Old video from Assam shared as ‘Go back Rahul Gandhi’ slogans raised in Manipur

What is the claim?

A video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) shows a group of people chanting "Rahul Gandhi go back" and "Rahul Gandhi haye haye (down with Rahul Gandhi)."

The post claims this occurred during the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition's recent visit to Manipur. In the footage, protesters hold posters with slogans in English and Assamese, including "Rakibul Hussain Go Back" and "Rakibul Hatao, Samaguri Basao (Remove Rabikul, save Samaguri)," referencing Dhubri Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Rakibul Hussain, who was formerly the Member of Legislative Assembly from Samaguri.

Other visible slogans include "Annay Yatra (Injustice March)" and "Rahul Gandhi Go Back." Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi appears in the video alongside Gandhi as authorities escort them away from the protesting crowd. 

Posts claiming that the video showing people are raising slogans against Rahul Gandhi is from his recent visit to Manipur. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

One post stated, "Rahul Gandhi has been asked to go back in Manipur by residents, as his inflammatory speeches would trigger new clashes. This was Yesterday, 8-7-2024, so he had to return (sic)." Arun Pudur, a social media user previously known for sharing misinformation, also shared the claim. Archives of such posts can be accessed here, here, and here, with over 400k views combined.

However, our investigation reveals that this video is neither recent nor from Manipur, but rather an older clip from Assam.

What is the truth?

We identified the Indian news agency ANI's watermark in the top-right corner of the frame in the viral video.

The ANI watermark is visible in the frame of the video. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

This led us to a slightly longer version of the video posted on ANI's official X account (archived here) on January 21, 2024. The post was captioned: "Assam: A large number of people carrying posters of 'Rahul Gandhi go back' and 'Anyaya Yatra' held a protest against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Ambagan area of Nagaon this evening."

We also found a Press Trust of India news report published by the Deccan Herald detailing the incident. According to this report, the footage was captured outside an eatery in Ambagan while Gandhi was traveling to Rupohi in Assam for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The report also stated that State Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah was assaulted earlier that day, and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's car was attacked in a separate incident.

Upon closer inspection of the video, we noticed a shop called "Puja Gift Store" and a sign reading "Gurukul Global Academy" in front of it.

Screengrabs from the viral video. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

A Google search for this shop allowed us to geolocate it to Pachim Sualani, Assam. The "Gurukul Global Academy" sign is also visible in front of the storefront in available Google Images. The shop's signboard clearly states its location as Ambagan, Nagaon, Assam, confirming that the incident occurred in Assam, not Manipur as claimed. 

We were able to locate the store seen in the video to Pachim Sualani in Assam. (Source: Google Maps)

We found no news reports of protests during Gandhi's recent visit to Manipur on July 8, 2024. Manipur has been experiencing ethnic conflict since May 2023. According to The Hindu, over 221 people had been killed and more than 50,000 internally displaced as of May 2023.

The verdict

The claim is false. The video is from Assam in January 2024 and is unrelated to Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to Manipur.