PM Modi was not instigating violence against the upper caste; the video is clipped. – FactCrescendo | The leading fact-checking website in India

PM Modi was originally speaking about Dr. BR Ambedkar’s struggles. Furthermore how did it not lead him to have a vengeful attitude.

Users on social media have frequently targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sharing clipped and edited videos of his speeches.

In the backdrop of this, a viral video of PM Modi is widely circulating on social media with the claim that he is trying to provoke people against the upper caste groups. Users are criticizing him for instigating caste politics in the country.

In the video, we can hear PM Modi say, “Someone who had to tolerate so much of injustice; whose childhood has seen injustices, atrocities, and harassment; somebody who has seen his mother being humiliated in front of their eyes. Tell me, if such a person gets the opportunity, will they not pay it back? Will he not take revenge?”

As the audience applauds Modi’s speech, he says, “You are the person who did not allow me to touch water, you did not allow me to step inside the temple, you refused to admit my children to school.”

The video’s caption reads, “Respected Narendra Modi ji, instigating a particular section to teach a lesson to the upper castes.”

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Fact Check-

We started our investigation by running a keyword search on YouTube that led us to the original speech delivered by PM Modi. Narendra Modi posted the original video on his official YouTube channel on 21 March 2016. The caption of the video states, “PM Modi’s address at laying the foundation stone for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Memorial.”The original speech duration is 47 minutes.

PM Modi delivered this speech at the event to lay the foundation stone for the Dr. BR Ambedkar National Memorial in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan. 

In the original version from the 35 minute 50 second mark, we can hear PM Modi speak about Dr. BR Ambedkar. He says, “This is what we have to learn from Baba Saheb (Ambedkar)… Someone who had to tolerate so much of injustice; whose childhood has seen injustices, atrocities, and harassment; somebody who has seen his mother being humiliated in front of their eyes. Tell me, if such a person gets the opportunity, will they not pay it back? It is normal for ordinary people to think like this. However, for a noble person like Baba Saheb Ambedkar, it was not like that. When he had power in his hand, he had a pen in his hand to draft the constitution. You will not find a single instance in his entire Parliament debates or speeches where he used any word or sentence to hurt others or he was ever vengeful.”

The speech makes it very clear that PM Modi was actually talking about Dr. BR Ambedkar, his struggles, and the lessons that we can learn from him.

When the viral video is compared to the original video, it is clear that the viral video has been clipped to mislead people into believing that he was instigating violence against upper caste people. Originally, PM Modi was speaking about Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

Conclusion-

Fact Crescendo found the claim made along with the video to be misleading. The viral video is incomplete and taken out of context. In the original speech PM Modi was praising Dr. BR Ambedkar for how he never let his oppression lead to a vengeful attitude. PM Modi delivered this speech in 2016.

Title:PM Modi was not instigating violence against the upper caste; the video is clipped.

Fact Check By: Drabanti Ghosh 

Result: Misleading