Amidst the G20 summit, which gathered delegates from around the world, the Congress party made a disconcerting move on Friday by releasing a disturbing video (Archived link). This video showed Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials capturing stray dogs and relocating them to different parts of Delhi. While sharing this video, the Congress accused the Modi government of engaging in acts of animal cruelty.
Using the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the Congress party posted the following statement: “Watch this video to witness the shocking cruelty inflicted upon innocent street dogs by the Modi government in preparation for the G20 summit. Dogs are being dragged by their necks, beaten with sticks, and thrown into cages. They are being denied food and water, and they are being subjected to extreme stress and fear. It is imperative that we raise our voices against such appalling acts and demand justice for these voiceless victims.”
It is to be noted here that, although the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) falls within the purview of the Aam Aadmi Party, which is part of the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. alliance, the Congress party directed accusations at the central BJP government, alleging their involvement in acts of animal cruelty.
Furthermore, in addition to the official Congress handle, the same video, along with accusations against the BJP, was shared by various entities associated with the Congress, including Congress for India (Archived link), All India Mahila Congress (Archived link), Odisha Youth Congress (Archived link), West Bengal Youth Congress (Archived link), and Soumak Patil, the research coordinator of INC (Archived link).
Fact Check
In a comprehensive fact-checking report, Only Fact concluded that the video shared by Congress is rife with misleading content. A meticulous analysis revealed that the video in question featured disparate keyframes, and every instance of people capturing stray dogs had no connection whatsoever to the G20 summit, originating from entirely separate incidents.
Let’s step by step debunk the short video clips of alleged animal cruelty disseminated by Congress, intended to attribute blame to the BJP:
- The concise two-minute video clip portrays the distressing scene of two dogs being restrained, indicating potential cruelty towards them. Our research found that the incident was not in Delhi.
As per the June 6, 2023, report from VSRS News (Archived link), the incident in question purportedly happened in Pimpri Chinchwad, Maharashtra. In a deeply distressing occurrence that emerged in June, two unidentified individuals, seemingly frustrated with the presence of stray dogs, engaged in acts of cruelty by immobilizing the animals, binding their limbs and mouths, and placing them inside sacks. This gruesome incident was captured on mobile cameras by onlookers, ultimately leading to the registration of a case against the two anonymous suspects.
2. Another video clip, depicting a man standing in a yellow vehicle while cruelly mistreating a dog by gripping its torso, hails from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
According to a news report featured on Zee Hindustan (Archived link), the distressing incident took place six years ago in the city of Bhopal. In the video, officials from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation were observed subjecting a dog to severe torture by gripping its torso. This disturbing video footage was initially shared by an animal rights activist on a Facebook page, subsequently gaining widespread attention and prompting intense criticism directed at the Bhopal Municipal Corporation.
3. Moreover, the Congress party, in an attempt to associate the disturbing video with the G-20 summit, released footage where a Mumbai Congress worker appeared to be capturing a dog. The Congress asserted that the video depicted an instance of cruelty towards stray dogs in preparation for the G20 summit in Delhi. However, upon closer examination, it has been established that the incident did not occur in Delhi but in Mumbai. This conclusion is drawn from the attire of the individuals capturing the dog, as they can be seen wearing T-shirts bearing the logo of the Mumbai Congress.
4. Within the video disseminated by the Congress, a disturbing sequence unfolds between the 5 and 11-second time frames, where a group of individuals can be observed inflicting cruelty upon dogs by forcibly restraining and capturing them. Contrary to the claim made by the Congress, the incident unfolded in Bhilwara, Rajasthan.
On August 22, a user named Vikendra Sharma (Archived link) on the X platform shared the same video. This particular video included audio featuring a woman recounting the incident, stating that in the Parshawnath society, the residents had allegedly employed individuals with the intention of removing the dogs from the area.
5. Furthermore, as the video reaches the 57-second mark, it can be seen that two individuals are actively engaged in capturing a dog. What adds intrigue to this scene is the vehicle they are using, prominently featuring the name of a Hinduja Group company, in stark contrast to any association with the Delhi Municipal Corporation. This striking detail leaves no room for doubt and undeniably points to the incident being entirely unrelated to any preparations for the G20 summit.
6. Moreover, within the video, there is another scene unfolding around the 30-second mark, where a group of people is seen capturing a dog. Nevertheless, similar to the five instances detailed earlier, it’s important to note that this particular incident did not take place in Delhi either.
During our fact-checking process, we managed to obtain the complete video, and it conclusively revealed that the footage originates from Diu, near Gujarat state. Right at the beginning of the video, we identified the same keyframe where several people are seen capturing a dog. What’s noteworthy is that the video also includes audio featuring a woman’s voice stating, “On August 8, the Diu Municipal Corporation issued an unlawful directive stating the need to capture and relocate all street dogs, cats, and cattle. Those individuals appointed for this task lack proper training and authorization. They are conducting the capture of dogs in an unprofessional manner, using ropes instead of appropriate catching nets.” Additionally, the video provides clear evidence by displaying the vehicle number used for capturing the dog, which unmistakably belongs to Gujarat.
Consequently, the Congress intent to undermine the significance of the G20 summit, a platform highlighting Bharat’s expanding global influence, becomes apparent through their dissemination of a deceptive video. This video comprises unrelated short clips from various incidents. Notably, even the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), affiliated with the Congress alliance partner, the Aam Aadmi Party, has criticized the Congress for propagating misleading content. Hence, the claim that the BJP is resorting to animal cruelty in order to prepare for the G20 summit is misleading.
| Claim | In order to make way for the preparation of G20 summit, the BJP is inflicting cruelty upon the stray dogs |
| Claimed by | Congress, Congress for India, Odisha and West Bengal Youth Congress, All India Mahila Congress, and the research coordinator of INC |
| Fact Check | Misleading |
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