KATHMANDU: A photo has gone viral on social media on Wednesday showing an Indian flag at the mass meeting organized by the Prachanda-Nepal faction of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
Some people were confused while some were skeptical saying that the photo with the Indian flag was fake and was aimed at defaming the organizer – the dissident Prachanda-Nepal faction of the NCP.
In the course of fact-checking, the photo was not real and was photo-shopped.
Janata Times, a Nepali news portal, has posted the photo with prominence showing the Indian flag in the mass meeting saying, “An Indian flag has been used in the mass meeting of the Prachanda-Nepal faction, which has split from the Nepal Communist Party.”
Likewise, a Facebook user named Ganesh Basnet has posted the photo on his Facebook page stating how the Indian flag has been used in the mass meeting of the Prachanda-Nepal faction.
Likewise, another Facebook user Bishal Bhatta has also uploaded the photo, which has been seen 91 shares on social media in one hour.
A Facebook page with the name of “Rajneta KP Oli” has also shared the photo.
A local news portal named “Haamro Economy” has also posted the photo on its site showing the Indian flag saying: Indian flag in Prachanda-Madhav rally”.
Likewise, a Facebook user Amar Oli has also shared the photo on his Facebook with the caption: “Some people, who claim to be nationalists and protectors of the constitution, have been found to be chanting anti-KP Oli slogans by waving Indian national flag. This shows what kind of movement is being done in the country.”
The viral photo with the Indian flag and all other scenes in this photo are the same. However, only the Indian flag has been added.
Likewise, when searched on the Google Image Search, it was found that the same photo (sans the Indian flag) was uploaded on a Facebook verified page called “Comrade Prachanda” on December 29, 2020.
Photo Credits: Before Prachanda’s Facebook After Viral Photo
While the claim is: An Indian flag was used in the mass meeting of the Prachanda—Nepal faction held in Kathmandu on February 10, 2021.
Fact check: The photo was photo-shopped as the same photo used earlier on December 29, 2020, does not have the Indian flag, which means that the Indian flag has been placed with malicious intent.
A Facebook user Bishal Pangeni has posted this original photo saying: “This is the real photo.”
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