No U-Turn By Rahul Gandhi on Loan Waiver, Viral Clip is Misleading

Viral video of Rahul Gandhi going back on farm loan waiver promises post Congress win is edited out of context.

A viral video falsely claimed that Rahul Gandhi took a U-turn on farm loan waiver.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

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CLAIM

A viral video doing the rounds on social media claims that after the Congress’ recent victory, party president Rahul Gandhi has said that farm loan waivers is not a solution. This statement contradicts his earlier statement at a rally in Madhya Pradesh wherein he had promised farm loan waivers within 10 days after the Congress’ win.

The viral video suggests that after promising farm loan waivers, Rahul Gandhi while addressing the media after the Congress’ win says that loan waivers are not a solution.(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

Several users have shared the video on Twitter and Facebook, including Union Minister Smriti Irani, who retweeted the video.

Apart from Irani, Shobha Karandlaje, general secretary, BJP Karnataka and Parvesh Sahib Singh, MP from West Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency too shared the video.

The video has also been posted by several Modi fan pages on Facebook, such as Yogi Sarkar, Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar, Nation With Namo and PostCard Fans.

TRUE OR FALSE?

The viral video being circulated is clipped to make it seem as though Gandhi was backtracking on his earlier promise.

While addressing the media on the party’s victory in the recently concluded state Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi in the original video (from 22:45 to 23:32) said, “Farm loan waiver is a supporting step. It is not a solution. Solution is more complex. Solution will support the farmers in terms of infrastructure and technology. Frankly, solution is not easy. It’s challenging and we will do it. (translated)”

At no point in the video has Gandhi said that his party would not implement farm loan waivers as promised.

On 23 November, at a rally in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi had promised that within 10 days of winning elections, the Congress will give loan waivers to farmers.

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