Recent Developments Across Gurugram, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Other Regions

A video circulating on social media purportedly showing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravindra Chavan touching the feet of an All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader has been debunked as false following a thorough investigation.

The footage, which went viral across multiple platforms, actually depicts Chavan paying respects to Neeraj G Jagiasi, a revered Sindhi spiritual figure from Maharashtra’s Ulhasnagar who is commonly known as Sai Chhotu Gurmukhdas Jagiasi.

This misattribution comes amid heightened political tensions in Maharashtra, where religious and political affiliations often become flashpoints for controversy. The BJP, which positions itself as a party championing Hindu nationalism, would face significant criticism from its base if one of its leaders were seen showing deference to a leader from AIMIM, a party that primarily represents Muslim interests.

Political analysts note that such misleading content typically spikes during election periods or times of political maneuvering in the state. Maharashtra, with its complex coalition politics and diverse demographic makeup, remains particularly vulnerable to such misinformation campaigns.

“Videos like these can be weaponized to create artificial divisions or to suggest political realignments that don’t exist,” explains Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, a political communication researcher at Mumbai University. “The speed at which such content spreads often outpaces verification efforts.”

The Sindhi community in Ulhasnagar, where Jagiasi has a significant following, has expressed disappointment over the misrepresentation. The area has historically been a stronghold of Sindhi refugees who settled there after Partition and maintains distinct cultural and religious practices.

Ravindra Chavan, who represents the Dombivli constituency in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, has been a prominent BJP figure in the Thane district. Sources close to Chavan confirmed that he occasionally attends cultural and religious events across communities as part of his constituency outreach.

This incident highlights the growing challenge of verifying political content in India’s digital ecosystem. According to a recent report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India, politically charged misinformation increased by 40 percent on social media platforms during the last state election cycle.

The BJP’s Maharashtra unit has not issued an official statement regarding the video, though party officials speaking on condition of anonymity expressed frustration at what they described as “deliberate attempts to create confusion among voters.”

AIMIM, led nationally by Asaduddin Owaisi, has been working to expand its footprint in Maharashtra beyond its traditional base in Hyderabad. The party has gained traction in parts of Maharashtra, particularly in the Marathwada region and certain pockets of Mumbai.

The viral nature of the video demonstrates how religious and political symbolism can be easily manipulated in India’s politically charged atmosphere. Acts such as touching feet—a traditional Indian gesture of respect typically shown to elders, spiritual leaders, or teachers—carry significant cultural weight and can be politically consequential when taken out of context.

Digital media literacy experts have pointed to this incident as a classic example of content being stripped of its original context to create a misleading narrative that plays into existing political tensions.

Fact-checking organizations across India have reported an uptick in similar misinformation involving prominent political figures, particularly content that suggests unexpected alliances or betrayals of core political positions.

As Maharashtra approaches its next electoral cycle, media analysts predict that such incidents of misinformation will likely increase, underscoring the importance of verification processes and media literacy among the voting public.