A video is viral on social media following the prime minister’s three-day official visit to the United States. Users are claiming that PM Modi was chased down and humiliated by the American Kisan Ekta movement.
अमेरिकी इतिहास में कभी भी भारतीय प्रधानमंत्री को पब्लिक ने दौड़ा-दौड़ा कर नहीं भगाया था।
अमेरिकी फ़ौज मोदी को लेकर उल्टे पॉव भागी
🌾 अमेरिका किसान एकता जिंदाबाद 🌾
मोदी की अमेरिका में किसानों के आगे भागने की बेज़ती जरूर देखें । 👇👆 pic.twitter.com/nmBu1bUibq
— Zohair malkapurwala (@Zoher89751009) September 29, 2021
The video is widespread on Facebook with the same claim.
अमेरिकी इतिहास में कभी भी भारतीय प्रधानमंत्री को पब्लिक ने दौड़ा-दौड़ा कर नहीं भगाया था।
अमेरिकी फ़ौज मोदी को लेकर उल्टे पॉव भागी
🌾 अमेरिका किसान एकता जिंदाबाद 🌾
मोदी की अमेरिका में किसानों के आगे भागने की बेज़ती जरूर देखें । 👇👆
Posted by Kulwinder Chahil Malerkotla on Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Alt News received numerous requests on its WhatsApp helpline number (+91 76000 11160) to fact-check the visuals.
Fact-check
The PM’s tour of the United States was dominating headlines from the get-go. The media was giving constant updates from his journey. Therefore, it would be odd if no outlets gave coverage to a group of people who took to the streets in opposition to the visit.
We noticed that this video has been available online since September 21. However, PM Modi left for the US the following day on September 22, confirming that it cannot possibly have anything to do with his visit. On September 21, a Twitter user shared this video as Melbourne, Australia.
Crazy scenes in Melbourne CBD 😳🤯 #melbourneprotests #MelbourneRiots pic.twitter.com/km1VD74ofm
— ⚫️⚪️ JAKE ⚫️⚪️ (@IncrediblyBozza) September 21, 2021
Another user had shared the clip on September 22. Using Google Maps, we found out that the video was taken at Exhibition Street in Melbourne’s Victoria. The Origin Energy building is also visible in the background. The image on the right in the collage below is from Google Street View.
A demonstration in Melbourne on September 21 had turned violent with police arresting some protestors.
According to reports, protests have been going on in Melbourne, Australia for several days in opposition to the lockdown. Only those who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are permitted to work. Locals were protesting this rule, and 72 people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident.
