Edited Image of UP CM Yogi Adityanath Paying Tribute to Tipu Sultan Goes Viral

Fact-check: The original image shows Yogi Adityanath paying tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar and not Tipu Sultan.

(Source: Altered by The Quint)

An image showing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath bowing and paying tribute to a photograph of erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan is going viral on social media.

An archive can be seen here.

(Source: Twitter/Screenshot)

(Archives of similar claims can be seen here and here.)

What's the truth?: This is a digitally altered image.

• The original image shows Yogi Adityanath paying tribute to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's photo frame.

How did we find out the original image?: We performed a reverse image search on the viral picture and found similar and unedited images from 2021.

• We found a image uploaded by stock image website, Alamy on 29 June 2021, which showed Yogi Adityanath paying floral tribute to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's portrait.

• The image also showed former President Ram Nath Kovind on the stage in a very similar stage set up.

The image showed Ambedkar's photo and not Tipu Sultan's.

(Source: Altered by The Quint)

• The description of the image stated that it was clicked during during the foundation stone ceremony for Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial and Cultural Centre at Lok Bhawan, Lucknow.

• It also stated that the stage marked the presence of Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandi Ben Patel along with Yogi Adityanath.

• Taking a cue, we looked for more visuals from the ceremony and found a live-streamed video on President's YouTube channel.

• The video was streamed on 29 June 2021 and the titled read, "President Kovind lays foundation stone of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial & Cultural Centre at Lucknow."

• At the 1:44 timestamp, we were able to match exact moment seen in the viral photo.

The image was edited and is from 2021.

(Source: Altered by The Quint)

Conclusion: An edited image is going viral. The original image shows Yogi Adityanath paying tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar, not Tipu Sultan.

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