No, MS Dhoni Did Not Attend an ABVP Function on Swami Vivekananda
The photo has been in circulation since 2013, cropping up from time to time with the same narrative.
CLAIM
A photo of Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni standing in front of a poster, featuring a photo of Swami Vivekananda with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidya Parishad logo, has been circulating on social media.
The image has been shared along with the narrative that Dhoni attended an ABVP function on the Hindu spiritual leader.
The photo has been in circulation since 2013, cropping up from time to time with the same narrative – that Dhoni participated in the event organised by the right-wing student organisation.
Two pages on Facebook, which claim to be associated with ABVP, had also posted the same photo in 2015 and 2018 respectively.
TRUE OR FALSE?
The claim shared along with the photo is false. It has been morphed to make it appear like Dhoni was present at the ABVP function.
The unedited photo is actually from a Youth Leadership Development Programme organised on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand at Hotwar Mega Sports Complex in Ranchi on 20 October 2013.
This is the actual photo, credited to news agency PTI.
Dhoni was in attendance at the launch of an initiative in Jharkhand by an NGO to empower youths from rural and backward regions with the help of football.
Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia was also present at the event, photos from which show that the poster behind Dhoni does not have 'ABVP' written on it.
Here is another photo from the same event.
Therefore, it can be seen that this is a morphed photo being shared with a false narrative.
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