Clipped Video Viral With False Claim That Rahul Gandhi ‘Insulted’ Kharge

The claim is false as Gandhi was helping Kharge with his chair and not signalling him to leave.

Fact-Check: Rahul Gandhi was helping Kharge to get up from his seat as Ajay Maken called him to deliver his speech.

(Source: The Quint) 

A video featuring Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge has gone viral on social media platforms.

What happens in the clip?: In the video, Rahul Gandhi could be seen pulling Kharge's chair. He, then, gets up with some papers in his hand and starts to walk, when Gandhi pushes the chair back. The Congress president is, then, seen talking to other leaders such as KC Venugopal and Ajay Maken, near what looks like a podium.

The claim: Those sharing have claimed that the Gandhis insulted Kharge by asking him to vacate the seat and "move elsewhere." Users questioned whether the post of Congress president meant anything.

An archive of the post can be found here. 

(Source: Facebook/Screenshot) 

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

Is the claim true?: No, the claim is false.

• In the longer version of the video, Maken called Kharge to deliver his address at the inauguration of Indira Bhawan, the new Congress party headquarters, in Delhi. Gandhi was helping Kharge with his chair.

What we found: At first, we found the longer version of the video on Congress's official YouTube channel.

• The viral clip was a part of the livestream for the inauguration of the new party headquarter, Indira Bhawan in Mandi House, Delhi on 15 January.

• Team WebQoof, then, located the part of the viral video. At 46:30 minutes of the video, Maken was heard requesting Kharge to address the audience.

• At 46:46 minutes, Gandhi was seen pulling Kharge's chair in order to help him rise from the seat.

• At 47:24 minutes, Kharge was seen standing at the podium, delivering his speech at the inauguration.

The viral video has clipped Maken calling Kharge to the podium and spread the false claim.

Conclusion: The viral video has spread a false claim that Gandhi insulted Kharge by asking him to vacate the seat.

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