Fact Check: Old Photo Of BJP Protest Digitally Altered And Falsely Linked To India-Canada Row

New Delhi: Amid a diplomatic standoff between India and Cana over separatist leer Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing, a photo was widely shared on social media claiming that BJP supporters held a protest outside a Canara Bank, mistaking it to be a Canian bank.

PTI Fact Check Desk in its investigation found that it was an old, digitally altered picture from Ooty that showed BJP supporters protesting against civic authorities in connection to removal of a pillar erected by party.

A user posted altered photo with a false claim on October 20 on Facebook. He wrote, "Look at mind of blind devotees, y started protesting in front of Canara Bank, mistaking it to be a Canian bank." To verify claim, desk reverse searched viral photo and found that original picture was carried in an article on a website named ‘Maalaimalar’.

report published on August 30, 2020, said that picture was from Ooty in Tamil Nu’s Nilgiri district. It said protest took place after civic authority in Ooty removed a pillar erected by BJP workers to hoist a flag. BJP supporters h demonstrated against municipal corporation at time.

However, original photo did not show a Canara Bank hoarding as was seen in viral image. Rar, a Xiaomi store could be seen at place desk was found.

desk compared viral image with original photo and came to conclusion that latter was digitally altered and a hoarding of Canara Bank was ded to it.

Ties between New Delhi and Ottawa have come under severe strain over killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Cana last year. Last week, New Delhi expelled Canian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five or diplomats following Ottawa's fresh allegations of Indian government's involvement in Nijjar's killing in British Columbia.

India has also recalled its high commissioner and five more diplomats, with Canian government saying that Indian diplomats were expelled.