Several days ago, a video depicting the Chehlum procession in Delhi surfaced on social media, accompanied by claims that it was intended to disrupt the upcoming G-20 Summit in the city. The source of this viral video is multiple social media posts that wrongly linked the Chehlum procession to the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi. The claim suggests that the procession, organized by a particular community, was meant to cause disturbances during the international event. The video with misleading claims was shared by several accounts including news portals, such as @rightwing_guy, @MrSinha_, @KumaarSaagar and @SudarshanNewsTV.
Setting the Record Straight
Contrary to the misleading information, the Chehlum procession had been planned in advance with proper permissions from the authorities. Traditionally observed on the 40th day after Muharram, the procession was scheduled for September 7th. However, due to the extensive security preparations for the G-20 Summit, it was conducted a day earlier, on September 6th.
Delhi Police’s Response
The Delhi Police took to their official Twitter handle (@DelhiPolice) to address the misinformation. They released a traffic advisory and debunked the false claims, stating, “FALSE NEWS: Some social media handles are wrongly projecting videos of Chehlum procession as a communal protest before G-20 Summit. The Chehlum procession is traditional and carried out with due permission from law enforcement agencies. Please do not spread rumours.”
Intent Behind the Misinformation
It is evident that misinformation propaganda accounts are circulating these videos with false claims to target a particular community during their festival. The timing of this disinformation is particularly concerning, given that the G-20 Leaders Summit 2023 was scheduled for September 9th and 10th in New Delhi. The summit will take place at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, but it has no connection to the Chehlum procession.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the claims linking the Chehlum procession’s viral video to the G-20 Summit in Delhi are misleading. The march was conducted with proper permissions and had no disruptive intent towards the international event. You can refer to the findings of this inquiry in the Twitter thread embedded below.
Claim: The video of the Chehlum procession in Delhi was wrongly linked to the G-20 Summit with false claims of disruption.
Fact: The Chehlum procession was conducted in accordance with permissions and had no connection to the G-20 Summit. The viral claims are misleading and false.
In our pursuit of accurate and unbiased information, we’ve diligently fact-checked the claims surrounding the incident. Misinformation can sow discord and disrupt communal harmony. Your support matters greatly in our mission to foster an informed and united society. Together, let’s strive to make India and Indians proud, upholding truth and unity. Jai Hind.
