Viral Video Falsely Portrays Akhilesh Yadav’s Criticism of Yogi Government

Misleading Video of Akhilesh Yadav’s Comments on Cow Products Circulates Online

A manipulated video clip of Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav has been making rounds on social media, falsely portraying him as advocating for cow meat consumption. The edited footage, which omits crucial context, has sparked controversy in Uttar Pradesh, where cow protection remains a politically sensitive issue.

Investigation by fact-checkers reveals that the viral clip was selectively edited from an October 15 press conference where Yadav was actually criticizing the Yogi Adityanath government’s cow tourism initiative. The complete footage shows Yadav responding to a journalist’s question about the BJP government’s cow tourism plans, not independently promoting cow products.

“Cow tourism has to be done. Serve the cow. Worship the cow. Eat cow products. We have no objection to that. At least save Uttar Pradesh from bulls,” Yadav said in the original footage, before transitioning to criticize the state government for failing to address the issue of stray bulls causing accidents and deaths.

The viral clip, shared by an Instagram user with over 18,000 followers, deceptively cuts off after Yadav mentions eating cow products, removing the subsequent criticism of the state government’s handling of stray cattle issues. The edited version creates a misleading impression that Yadav was simply encouraging the consumption of cow-derived products without the critical context.

The full press conference was livestreamed on October 15 by multiple sources, including Bharat Samachar’s X (formerly Twitter) handle and the SP’s official social media accounts. Media outlet Dainik Bhaskar also covered the event, reporting Yadav’s complete statement, including his suggestion that the government should focus on “bull tourism” instead of cow tourism, given the problems caused by stray bulls in the state.

Dr. Ashutosh Verma, the SP’s national spokesperson, confirmed that the video has been doctored to spread misinformation. “This is a clear example of manipulative editing to create controversy where none exists,” Verma stated when shown the viral clip.

The incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation in Indian politics, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where religious sentiments around cows have been politically leveraged in recent years. The BJP government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has implemented several cow protection measures, including cow tourism initiatives that Yadav was criticizing.

Political analysts note that such manipulated content tends to proliferate during politically charged periods, creating artificial divisions and distracting from substantive policy debates. Social media platforms have struggled to contain the spread of such misleading content, which can quickly reach thousands of viewers before fact-checks emerge.

This incident serves as a reminder for media consumers to seek complete context when viewing political content online, particularly short clips that may be edited to alter their original meaning. Fact-checking organizations continue to play a crucial role in debunking such misleading content, though the challenge remains to ensure corrections reach the same audience as the original misinformation.

The SP has not indicated whether they will pursue any formal complaint regarding the manipulated content.