Media Outlets Misquote Jyotiraditya Scindia, Claim He Supports CAB

Scindia actually said that CAB was against the spirit of the Constitution and philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Several media organisations misquoted Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia claiming that he supported the CAB.

(Photo: Shruti Mathur/The Quint)

CLAIM

Several news organisations ran a story on Wednesday, 11 December, claiming that Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has extended his support to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

An article published in Swarajya magazine mentioned that the former Union minister has gone against his party in supporting the Bill.

Quoting a Dainik Bhaskar report, the article stated, “As per the report, Scindia was quoted as saying that the bill confirms to India’s culture, values and traditions. Scindia added that while the CAB may not confirm to the Indian Constitution, it is in line with India’s values of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam.”

Catch the live updates of the coverage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill here.

Swarajya published an article claiming that Scindia supported Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.(Photo Courtesy: Website/ Screengrab)

Swarajya was not the only one, media outlets like Amar Ujala, DB Post, and Navodaya Times also made similar claims. In fact, Amar Ujala went a step ahead and said that after Article 370, Scindia has once again gone against the party.

Amar Ujala claimed that after abrogation of Article 370, Scindia again went against the party’s stance.(Photo Courtesy: Website/ Screengrab)

DB Post, too, claimed Scindia said that the bill is against Constitution but according to Indian culture.(Photo Courtesy: Website/ Screengrab)

WHAT’S THE TRUTH?

Speaking in Indore on Wednesday, Scindia said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was against the spirit of the Constitution and also India's centuries-old philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means treating the world as one family.

However, Swarajya, citing Dainik Bhaskar as the source, falsely claimed that Scindia said that the Bill “is in line with India’s values of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam.”

He further said that BR Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution, had said that citizens of India should not be looked at on the basis of caste or religion.

“Taking this into account, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was against the basic spirit of the Constitution given that Indian citizens had never been viewed with lens of their faith.”

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia

He also took to Twitter to share his views on the Bill and said never has it happened that people have been discriminated on the basis of religion. “#CAB2019 is against the very essence of the Constitution and Indian culture,” the tweet read.

SCINDIA’S STANCE ON ABROGATION OF ARTICLE 370

Earlier, when the Narendra Modi- led government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August, Scindia had said that he supported the government’s move, but he questioned the process which was followed. Congress, on the other hand, had opposed this move by the government.

Evidently, several media organisations misquoted Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia’s views on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and falsely claimed that he went against his party’s stance and supported the bill.

(With inputs from SM Hoax Slayer)

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on Whatsapp at 9643651818, or e-mail it to us at [e-mail] and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)