Fact Check: Hyd MP Asaduddin Owaisi did not visit Hindu temple, was greeted by priests during campigning
In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, BJP leader Madhavi Latha is challenging Owaisi in the Hyderabad constituency. Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, is one of the 17 significant seats in the Lok Sabha elections
Owaisi visits temple
In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, BJP leader Madhavi Latha is challenging Owaisi in the Hyderabad constituency. Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, is one of the 17 significant seats in the Lok Sabha elections. All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) has a stronghold on this seat for the past three decades. The seat has been held by Asaduddin Owaisi for the past four elections since 2004. Carrying the political lineage of his forefathers, Asaduddin Owaisi is the third national president of AIMIM.
An image of Asaduddin Owaisi adorned with a garland and posing with a Hindu priest is in circulation with the claim that during the election campaigning in Hyderabad, he visited a Hindu temple and offered prayers to the deity. The claim implies that the MIM leader is visiting temples to please the Hindu community after coming under pressure due to strong opposition by the BJP candidate.
Fact check:
When we searched the image using Google reverse image search, we found that the image was shared by AIMIM official X (Twitter) handle. The caption of the picture states that the images were taken while Owaisi was campaigning in Moosarambagh, Indira Nagar, and nearby areas. The leader was visiting the constituency on foot during the campaign. There is no mention of him visiting any temple.
Upon further search, we found a video shared by X account of ANI, which stated that AIMIM chief and Hyderabad LS candidate Asaduddin Owaisi was greeted by some Hindu priests during his campaigning in the Malakpet Assembly constituency.
Another YouTube video published by Mic TV News shows several others felicitating Owaisi with garlands and shawls in the middle of a street. At the same time, he was felicitated by a few Hindu priests. But, there are no reports of him visiting a temple on that day.
A similar video was also published by the Youtube channel of The Print with the title “Asaduddin Owaisi greeted by Hindu priests on the campaign trail”
Therefore, the viral image is shared with a False claim. Hyderabad MP candidate Asaduddin Owaisi did not visit the Hindu temple and offer prayers.