WebQoof Recap: Misinformation Around Reasi Attack, Election Results & More
Here are the viral pieces of misinformation we fact-checked this week.
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From misinformation around Lok Sabha election results, Reasi attack and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, here are the top five pieces of misinformation that went viral this week.
1. Did 110 Muslim Candidates Get Elected in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections? No!
A social media post alleges that approximately 110 leaders from the Muslim community were voted in as Members of Parliament (MPs) in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections that just ended.
Spreading a misleading narrative, users have claimed that 20% of the representatives in the Indian Parliament are currently Muslims, suggesting that if this pattern persists, India could transform into an 'Islamic Nation'.
The total number of elected MPs belonging to the Muslim community is 24.
(Source: The Quint)
However, the claim is false.
The actual number of elected MPs who are part of the Muslim community is 24, not 110 as stated in the viral message. Consequently, the overall proportion of Muslim representation in the Lok Sabha would be around 4.42 percent.
Read our story here.
2. Old & Unrelated Photo, False Claims Linked With Reasi Terror Attack in J&K
A viral photo showing uniformed men inspecting a military bus is circulating on social media, suggesting that Indian army soldiers were martyred in the recent attack in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir on 9 June.
However, this claim is false.
Police sources from Reasi confirmed to The Quint that no casualties of Indian soldiers were reported in this Reasi attack.
Read our fact-check here.
3. Old Video of a Long Queue of Women Outside Bank Resurfaces With False Claim
A video showing women wearing burqas standing in physically distanced circles along the road is going viral on social media.
The claim states that these women were queuing up to receive the promised amount of Rs 8,500 through Congress' Mahalaxmi scheme.
However, this claim is misleading.
The video is from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh and dates back to 2020. As per previous news reports, they had queued up outside the Bank of Baroda to withdraw funds following incorrect information that the 500 rupees credited to their Jan Dhan accounts would be reclaimed by the authorities.
Read our story here.
4. Old Video of CM Chandrababu Naidu Yelling in AP Assembly Viral as Recent
A video of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu shouting in the assembly and then storming off went viral online.
Viewers claimed that this footage is recent, possibly just before his swearing-in ceremony as the state's CM with the NDA alliance.
However, the video is from 2021 and is being falsely associated with Naidu's recent swearing-in ceremony.
It shows Naidu getting angry and leaving the assembly after reportedly being offended by members of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP).
Read our story here.
5. No, New York Times’ Report Does Not Say Amazonian Tribe Is 'Addicted to Porn'
Several individuals on social media, such as Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the chairman of X, criticized The New York Times for its coverage of the Marubo tribe in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil.
They have claimed that NYT had published an article indicating that the Marubo tribe, who got connected to the internet through Starlink, Musk's satellite, was 'addicted' pornography.
But, these claims are misleading. The viral claim mentioned in the article features a statement from a member of the tribe expressing worry about teenagers viewing and sharing pornography.
However, the report does not explicitly say that the tribe is addicted to pornography.
Read our story here.
(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9540511818, or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)
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