Listen to the article
Fabricated News Clipping Circulates About Congress Candidate’s Remarks Before Jubilee Hills By-Election
A fabricated newspaper clipping claiming that Congress candidate Naveen Yadav celebrated the death of former MLA Maganti Gopinath has been circulating on social media ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election scheduled for November 11.
The manipulated Telugu newspaper clipping, designed to mimic the format of Telugu news outlet Velugu, carries an inflammatory headline that translates to “I fired crackers when Maganti died.” The fabricated report falsely attributes several controversial statements to Yadav, claiming he made these remarks during an interview with TV5 News.
Among the fabricated quotes, the clipping alleges that Yadav said, “I wished that Maganti should die because as long as he was alive, I could never become an MLA. When I heard the news of his death, I celebrated by bursting crackers at home with my family.” The fake report also included purported statements about Yadav joining Congress because he “couldn’t make settlements” during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime.
A fact-check investigation revealed multiple signs of manipulation. The link provided in the newspaper clipping leads to a “404 Page Not Found” error. Additionally, no such article exists on Velugu’s official website. Naveen Yadav’s campaign team categorically denied the allegations when contacted, confirming that the newspaper clipping was fraudulent.
The Jubilee Hills by-election was necessitated following the death of sitting BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year. Naveen Yadav filed his nomination as the Congress candidate on October 17, entering a politically charged contest where misinformation appears to be emerging as a campaign tactic.
While a legitimate Zee News report from October 14 did quote Yadav describing Gopinath’s death as “divine decree” during a campaign speech, the report made no mention of the inflammatory celebration claims contained in the viral fake clipping.
The actual TV5 News interview with Yadav, conducted by journalist Sambasiva Rao and published on YouTube on October 21, contains none of the controversial statements attributed to him in the fabricated newspaper article. The full interview shows Yadav discussing his campaign policies and vision for the constituency without making any disrespectful comments about the deceased MLA.
This incident marks the latest in a series of misinformation efforts targeting the Jubilee Hills by-election. Local fact-checking organization NewsMeter has previously debunked similar falsified Telugu newspaper clippings related to this electoral contest, suggesting a pattern of deliberate attempts to spread misinformation about candidates.
The circulation of such fabricated content highlights the growing challenge of election-related misinformation in India, particularly on social media platforms where contextual verification is often lacking. As the November 11 polling date approaches, voters in Jubilee Hills are being exposed to increasingly sophisticated forms of misinformation designed to influence their electoral choices.
Electoral authorities have yet to comment on this specific incident, though the Election Commission of India has repeatedly emphasized the importance of combating fake news during election periods to ensure free and fair polling processes.
Verify This Yourself
Use these professional tools to fact-check and investigate claims independently
Reverse Image Search
Check if this image has been used elsewhere or in different contexts
Ask Our AI About This Claim
Get instant answers with web-powered AI analysis
Related Fact-Checks
See what other fact-checkers have said about similar claims
Want More Verification Tools?
Access our full suite of professional disinformation monitoring and investigation tools
16 Comments
The report highlights the importance of verifying news sources and content, especially around politically sensitive topics. Fabricated claims can have damaging consequences if left unchecked.
The fabrication of such inflammatory quotes is a concerning tactic that can undermine the credibility of candidates and the electoral process. I’m glad this was caught and debunked.
Fact-checking is essential to ensure voters have access to accurate information. This investigation helps maintain transparency and trust in the democratic system.
The creation and circulation of this fabricated news clipping is a concerning tactic that should be condemned. Fact-checking and media literacy initiatives are essential to combat the spread of such manipulated content.
Fabricated news stories like this one can have far-reaching consequences, potentially swaying public opinion and undermining the integrity of elections. I commend the diligence of the fact-checkers in exposing this manipulation.
Maintaining the integrity of the electoral process is crucial for a healthy democracy. Efforts to combat disinformation are vital to ensuring voters have access to accurate information.
Spreading false information about a candidate’s remarks is a serious issue that deserves scrutiny. I’m glad the investigation uncovered the manipulated nature of this news clipping.
Fact-checking efforts like this help maintain the integrity of elections. Voters deserve accurate information to make informed decisions.
This fact-check serves as a valuable reminder to be cautious of unverified information, particularly during election seasons when disinformation can be used to sway public opinion.
Maintaining the integrity of the electoral process is crucial for democracy. Kudos to the investigation team for exposing this fabricated content.
It’s concerning to see the spread of manipulated news content ahead of an election. This highlights the need for robust fact-checking and media literacy efforts to combat the threat of disinformation.
This fact-check serves as an important reminder to be vigilant about the sources and veracity of information, especially during election periods when disinformation can be weaponized for political gain.
Kudos to the investigation team for exposing this fabrication. Maintaining transparency and trust in the electoral process should be a top priority for all stakeholders.
The circulation of this manipulated news clipping is a serious issue that deserves attention. Voters should be wary of unverified content and seek out authoritative sources of information.
This is an important fact-check, as the circulation of fabricated news clippings can sway public opinion and undermine the democratic process. It’s good to see the claims proven false and the manipulation exposed.
Agreed, transparency and truth are crucial, especially during election periods. Fabricated content should not be used to smear candidates and mislead voters.