Fact Check: Viral claim that India was insulted in the school play is MISLEADING
a kid wearing a crown, can be clearly identified as Bharath Matha. Another kid removes her crown and puts a cloth on her head. After this, all the children, including the girl pray.
76th Independence Day was celebrated across India with great magnificence and fervor. Every part of India was decorated with the Indian Tricolour and everyone proudly celebrated the moment.
Meanwhile, A 30-second video of a skit played by school children, with a kid wearing a crown, can be clearly identified as Bharath Matha. Another kid removes her crown and puts a cloth on her head. After this, all the children, including the girl pray.
This video is shared with a claim in Hindi "भारत माँ के सिर का मुकुट हटाकर पहना दिया हिजाब। मंच से अदा कराया नमाज! वीडियो "शिशु भारतीय विद्यालय" मालवीय नगर ऐशबाग लखनऊ का है । राष्ट्रीय पर्व पर जिहाद और अलगाववाद के इस एजेंडे से आपको क्या समझ आया ?"
When translated states "The hijab was worn by removing the crown of Mother India's head. Namaz offered from the stage! The video is from "Shishu Bhartiya Vidyalaya" Malviya Nagar Aishbagh Lucknow. What did you understand by this agenda of jihad and separatism on the national festival?"
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Fact Check:
The claim that 'Bharath Matha' is being insulted in the viral video is MISLEADING. A small part of the whole video has been edited and shared with a misleading and communal claim.
When the comments on one of the viral posts were observed, we found that one of the readers published a statement by police Commissionerate Lucknow.
When searched we also found the complete video tweeted by the Police Commissionerate Lucknow "Full video of drama presented by small children for communal harmony, which has been wrongly propagated by some anti-social elements and criminal act of spreading communal hatred has been done. Strict legal action will be taken against such people."
On further search, we also found another tweet by a journalist associated with 'Times of India'. This Twitter thread shares the portions of the whole skit played by the school children and also an interview by the school teacher who designed the play.
The teacher Ms. Pragati Nigam states "'The video being shared is wrong, you see my full video. I had got a play done to merge the four religions. My intention was not to hurt the sentiments of any religion. I am angry with whoever tweeted the incomplete video. I think the purpose of such people is to defame our school. I urge everyone to watch the full video first."
According to reports, Lucknow Police refuted the viral video and post saying that those spreading false and misleading news are being identified. Action will be taken against such people.
Hence, the claim that the viral video shows insult to India in the school play is MISLEADING. The complete skit played by the school children has been edited and shared with MISLEADING and communal claims.