Fact Check: BJP Hyderabad MP candidate Madhavi Latha did not say Indian Muslims cannot be terrorists after declaration of general poll results
Madhavi Latha was defeated by Asaduddin Owaisi, the four-time MP and president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), by a margin of over 3.3 lakh votes in the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency.
Previously, Latha became the centre of controversy when her video went viral, showing her aiming to shoot an imaginary arrow near a mosque during an election rally. This act was widely criticized, with accusations that she was targeting the mosque and engaging in provocative behavior. Later, she faced further backlash for conducting voter verification of Muslim women, an incident that was extensively covered by national media.
After the election results were announced, a video of Madhvi Latha is in circulation on various social media platforms in which she stated, "Indian Muslims cannot be terrorists." Users from social media shared this video with a caption: “चुनाव हारते ही अक्ल आ गई” which in English means: Latha’s intelligence is back after losing the elections.
Fact Check: The claim is misleading. The viral video in which Latha stated, "Indian Muslims cannot be terrorists," was actually recorded before the election results were announced.
When we searched for the keywords "Madhavi Latha statement on Indian Muslims cannot be terrorists," we found that on April 22, 2024, Hyderabad Festivals uploaded this video on their YouTube channel with the title “Hyderabad BJP Madhavi Latha Big Reaction on CAA and Triple Talaq.” At the 1:21 timestamp, we found the same statement given by Latha.
Additionally, we found that she gave the statement in response to a reporter's question, "Do you think Muslims are terrorists?" After her statement, she also said, "I do not what goes through the minds of poverty-ridden children who are provoked in the name of religion.”
The same video was uploaded on the SO South YouTube channel on April 24, 2024, with the title “Indian Muslims Should Not Be Scared of BJP: Madhavi Latha
The video in question was recorded on April 22, 2024, during her campaign, before the election results were declared. Since the Hyderabad constituency was held on May 13, 2024, and the results were announced on June 4, 2024, it is clear that she made the statement prior to the declaration of the results.
Hence, the claim is misleading. Yes, Madhvi Latha made the statement, during her campaign in April 2024, but not after the results were declared on June 4, 2024.