The annual celebration of Holi, one of India’s most popular and joyous festivals, has once again been marred by a wave of misleading claims and false narratives. For years, the Anti-Hindu and Anti-India brigades have made concerted efforts to malign Hindu festivals, and this year’s Holi festival was no different.
During the week-long festivities, social media platforms were inundated with videos, pictures, and tweets that purported to prove the supposed dangers of Holi for girls and women. Sadly, many media houses, journalists, YouTubers, and social media influencers actively participated in this propaganda movement against Holi, spreading misleading claims and false information.
But is there any truth to these claims? In this Fact-Check article, we will examine the evidence and separate fact from fiction regarding the safety of girls and women during the Holi festival. Let’s Fact Check.
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Fact Check
Case 1
Claim: Propaganda Journalist Jas Oberoi posted a video alleging that an underage girl was forcefully kissed and groped by her brother-in-law during the Holi celebrations. In the video, the user claimed that the incident took place under the garb of playing Holi, and added sarcastically, “Kya mast tyohar hai” (what a great festival).
Palestinian supporter Mateen also shared the same video and wrote, What kind of culture and festival is this? Clearly, the underage girl is shaken by his jija and that criminal is forcefully kissing an underage girl.
Fact: The viral video is 2 years old, and it has nothing to do with present time.
So, it is clear that Jas Oberai and Palestinian supporter Mateen were just driving their propaganda against the Holi festival.
Case 2
Claim: Fake news peddler Vinod Kapri tweeted a video and wrote, what a shameful and disgusting hue and cry in the name of Holi, hear the experience of this foreign woman, he added.
Another Twitter handle operating from Belgium named Stella Green shared the same and wrote, What’s happening in secular state #India? Many videos circulating how foreigners and Muslim women are being gropped and molested during #Holi festival. Is this a celebration or humiliation?
Fact: The video Vinod Kapri and Stella Green shared is 2-year-old, to spread hate against the Holi festival.
Case 3
Anti-Hindu writer Sam Khan did several tweets during the Holi week to spread propaganda against Holi.
Claim: In one of his tweets he wrote, Let the lady take a walk outside on Holi and she’ll fondly remember Afghanistan.
In another tweet, he shared a video and wrote, Molestation Fest. They target women and it’s the culture. He specifically said molestation is the part of Hindu culture.
Fact: We found out that the video shared by Sam Khan is 4 years old. However, he showed it as it is a recent incident just to spread hate against the Holi festival.
Moreover, In his recent tweet, while quoting a Jamui’s Sadar Hospital incident where a molester kissed a woman forcefully outside the hospital, he wrote, Bura Na Mano Holi hai and tried to connect the whole Incident with the Holi festival again. However, the whole incident has nothing to do with the Holi festival. Moreover, in the video itself the woman and Police have nowhere mentioned that the incident happened during Holi celebration.
Case 4
Claim: A Twitter handle with the name Hate Detector shared a video and wrote, Disgusting! This is clear molestation of women in the name of Holi.
Fact: During our research, we found out that the video shared by the Hate Detector is also from 2022. The girl seen in the video is a dancer who often makes adult scripted content.
Case 5
Claim: A Twitter handle with the name Ali Sohrab shared a cutting of an article which says Delhi Police got over 35,000 complaints on Holi and wrote, what happens on the day of Holi in a constitutional democracy that all kinds of serious criminal cases including murder, rape, exploitation of women, molestation of women are more than 35000 on the day of Holi only in the capital? Well, from this you can get an idea of the crimes committed on the day of Holi in the whole country.
Another Twitter handle with the name Avi Dandiya also shared the same cutting of the article and wrote, Record has been set, congratulations Dilli dil walo ki bull shit.
Fact: During our research we found that this news is 7 years old.
Moreover, Delhi Police also fact checked this fake news which is circulated on social media by various social media users.
Case 6
Claim: News portal Punjab Kesari Himachal also shared a video on Holi week and wrote Girls clashed at Paonta Holi Fair.
Fact: Only Fact Team has done a detailed fact check on this claim, we found out that the video is from 2022 and it has nothing to do with Holi.
Here is the full Fact check of Punjab Kesari Himachal report
Case 7
Claim: Fake news peddler Jas Oberai also shared misinformation regarding the Holi festival. In his tweet he wrote, A woman was burnt alive by the priests, that’s how HOLI came into existence. If you are a proponent of witch hunting, sure go for it, enjoy your HOLI.
However, there is not an iota of truth in his story.
Here is the actual story behind Holi!
Fact: Holi, a festival of colors, is celebrated all over India and is associated with many legends that signify the victory of good over evil. One such legend is the story of Hiranyakashyap, Prahlad, and Holika. Hiranyakashyap, a demon king, wanted everyone to worship him and was angered when his son Prahlad worshipped the god Vishnu instead. He tried to kill Prahlad in various ways, but each time Vishnu saved him.
In desperation, Hiranyakashyap asked his demon sister Holika to kill Prahlad. Holika was immune to fire and sat in the middle of a bonfire with Prahlad on her lap. However, the gods took away her magic power, and she burned to death. Prahlad, who prayed to Vishnu, survived the fire. When Hiranyakashyap died, Prahlad became king and ruled wisely. This legend teaches us that good always prevails over evil.
Thus, in conclusion, let us all remember that wrong is wrong, and nothing can justify the safety concerns that women face during festivals. While it is important to address and condemn any incidents of harassment or assault, we must also be wary of propaganda that seeks to exploit these issues for their own gain.
Posting old videos and news as recent incidents on a festival day diminishes actual severity. Important issues like women’s safety should not be used for personal agendas. We must be vigilant and objective in our approach. Let’s work together for a safe and inclusive society.
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