Guwahati: Amid the 2024 Indian Lok Sabha elections, a video has been doing rounds on social media platforms featuring an elderly woman voicing her opinions on Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The woman, speaking in Hindi, criticizes Gandhi while praising Modi as a "beacon of peace." Various users have asserted that the woman in the video is Subhashini Ali, a prominent figure in the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
In the clip, she asserts, "If you want the nation to progress, please don't mention Rahul Gandhi. He lacks knowledge about politics and the country."
She goes on to commend Modi, saying, "If you want to save the country, we should vote for Modi. He has handled the whole country, and we should be grateful to him. He is saving us from the wars that are happening around the world, and I think he is a beacon of peace." Despite these claims, it was found that the woman in the video had been misidentified; she is not Subhashini Ali.
The post (archived here) has garnered around 26,000 views on the platform at the time of writing this story. Other archived versions of such posts on X can be found here and here. Multiple Facebook users have also shared the clip with similar claims; those archives can be viewed here and here.
Upon closer examination by the fact-checking website Logically Facts, it was noted that the video bore the logo "99 Khabar" on a microphone. Further investigation led to the discovery of a longer version of the clip on the YouTube channel of the same name, uploaded on January 29, 2024. The title of the video suggests it to be a public opinion segment titled "Why are beautiful girls angry with Rahul Gandhi? Modi vs Rahul Gandhi Public Opinion. Lok Sabha Election 2024."
The same woman can be seen expressing her views in this video from the 6:55 to 8:00-minute mark.
Additionally, the woman was identified in another public opinion video shared by the organization, 99 Khabar, on its Instagram (archived here) on March 12, 2024.
In this video as well, she expresses admiration for Modi. However, her identity remains undisclosed in both instances. Had the woman truly been Subhashini Ali, as claimed, it would likely have been explicitly stated in the YouTube video report, which labels it as 'public opinion.' Yet, no such attribution was found in media reports about Ali praising PM Narendra Modi.
Although the woman in the viral video bears some resemblance to Subhashini Ali, a closer examination reveals notable facial differences. Furthermore, a comparison of her voice in the clip with Ali's previous interviews demonstrates distinct disparities in pitch, tone, and voice modulation.
Subhashini Ali (archived here) has clarified her on her official social media account, refuting any association with the video and reporting it to relevant authorities. In an interview with Logically Facts, she reiterated that the viral clip does not feature her. Logically Facts has reached out to 99 Khabar for comment and will update accordingly.
Therefore, the claim attributing the video to Subhashini Ali and misrepresenting it as her political opinion amid the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is deemed false.
This story is republished from Logically Facts as part of the Shakti Collective. Read the original story here.
