A video is being shared on social media claiming it as visuals of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel welcoming Congress leaders with gold chains during the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) meeting in Raipur. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video of Bhupesh Baghel welcoming Congress leaders with gold chains during the recent AICC plenary meeting held in Raipur.
Fact: Biran Mala, the garland that Bhupesh Baghel used to welcome Congress leaders during the 85th AICC plenary session, is a traditional Baiga tribe garland made using grass and the stem of a tree named Khirsali. The Biran Malas Bhupesh Baghel used to welcome Congress leaders are not made up of gold. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
When we searched for the details of the garland Bhupesh Baghel used to welcome Congress leaders at the AICC 85th plenary session in Raipur, we found the details of the garland in an article published by the ‘ETV Bharat’. ‘ETV Bharat’ in the article reported that the garland Bhupesh Baghel used to welcome Congress leaders at the recent AICC plenary session in Raipur was Biran Mala, a traditional Baiga tribe garland made using grass and the stem of a tree named Khirsali.
Speaking about the Biran Mala, Itwari Ram Machiya Baiga, the Chhatisgarh state president of the Baiga tribe, said, “This Biran Mala is one of the adornments of the Baiga tribes. This garland is made from the stem of the tree named Khirasali and the grass named Suta Khand. It takes a lot of hard work to make this garland. The state government led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is making special efforts to facilitate the art culture and traditions of Chhattisgarh. Due to this effort of the government, the cultural heritage of the special backward Baiga tribe living in the state is getting a new identity.”
Bhupesh Bhagel through a tweet issued a clarification regarding the social media rumours alleging that he had gifted gold chains to the Congress leaders who attended the AICC’s plenary session. Accusing the BJP of spreading false rumours about him and insulting the tribal traditions of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Bhagel tweeted video clips of Itwari Ram Machiya Baiga and a making video of Biran Mala. Bhupesh Bhagel in the tweet clarified that the traditional Baiga tribe garlands were made using grass and bamboo.
A few pictures of Baiga tribe women wearing Baira Mala during their festivals can be seen here. More details about the Biran Mala can be found here.
To sum it up, Bhupesh Baghel did not welcome Congress leaders with gold chains during the AICC plenary session held in Raipur.
