No, 'Coolie' Badge Worn by Rahul Gandhi Did Not Carry '420' as Its Serial Number

The viral photo showing '420' as coolie's badge number on Rahul Gandhi has been edited from '756'.

Fact-check: This viral image showing Rahul Gandhi wearing a coolie's badge with '420' serial number in Delhi is altered.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

An image showing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wearing a railway porter's red jacket and a badge with serial number '420' written on it is going viral on social media to mock the leader.

Some context: Gandhi visited Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi on 21 September.

• He donned a 'coolie' attire and also carried a piece of luggage.

• He also met the porters working at the station and discussed their issues.

An archive can be seen here.

(Archives of similar claims can be seen here and here.)

Viral image is altered: Gandhi was not wearing a badge with '420' written on it.

• The original badge worn by him had the number '756' written on it.

How did we find out the truth?: We checked Gandhi's social media platforms to find the original image.

• This led us to an Instagram post made by the official account of Gandhi on 21 September.

• The post details him meeting the railway porters at Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi.

• We compared the viral image with the original one, which carried '756' badge number.

The original badge carried '756' badge number.

• The same thread posted by Gandhi carried another close picture with showed '756' badge number very clearly.

Another picture with showed '756' badge number

Some of these images were also shared by Congress on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Conclusion: Clearly, this viral image showing Rahul Gandhi wearing a coolie's badge with '420' serial number is altered.

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