Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui 
A 23-second video of Rahul Gandhi is going viral on social media. Users who shared this video are claiming that Rahul Gandhi refused to perform the aarti of Devi Maa. Sharing this video, a verified user named Ashoke Pandit wrote- “Janodhari Rahul Gandhi refusing to perform aarti! The reason is clear!”
Source: Twitter
According to Ashoke Pandit’s bio, he describes himself as an Indian filmmaker and he is also the producer of a film called “The Chargesheet”. Apart from this, he also describes himself as a social worker. At the same time, this video has also been shared by many other users. One user wrote- “Did Rahul Gandhi deliberately refuse to perform aarti or he does not know how to do or does his beliefs not allow it??”
Source: Twitter
Fact check:
To analyze the originality of the viral claim, the DFRAC first converted the video into multiple frames with the help of the InVid tool. After this, a reverse search of the frames of the video was done. We found a video uploaded on 27 September 2017 on a YouTube channel called Shankhnad News. In this video, the 23-second video going viral can be seen.
Source: YouTube
In this video, it has been told that Rahul Gandhi reached the Garba pandal in Rajkot, Gujarat. He performed the aarti of Mata. In the video, Rahul Gandhi can be seen first performing aarti, then Ashok Gehlot after him, then other Congress leaders took turns performing aarti of Devi Maa.
Meanwhile, a video posted on Facebook also shows Rahul Gandhi performing aarti first.
Apart from this, a report published on the website of the English newspaper ‘Indian Express on September 27, 2017, has also printed a photo of Rahul Gandhi, in which Rahul is shown holding an aarti in his hand.
Conclusion:
It is clear from the fact check of DFRAC that Rahul Gandhi’s video is from 2017 and the first Rahul performed the aarti of Devi Maa, followed by other Congress leaders. Therefore, the claim made by other social media users, including Ashoke Pandit, is Misleading.
Claimed Reviewed: Rahul Gandhi refuses to perform Aarti of Devi Maa
Claimed By: Ashok Pandit and other social media users
Fact check: Misleading
Aayushi Rana 