GUWAHATI: Facebook has removed the “fake info” tag it had put 48 hours ago on Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s video post showing AIUDF supporters who, he said, were shouting pro-Pakistan slogans while welcoming party chief and MP Badrudidn Ajamal at Silchar airport.
On Saturday, the social media giant flagged the video as “false information” and said it has been “checked by independent fact-checkers.”
Along with the video, Sarma had written, “Look at the brazenness of these fundamentalists anti-national people who are shouting Pakistan Zindabad while they welcome MP Ajmal. This thoroughly exposes Indian National Congress which is encouraging such forces by forging an alliance. We shall fight them tooth and nail. Jai Hind.”
On Monday, after Facebook withdrew the false info label, Sarma said, “Someone reported the video, so Facebook flagged it for a day or two. They have heard it now, anyone can hear ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in the video.”
He further added that the video is a genuine one and not doctored. “Good that the video is restored once again,” he said. The minister also alleged that pro-Pakistan slogans are raised in many parts of Assam during India-Pakistan cricket match. “Many such cases are reported by the media. There are many cases of chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in Cachar and Hailakandi districts after India-Pak cricket match,” he said.
On Saturday, Sarma had commented that Facebook might have jumped the gun by coming to a conclusion before forensic experts could analyse the video to establish what Ajmal’s supporters had actually chanted.
A case has been registered and police are getting the video examined by the forensic department. AIUDF says the supporters had shouted “Aziz Khan (Karimganj South AIUDF MLA) zindabad” but it was twisted as “Pakistan Zindabad.”