Fake News Regarding Situation of Migrant Workers in Tamil Nadu Being Made Viral
File Photo. Image Courtesy: PTI
Numerous claims regarding incidents of violence against migrants in Tamil Nadu have been going around social media in the past few days. Alt News fack-checked five such news pieces and found them to be false.
The viral videos circulated online were not found to be related to any incident of violence in Tamil Nadu. One such piece of fake news was attributed to the Hindi daily Dainik Jagran. As per the paper clip, on March 2, the newspaper, in its Lucknow edition, reported that "Hindi-speaking labourers were being killed in Tamil Nadu."
The report added that migrant workers from North Indian states were asked to vacate the state by the natives before March 2020. Moreover, the newspaper wrongly claimed that Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin asked "Hindi-speaking migrant workers to leave and that the Tamil Nadu government won't be responsible for whatever happens to them if they don't."
The viral paper clip. Source: Alt News
The report also included a statement by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
"Every Hindi-speaking migrant worker is requested to return home. You will get employment in Uttar Pradesh…," Adityanath said, as per the report.
The fact-check by Alt News found that the viral clipping is not genuine as the report "is not only incomplete but is also poorly written using Google Input Tools." It included Hindi errors, poor formatting, and repetitive usage of English words in a Hindi copy. Further investigation by Alt News revealed that the clipping was made using an Android application called "News Banner Maker," which "allows users to make such newspaper cutting."
The clipping was shared to create the impression that migrant workers are not safe in Tamil Nadu and have been asked to leave the state.
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
