A video circulating on social media (here, here, and here) features Rakesh Tikait, the Indian farmer rights activist and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, speaking at a public meeting. In the video, Tikait chants ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ following his comments that the government might try to incite riots. He also notes that similar slogans were chanted during his father’s era. Let’s find out the truth behind the video.
Claim: Rakesh Tikait raising ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ slogans at public meeting.
Fact: The video, dates back to 5 September 2021, features live coverage of the Kisan Maha Panchayat event held in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. In the footage, Rakesh Tikait is seen chanting “Allah Hu Akbar.” However, this chant, which has been used since his father’s time, is part of a combined slogan: “Allah Hu Akbar and Har Har Mahadev.” While Tikait is heard saying “Allah Hu Akbar,” the crowd responds with “Har Har Mahadev.” This combined slogan is intended to symbolize unity. Therefore, the claim made in the post is Misleading.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to the original video on YouTube, published by the Haryana Tak News channel on 05 September 2021. The video’s description confirms that it features live coverage of the Kisan Maha Panchayat event held in Muzaffarnagar on the same date. The viral post is taken from the 11:14-minute mark of the original video.
In the video, Rakesh Tikait said, “If such (BJP) governments continue in the country, they will continue to create riots. Earlier, Tikait (Father of Rakesh Tikait and former BKU President Mahendra Singh Tikait) used to chant as well. ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ (Immediately the crowd chanted ‘Har Har Mahadev’), ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ (again the crowd chanted ‘Har Har Mahadev’). These ‘Allah Hu Akbar-Har Har Mahadev’ slogans have been used in movements in the country so far. They will continue to be chanted in future movements as well. Riots do not break out near us. If they try to divide people, we try to unite. People should not be fooled by false propaganda,” he said.
Further investigation led us to a video published by BBC News Hindi on 7 September 2021, which provides a comprehensive clarification regarding Rakesh Tikait’s use of the slogan ‘Allah Hu Akbar’. The video confirms that Rakesh Tikait did not exclusively chant ‘Allah Hu Akbar’. Instead, he said ‘Allah Hu Akbar’, and the crowd responded with ‘Har Har Mahadev’. This exchange of slogans has been a tradition since the time of Tikait’s father and is expected to continue in future events.
Additionally, Dainik Bhaskar covered his address with the headline: “Kisan Mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar: Rakesh Tikait says – slogans of Allah Hu Akbar and Har Har Mahadev will continue to be raised here.”
To sum up, an old 2021 clip of Rakesh Tikait has been shared and misinterpreted as him chanting ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ while it shows the ‘Allah Hu Akbar – Har Har Mahadev’ chant, a symbol of unity used since Tikait’s father’s time.
