Fact Check: Viral image of a hoarding claiming that Congress is asking votes in exchange of the freedom to eat beef in Kerala is false

A picture of a Congress party hoarding in Kerala is viral on social media with a claim that the party is asking votes in exchange of freedom to consume beef in the state. Netizens are sharing the picture and taking a dig at Gandhi by calling him a “Shiv Bhakt Hindu” who has promised the people beef in exchange of support to the party.

FACT CHECK:

It should be noted that the translation of the hoarding claimed by netizens is wrong.

According to Google Lens, the correct translation of the Malayalam text seen on the hoarding is, "I want to know, why people are being killed in the name of food in this country, in this era? We don't want politics of barbarity. Let those who don't discriminate come to power."

Nowhere does the hoarding mention about exchange of votes for the freedom to eat beef in the state.

The fact check team noticed the logo of Kerala's Congress-led alliance United Democratic Front's (UDF) on the poster. Taking a hint from it, a reverse image search was performed, which led to a Facebook post dating back to April 3, 2019, by Voice of IUML that carried the same poster.

Here too, the poster condemns killing people for their food choices. The hoarding carries the same text as in the viral image and the post is captioned, “Let us not forget ourselves and vote for UDF. Support Rahulji, for the country's good and the people's salvation. Vote for UDF, Vote for UPA”.

The poster was part of an election campaign ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Clearly, the claim of Congress asking for votes in exchange for freedom to eat beef is false.