An official statement here today nearly 78,000 users visited the Factcheck portal https://factcheck.telangana.gov.in since its launch on 2nd April, 2020.
Some of them were answered and others are being investigated for their authenticity. Listed below are some of the Fake News in circulation on social media and the truth or otherwise behind the claims made therein.
A message with a few lines purportedly written by Ratan Tata is being shared on social media and the crux of the message is that predictions of certain experts that the Indian Economy will collapse due to COVID-19 pandemic will be proven wrong as human motivation and determined efforts have made what seemed to be impossible possible in the past. Factchecking of the post revealed that the post was fake. Ratan Tata himself clarified through his official twitter account that the viral message in question was neither said nor written by him.
This post has neither been said, nor written by me. I urge you to verify media circulated on WhatsApp and social platforms. If I have something to say, I will say it on my official channels. Hope you are safe and do take care. pic.twitter.com/RNVL40aRTB
— Ratan N. Tata (@RNTata2000) April 11, 2020
An image of a woman lying on a hospital bed is being shared with the claim that Dr. Vandana Tiwari has died in the attacks of Muslims in UP when she went to screen them for COVID-19. Factcheck has found that Vandana Tiwari, a pharmacist in Madhya Pradesh and was working against the spread of COVID-19 in the State, had died due to brain haemorrhage. So the claim of the post was wrong and motivated.
A video of dead bodies being lifted by a crane and then thrown into a mass grave has been attributed to current situation in Italy and is being shared widely. Factcheck has found out that the video clip is part of a 2013 movie – ‘The Flu’. The visuals of the clip can be seen from 1:07:04 to 1:07:12 in the movie.
A Facebook post is being circulated widely on social media claiming that Kanipakam Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple had been converted into an isolation centre and Muslims are wandering inside the Temple with their footwear on. Factchecking of the post revealed that the facility shown in the video is not the Temple but a lodge by name Ganesh Sadan. Andhra Pradesh Govt. is using the lodge as a quarantine centre.
A circular purportedly issued by the Ministry of Tourism ordering the closure of Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts in the country till 15th October 2020 due to the outbreak of Covid-19 is making rounds on social media. Factcheck has found the message to be fake. The Ministry of Tourism has clarified that it hasn’t issued any such order. Press Information Bureau (PIB) has also debunked the claim saying that the order is fake.
For further information and clarifications, you may write to Director, Digital Media via email at
dir_dm@telangana.gov.in.
