Modi-lookalike’s video falsely shared as PM called out in Rourkela over LPG crisis

A viral video, roughly 9 seconds in length, has taken social media by storm, falsely claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was called out by a bystander in Rourkela over the LPG crisis. The clip, which appears to show Modi in a convoy during a roadshow, has been shared widely on Twitter, Instagram, and X, with users alleging that the Prime Minister was heckled by an individual complaining about the unavailability of cooking gas cylinders.

The video gained traction when user @KhelaHobePart2 posted it on Twitter, claiming that it depicted a bystander in a roadshow confronting Modi about the LPG shortage. The voice in the background can be heard saying, "Gas nahi hai, sir, kya karenge humlog?" (There is no gas, sir, what shall we do?). This claim was quickly picked up by other users, including verified handles like India With Congress, @ShadowSakshi, @YadavManish1001, @Girijeshv, and @TelanganaGalam_, who circulated the clip on various platforms, further fueling the narrative.

The video also became popular on Instagram, with news outlet Kal Tak posting it on their account on April 1. At the time of this article being written, the clip had been viewed more than 4 million times. Other Instagram users, such as @millattimes, @indianfeed24hrs, @okindians, @m_khan.122, and @p5news_up, also shared the video, alleging that Modi had recently visited Rourkela and was asked about the LPG crisis by a bystander.

However, a closer examination of the video revealed that it was not an authentic representation of Modi. Security personnel in the clip appeared to be different from the usual security detail accompanying the Prime Minister during public appearances. To verify the authenticity, keyframes from the video were analyzed, and a reverse image search led to an Instagram reel that indicated the presence of a Modi lookalike in the video.

The incident highlights the challenges faced in combating misinformation and the rapid spread of false narratives on social media. While the video was widely shared, it ultimately turned out to be a case of a lookalike being mistaken for the Prime Minister, underscoring the importance of fact-checking and critical thinking in the digital age.