Clip of Empty Chairs at PM Modi’s Event in Gujarat Shared With Misleading Claim

We checked videos of the event and spoke to reporters, who told us that the venue was jam-packed during the speech.

A video showing empty chairs inside a venue, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech is playing on big screens, is going viral on social media with a claim that only a handful of people attended Modi's event held in Modhera, Gujarat on Sunday, 9 October.

The video comes ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, which are to be held later this year. Sharing the video, Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan and Gujarat Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani mocked PM Modi's 'popularity'.

However, several videos from the event show that the venue was crowded during Modi's speech. This was corroborated by several reporters, who attended the event. We also found that the video which shows empty chairs, was taken after the event was over and people started leaving.

CLAIM

As Modi is on a three-day visit to Gujarat, the video is being shared to claim that is popularity in his home state is dwindling and people didn't show up for his event.

Similar posts can be seen here and here.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT 

We found the full video of the event on Narendra Modi's official YouTube channel, which was live streamed on 9 October. The video was from Modhera village, where the prime minister laid the foundation stone for multiple projects.

At several points in the video, the crowd at the venue could be seen.

(Note: Swipe to see screenshots from the LIVE video.)

At around 39-minute mark, the camera pans from one side to the other and shows a jam-packed room.

We also compared these visuals with the viral clip to prove that it was from the same event.

BJP Gujarat President CR Paatil also shared visuals from the event on his Facebook page, which showed a crowded venue.

Further, in the viral clip, one can notice an empty stage.

'POST-EVENT VIDEO': LOCAL REPORTERS CONFIRM

A local reporter from Gujarat, who was present at the event and didn't wish to be named, told The Quint that the viral video was taken after Modi finished his speech and people started leaving the venue. He added that the venue was fully packed during the address.

He also pointed out that the screen seen in the video is playing Modi's recorded speech.

Another reporter provided us the same information and said that the viral clip was shot after the event got over.

Clearly, Modi's event in Gujarat gathered a huge crowd and the claim on social media is misleading.

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9643651818, or e-mail it to us at [e-mail] and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)