WebQoof Recap: Of Misinformation Surrounding the G20 Summit, Libya Floods & More

From edited visuals being falsely linked to the recent G20 Summit to unrelated visuals being shared as ones from the catastrophic floods in Libya, here are the top five pieces of misinformation that went viral this week.

1. Fact-Check: Photo of Mahabharata Scene Behind PM Modi and Joe Biden Is Morphed!

Following the conclusion of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, social media users shared a photo of US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that the two sat in front of a painting depicting a scene from the Indian epic Mahabharata.

However, the photo was edited. The original photo, which was shared on PM Modi's verified X (formerly Twitter) account, showed a plain white wall in the background.

You can read our fact-check here.

2. Fact-Check: Old, Unrelated Videos Falsely Linked to Libya Floods

After catastrophic floods ravaged Libya, leaving at least 5,000 dead, social media users shared several videos of floods and disasters, claiming that they showed visuals from the country.

(Swipe to view all claims.)

However, none of these three videos are related to the recent catastrophe in Libya.

• The first video has been on the internet since 2016. It shows a flood near Saudi Arabia's Al-Farsha area

• The second video, of people escaping cars which are getting washed away, is from Zaragoza, Spain and was taken in July 2023.

• The last one shows a mudslide in Atami in Japan's Shizuoka prefecture and dates back to July 2021.

You can read our fact-check here.

3. Fact-Check: False Claim About Omar Abdullah & Sachin Pilot Goes Viral

A video showing Payal Abdullah talking about her separation with former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is going viral on social media.

• In the video, she also mentions about demanding Rs 15 lakh as maintenance from Abdullah for her children and house rent.

• A clip from the interview is being shared to claim that she is the sister of former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot who renounced Hindu religion to marry Omar and is 'suffering' now.

But, the claim is false.

The video shows Payal Abdullah, also known as Payal Nath (maiden name), who separated from Omar Abdullah in 2011 and has no connection to the Pilot family.

You can read our fact-check here.

4. Fact-Check: The 'Magnificent Bharat' Book Was Not Presented to G20 Dignitaries

A copy of a book titled Magnificent Bharat is being shared on social media platforms with the claim that it was presented to the dignitaries who attended the G20 summit in New Delhi.

• The book's contents, which include a descriptive portion of India's history and past, talks about Hindu kings, 'invaders', Hindu scriptures and ancient temples across India.

This claim is false. The booklets that were presented to the dignitaries at the G20 summit were titled Bharat the Mother of Democracy and Elections in India.

You can read our fact-check here.

5. BJP Leaders Share Misleading Claim on Karnataka Vehicle Subsidy for Minorities

Sharing a newspaper clipping for an automobile subsidy scheme in Karnataka, several social media users – including some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders – claimed that only people belonging to Muslim or "non-Hindu" communities in the state could benefit from the scheme.

• The claim also accused the current Congress-led government in the state of appeasement politics.

However, the claim is misleading.

• While the Swavalambi Sarathi Scheme subsidises passenger auto rickshaws, goods vehicles and taxis for religious minorities, the Airavatha Scheme provides similar subsidies for those belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) groups.

• Moreover, a similar scheme was also available for minorities under the state's former BJP government.

You can read our fact-check here.

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9643651818, or e-mail it to us at [e-mail] and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)