhai” in various cities of the state. News 18 Tamil Nadu conducted Makkal Sabhai in Kanchipuram on April 6, 2024. The TV channel has livestreamed the event with the title “LIVE: Makkal Sabai | மக்களவை தேர்தல் களம் 2024 - இறுதிச்சுற்றில் முந்தப் போ
Though we could not find the visuals of the ruckus in the livestream video published by News18 Tamil Nadu, we could compare the visuals of the stage and confirm that the video is from the News 18 “Makkal Sabhai” meeting held in Kanchipuram.
The visuals were shared by the local leader Dr. SG Suryah on his Instagram account. When compared, the visuals are similar to the viral video.
A report published on a website named Thecommunemag.com shared the screenshot from the viral video stating that News18 Tamil Nadu conducted a live event called “Makkal Sabhai” on April 6, 2024, at Uma Murugan Mahal, Kanchipuram where MLA Ehilarasan from DMK, Dr SG Surya from BJP and Bharathiathi from CPM, etc. participated with reporter Balavel Chakraborty hosting the event.
The debate took an unexpected turn as the leaders had heated arguments that incited the audience, especially between the supporters of DMK and BJP. The physical altercation can be seen in the video where the chairs were thrown at each other, amid the clash.
The report also shared the tweet of BJP leader SG Suryah that stated: “DMK is powerless to counter ideas with ideas. DMK thugs assaulted BJP members during the "People's Assembly" event in Kancheepuram today @News18TamilNadu. Incivility in front of DMK MLA Mr. Ezhilarasan by throwing chairs and using third-class words.”
Here is the comparison of screenshots :
Therefore, the viral video shows the fight between DMK and BJP supporters in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu during a live debate conducted by News18 Tamil Nadu, but not the fight between TDP, BJP and Janasena supporters during Atmeeya Sammelanam meetings in Andhra Pradesh. The claim is False.