No, This Video Doesn't Show Union Min Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Embracing Hinduism

The minister had shared the video mentioning that the man seen along with him had come to invite him to a Mahotsav.

A video of Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, is being shared on social media platforms to claim that he has embraced Hinduism.

However, we found that the video is being shared with a false claim.

The minister had shared the video on 21 September mentioning that Swatmanandendra Swamy of Vishakha Sri Sardapeetham, Pendurthi, Visakhapatnam, had come to invite him to Sri Sarada Swaroopa Rajashyamala Sarannavaratri Mahotsav, that will be held from 7-15 October.

CLAIM

The claim along with the video reads: "इंसानियत में भारोषा रखने वाले हर व्यक्ति को ये करना चाहिए- मुख़्तार अब्बास नकवी जी ने हिन्दू धर्म के गम्छे को ग्रहण किया."

(Translated: Every person who has faith in humanity should do this- Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi ji has accepted Hindu religion.)

Several social media users have shared the video on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp with the same claim and the archived version of the posts can be viewed here, here, here, and here.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT

We came across a Facebook post shared by Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on 21 September that carried a longer version of the viral video.

The text along with the video mentioned that the man seen in the video is Sri Sri Sri Swatmanandendra Saraswati Mahaswamy of Vishakha Sri Sardapeetham, Pendurthi, Visakhapatnam, who invited the minister to Sri Sarada Swaroopa Rajashyamala Sarannavaratri Mahotsav, that will be held from 7 October to 15 October.

The union minister had also tweeted images from the said meeting on 21 September.

Took blessings of respected Sri Sri Sri Swatmanandendra Saraswati Mahaswamy Ji of Vishakha Sri Sardapeetham, Pendurthi, Visakhapatnam, today at Antyodaya Bhawan and invited me for Sri Sarada Swaroopa Rajashyamala Sarannavaratri Mahotsav, going to be organised from 7-15 October. pic.twitter.com/DQaUXjxgiY

— Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) September 21, 2021

In an email exchange with The Quint, Naqvi confirmed that the video and images were of Sri Sri Sri Swatmanandendra Saraswati Mahaswamy inviting him for the event.

"Nefarious misinformation is being circulated by some vested interests with fraudulent intentions regarding photos and video of that visit, in some sections of social media. Genuine photos, video and content regarding the visit was uploaded by me on my social media handles."

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister

Meanwhile, we found that Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham had uploaded images of several leaders meeting Swatmanandendra Swamy in the month of September.

These include Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, among others.

Evidently, a video of Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is being shared with the false claim that he has changed his religion.

(Update: The story has been updated to incorporate Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's response.)

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