Unrelated video from 2021 shared as attack on BJP leader Ashok Tanwar's car

By: Annet Preethi Furtado
April 15 2024

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Screenshot of the X posts sharing a video with captions claiming that it shows an attack on BJP Sirsa candidate Ashok Tanwar before the 2024 Lok Sabha election. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections scheduled to commence on April 19, a 28-second video has emerged on social media, depicting a chaotic scene on a road. The footage shows numerous cars passing by while several individuals attempt to stop them using flags and sticks. Meanwhile, two police officers are seen trying to maintain order, protect the vehicles, and facilitate their departure from the area without further incident. In the video, one car's window seat is highlighted with a red circle. The incident reportedly occurred in Sirsa and is attributed to "BHARAT NEWS" and "PB NEWS."

On X (formerly Twitter), the video was shared with Hindi captions translating to, "BJP candidate from Shirsa Lok Sabha constituency Ashok Tanwar was chased out of the village by angry people. BJP candidates are being barred from villages across the country. There is tremendous anger against the BJP everywhere. So, Modi and Shah are divided." 

Other posts claim that the video shows people in Sirsa expressing anger against BJP candidate Ashok Tanwar. Another post alleges that Tanwar, who formerly belonged to Congress but defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was being chased away by people in his constituency, Sirsa.

Screenshot of X posts from April 2024. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

At the time of writing, one such post featuring the viral video had amassed over 2,13,000 views. Archived posts can be accessed here, here, here, and here.

The video in question, however, has been circulating online since 2021 and purportedly depicts individuals attacking the car of Deputy Speaker of Haryana, Ranbir Singh Gangwa.

What does the video show?

The viral video bears a watermark stating "Bharat News" and "PB News," along with the location name "SIRSA."

A Google search for "SIRSA ATTACK ON CAR" led us to a similar Times Now news video on Facebook (archived here), which is two years old. It was titled, "#NewsAlert | #Haryana Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa's car was allegedly stone pelted by farmers in #Sirsa. No FIRs registered till now."

Ranbir Singh Gangwa Prajapati serves as the Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha and belongs to the BJP.

Source: Facebook/Times Now

The Times Now video shares striking similarities with the viral footage, such as the shattered rear car window and a police officer wearing an orange mask.

Comparison of screenshots from the viral video and a Times Now news video from 2021. (Source: X/Facebook/Times Now/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

Comparison of screenshots from the viral video and a Times Now news video from 2021. (Source: X/Facebook/Times Now/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

Mirror Now also shared similar visuals of the incident on its official YouTube channel but from a different angle (archived here).

(Source:YouTube/Mirror)

Further, a keyword search on YouTube in Hindi using phrases like ‘Bharat News Sirsa Car’ led us to a longer version (archived here) of the viral video uploaded on an unverified channel called "Pahredar Bharat News." 

Source: YouTube

The video, uploaded on July 11, 2021, bears the title (translated to English) "Big news—Sirsa CDLU arrival proved costly for Deputy Speaker; farmers broke Ranbir Gangwa's car." The viral segment spans from the 1-second mark to the 29-second mark in the YouTube video.

The attack on Gangwa's car

In July 2021, India Today reported that a group of farmers allegedly targeted Gangwa's vehicle amid widespread protests across the state against BJP leaders on July 11. The report indicated that Gangwa was attending a BJP executive committee meeting in Sirsa when a group of alleged farmers attacked his vehicle as he left at the end of the meeting.

Despite heightened security measures, some demonstrators surrounded the vehicle and struck it with their hands. Additionally, they hurled stones at the car, shattering its rear windscreen. According to reports, Gangwa emerged unharmed from the incident.

News agency ANI reported in July 2021 that Sirsa Police had arrested five people for the attack on the deputy speaker’s vehicle, and around 100 people had been named in the FIR under various sections of IPC, including Section 124A (Sedition).

An NDTV report from July 2021 also carried the exact details. It stated that farmers were protesting against Haryana’s then-ruling BJP-Jannayak Janata Party alliance and the Centre’s controversial farm laws.

Who is Ashok Tanwar?

Dr. Ashok Tanwar, the BJP candidate for the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat, previously served as the President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee before moving to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and finally joining the BJP in January 2024.

According to The Tribune, during an election campaign on April 14, Tanwar encountered opposition from farmers in Ghukanwali village, Dabwali, as well as previously in Fatehabad and Sirsa, Haryana, where he faced questions about his party affiliations. He defended himself, asserting his commitment to laborers and farmers. The incidents prompted a police presence. Earlier, Tanwar had canceled a program in Rori village, and farmers protested with black flags in Ghukanwali.

Contrary to viral posts, Tanwar was not attacked, and the viral video circulating does not feature him.

Furthermore, on April 11, Tanwar posted a letter (archived here) on X, indicating that he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India regarding a viral video depicting an attack on him, which was subsequently debunked as false. Upon reviewing the accounts and videos mentioned in the letter, it was found that Tanwar was referring to the same viral video that has been debunked above.

Source: X

On April 11, Tanwar held a press conference (archived here), addressing the viral video and expressing concerns about its potential misuse as defamation material. He said that he submitted evidence to the Election Commission, naming individuals and groups allegedly involved in spreading misinformation, and requested action against them.

The verdict

This video originates from July 2021 and captures an incident where a group of farmers purportedly attacked Haryana Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa's car during a protest. It has been shared with the false claim that it shows an attack on BJP leader Ashok Tanwar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.