In the light of the general elections in Uttar Pradesh, a post accompanying a video clip of Union Minister Smriti Irani speaking at a public gathering is being widely circulated across social media platforms. In the 31-second video clip, Smriti Irani can be heard saying ‘You might be thinking the candidate is roaming around with a hand pump (RLD election symbol), but I’m talking about cycle. If RLD gets votes and support, then red caps (Samajwadi Party) government will be formed.’ This video clip is being shared with a claim that Smriti Irani is predicting a Samajwadi Party victory in the elections. Through this article let’s fact-check the veracity of claim made in the post.
Claim: Video of Smriti Irani predicting Akhilesh Yadav’s victory in a public meeting.
Fact: The short video clip being shared is an excerpt of Smriti Irani’s recent address at a public gathering in UP’s Baghpat. The video is being shared out of context. In the lengthier version of the speech, Smriti Irani’s viral comments followed after her reference to Ayodhya firings of 1990, when the then CM Mulayam Singh Yadav ordered police firing at karsewaks, marching towards Ayodhya. Further, following the viral comments, Smriti can be heard saying ‘the women have already decided that they will not allow the SP-RLD government to form. Now, I came here to hear what the brothers have to say’ referring to the men and women present in the meeting. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The viral video is an excerpt from Smriti Irani’s recent speech in UP’s Baghpat. Although Smriti Irani said the exact words as in the viral video, they were made in a different context.
Keyword search on the internet directed us to a news report which carried a lengthier version of Irani’s speech. In this speech, Smriti Irani made those comments following her reference to the Ayodhya firing of 1990, when Mulayam Singh Yadav ordered firing at karsewaks, marching towards Ayodhya, according to her. Another report of the incident can be viewed here.
In this context, Smriti Irani said those words shared in the viral video. ‘You might be thinking the candidate is roaming around with a hand pump (RLD election symbol), but I’m talking about the cycle. But if RLD gets votes and support, then red caps (Samajwadi Party) government will be formed’ said Irani.
Following the viral comments, she further added ‘the women have already decided that they will not allow the SP-RLD government to form. Now, I came here to hear what the brothers have to say’ referring to the men and women present in the meeting. This clearly indicates that her speech was not in favour of the Samajwadi party and her comments are being quoted out of context.
To sum it up, clipped video is shared as Smriti Irani predicting the victory of Samajwadi Party in the elections.
