On 04 September 2025, the Nepal government banned 26 major social media platforms, sparking nationwide youth-led protests that turned violent from 08 September 2025 onwards, leaving at least 72 dead and over 2,100 injured as demonstrators clashed with security forces and targeted government properties, including the residence of the President. Despite lifting the ban on 09 September 2025, anger persisted, with protesters demanding Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s resignation over corruption and inequality. Oli stepped down the same day along with several ministers. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim Prime Minister, the first woman to hold the post, with new elections set for 05 March 2026. The army was deployed to restore order, while the interim government announced a ₹10 lakh compensation for the victims’ families and free medical care for the injured. Meanwhile, youth-led groups continue to shape Nepal’s political direction (here, here, and here).
In this context, a video is circulating on social media (here, here, and here) showing a group of people holding the Indian flag during a rally. It is being claimed that the video is from Nepal, where participants raised slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram. Let’s verify the truth behind the video in this article.
Claim: The video shows a rally in Nepal where people holding the Indian flag raised slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram.
Fact: The viral video does not show a rally in Nepal. It actually depicts the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ rally held in Gangtok, Sikkim, on 12 August 2025, attended by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Governor OP Mathur. Participants marched from MG Marg to Manan Kendra. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
A reverse image search of key frames from the viral video led us to multiple media reports (here, here) dated 12 August 2025. These reports carried similar visuals from different angles, featuring the same people seen in the viral video, confirming that it predates the September 2025 Nepal protest. According to the reports, Gangtok marked the beginning of the 79th Independence Day celebrations on 12 August 2025 with a ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ rally. Governor Om Prakash Mathur, Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay, cabinet ministers, legislators, citizens, and school students participated in the event. The rally started from MG Marg and ended at Manan Kendra, covering nearly one kilometre.
We then conducted a Google search using relevant keywords and found a Facebook post by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, dated 12 August 2025, in which he mentioned the rally. The post also featured several photos of the event. In these photos, Prem Singh Tamang can be seen wearing white clothes, while Sikkim Governor OP Mathur is dressed in a Nehru jacket — the same attire both are seen wearing in the viral video.
A comparison of the visuals from the viral video, the news reports, and CM Prem Singh Tamang’s Facebook post is provided below.
We also found a Facebook post by the official page of the Government of Sikkim, dated 12 August 2025, which mentioned this event and shared photos from this rally.
To sum up, an August 2025 video of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ rally held in Gangtok is falsely shared as from Nepal.
