An image of a man holding a poster against the Ram temple went viral with the allegation that it was taken during the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
Very Twitter and Facebook users shared the picture and raised questions about the real intent of the protests. Delhi BJP Leader Kapil Mishra tweeted the photo and asked if they are farmers while some others linked it to the Republic Day violence in the capital.
India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) found that the photo came from San Francisco, United States, where a pro-Khalistan rally was held on Republic Day in front of the Indian consulate. Anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans have been raised. Protests against the farm laws were also on the agenda.
The archived versions of the posts are saved here, here, here and here.
The truth
On Facebook, some users below the viral photo said it was from an event in California. Using a combination of search keywords and reverse image search, we found that the original image with a broader view was posted by a Reddit user a few days back.
The virus image was tweeted on January 29 by several verified users, including filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, calling it a Khalistan protest in Silicon Valley.
Meanwhile, Khalistanis is in Silicon Valley in the US.
Farmers protest? Really?
Are you so naive? pic.twitter.com/k2MHyR4PcwVivek Ranjan Agnihotri @vivekagnihotri 29 January 2021
Agnihotri also tweeted a video of a protest from California, where Khalistan flags are clearly visible.
We found that on January 26, a pro-Khalistan demonstration took place in front of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, California. Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised, anti-India banners were displayed and posters demanding the release of Khalistan leaders were seen at the protest site. Farm laws were also part of the protest agenda.
A local news site in San Francisco discussed the event, which can be seen here.
Compare the viral image and the photo posted by Agnihotri with the Google Street View image from the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and other buildings, we are confirmed that the location is the same.
It can therefore be said that the viral image that a poster against Ram mandir shows is not of a peasant protest in India. The statue is from San Francisco, where pro-Khalistan supporters marched in front of the Indian consulate on January 26.
ClaimThis photo of a man holding a poster against the Ram temple in Ayodhya was taken during the ongoing farmers agitation. ClosureThe photo is from San Francisco, United States, where a pro-Khalistan rally was held on Republic Day in front of the Indian consulate. Anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans have been raised. Protests against the farm laws were also on the agenda.
JHOOTH BOLE KAUVA KAATE
The number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.
- 1 Crow: Half true
- 2 crows: mostly lies
- 3 crows: absolutely false
