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In a significant fact-check investigation, Vishvas News has debunked a viral video showing Aam Aadmi Party leader Rakhi Birlan allegedly criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his presence.
The manipulated footage, which gained considerable traction on social media platforms, purportedly showed Birlan making critical remarks about PM Modi while he and Home Minister Amit Shah were present. Facebook user ‘Anuj Kumar’ shared the video on November 1, 2025, with the caption: “A tea seller directly becomes the Prime Minister with the right to vote,” further fueling its spread online.
Upon thorough investigation, Vishvas News determined that the viral content was deliberately altered to create a false narrative. The original video dates back to March 2020 and shows Birlan speaking in the Delhi Assembly, where neither Modi nor Shah was present. The investigation revealed that footage of the Prime Minister and Home Minister had been spliced into the video from entirely different parliamentary sessions.
The authentic source material was located on the Aam Aadmi Party’s official YouTube channel, uploaded on March 14, 2020. In the original recording, other Delhi Assembly members can be heard interrupting Birlan during her speech, confirming the footage was taken during a state legislative session rather than in Parliament.
Further evidence uncovered during the investigation showed that the clips of Modi and Shah were extracted from separate parliamentary appearances. The Prime Minister’s footage was traced to a February 6, 2025, Rajya Sabha session during budget discussions, while Shah’s appearance came from a Lok Sabha debate recorded on August 20, 2025, according to PTI News footage.
“The video is clearly manipulated,” said VK Shukla, a Dainik Jagran correspondent covering AAP affairs in Delhi, who was contacted by Vishvas News to verify the facts. “This is an old clip that has been edited to create a false impression.”
The investigation also revealed background information about Rakhi Birlan, noting she contested the Delhi Assembly elections from the Madipur constituency in 2025 but was unsuccessful in her bid.
This incident highlights the growing challenge of digitally manipulated content in India’s political discourse. Sophisticated editing techniques are increasingly being deployed to create misleading narratives that can rapidly spread across social media platforms. The video in question reached a significant audience, as the Facebook account that shared it has approximately 87,000 followers.
Digital misinformation experts warn that such manipulated media poses particular risks during politically sensitive periods, as viewers may not scrutinize content carefully before sharing it further. The incident demonstrates how political figures’ statements can be taken out of context and repurposed to create artificial confrontations that never occurred.
Vishvas News’s investigation serves as a reminder of the importance of media literacy and fact-checking in an era where visual manipulation technology has become increasingly accessible and sophisticated. The organization has classified the viral claim as “False” as part of its ongoing efforts to combat misinformation in the Indian media landscape.
The original footage and manipulated version continue to circulate online, though several platforms have begun flagging the content following the fact-check publication.
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8 Comments
I’m curious to know more about the motivations behind this edited video. Was it a deliberate attempt to discredit the AAP leader, or simply sloppy and irresponsible reporting? Either way, it’s a prime example of the importance of media literacy in the digital age.
This seems like a clear case of disinformation. I’m glad the investigation was able to trace the original source material and expose the deceptive editing. It’s crucial that the public has access to accurate information, not doctored videos intended to mislead.
While I’m not surprised to see this kind of edited footage surfacing, it’s still disappointing. Maintaining the integrity of public discourse should be a top priority, and I hope this incident spurs greater efforts to verify the authenticity of online content.
Interesting fact-check on this edited video. It’s important to verify the authenticity of online content, especially when it involves political figures. Manipulating footage to create false narratives is highly concerning and undermines trust in public discourse.
This is a concerning trend of manipulated media being used to mislead the public. I appreciate the diligence of the fact-checkers in tracing the origins and exposing the truth. It’s a crucial step in combating the spread of disinformation online.
This is a timely reminder of the need for critical thinking when consuming online content, especially around political issues. I commend the fact-checkers for their diligence in uncovering the truth behind this misleading video. Vigilance is key in the fight against disinformation.
It’s good to see the Disinformation Commission taking action on this case. Manipulating video footage to create a false narrative is a serious offense that erodes public trust. I hope the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
Kudos to the fact-checkers for their thorough work on this. Splicing footage of public officials into a different context is a serious violation of journalistic ethics. I hope this incident serves as a wake-up call for increased scrutiny of online content, especially around political topics.