Edited video shared to falsely claim Priyanka Gandhi criticized Chhattisgarh Congress leaders

By: Annet Preethi Furtado
September 28 2023

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X posts claiming that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused Chhattisgarh's Congress leaders of self-interest in power in her speech. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

The state government in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh had organized 'Mahila Samriddhi Sammelan,' a women-centric outreach event, on September 21. Addressing the attendees at the event, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel spoke about his government's initiatives dedicated to fostering self-reliance and employment for women through their involvement in self-help groups. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra delivered the keynote address at the event.

What's the claim?

Following the event, a video featuring Gandhi Vadra is circulating on social media with the claim that she criticized the reigning Baghel-led Chhattisgarh government in her speech. The video shows Gandhi Vadra allegedly describing the Baghel government as driven by the pursuit of power while addressing the crowd.

The text overlaid on the viral video reads,"भूपेश बघेल के लिए क्या बोल गई प्रियंका गांधी," which translates to, "What did Priyanka Gandhi say about Bhupesh Baghe?" In the brief 39-second clip, Vadra speaks in Hindi and says, "Based on my experience, I've observed numerous leaders vigorously pursue power. They hold ambitions, seeking power to enhance their status, accumulate money, and build luxury residences. Today, I take immense pride in proclaiming that the leadership of the Congress Party in Chhattisgarh, India, falls into this category (rough translation)."

An X user shared the video (archived here) with a Hindi caption that translates to: "*BIG BREAKING* Priyanka Gandhi spoke such truth for Bhupesh Baghel and Congress leaders during her speech. Because of which, she had to apologize in the Congress office. (sic)" 

Screenshots of the viral X posts. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

The clip was shared with a similar narrative on Facebook as well. These posts can be seen viewed here and here.

Screenshots of the viral Facebook posts. (Source: Facebook/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the viral video has omitted some of Gandhi Vadra's statements, distorting its context and misrepresenting her message. A full video of her speech shows that Gandhi Vadra differentiated between self-serving leaders and Chhattisgarh's Congress members who, according to her, prioritize public welfare.

What did we find?

We found a longer version of the viral video uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the Indian National Congress. This video, uploaded on September 21, features the viral segment starting at the 1-hour, 55-minute, and 45-second mark.

Here, Gandhi Vadra tells the audience, "Many of you may have often thought about the relentless pursuit of power, especially by leaders. Through my own experiences, I have encountered leaders whose sole ambition is power. They are driven by a desire to enhance their status, accumulate money, and build grand residences. (translated from Hindi)." She adds, "There is another category of leader who desires power not for personal gain but to bring about positive change for the people. I take immense pride in proclaiming that the leadership of the Congress Party in Chhattisgarh, India, today falls into this category. They wield power with the noble intention of promoting the well-being of all."

A copy of Gandhi Vadra's speech on the INC website also doesn't mention her criticizing the Baghel government.

The unedited, extended segment of her speech can also be found on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's official and IBC24 news YouTube channels as well. This version of the speech vidcheo proves that Gandhi Vadra's statement was manipulated in the viral video, distorting its context and misrepresenting her intended message. She was commending Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh for their commitment to utilizing power for the betterment of the public, not accusing them of being self-serving.

The verdict

An edited video is being used to falsely claim that Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused Chhattisgarh's Congress leaders of pursuing self-interest in power. An extended version of her speech shows that Gandhi Vadra praised Chhattisgarh's Congress leaders for using power for the public's welfare and broader societal well-being.