A video of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is being widely circulated on social media with the claim that he issued a stern warning to Pakistan over the Jantar Mantar protests. In the viral clip, he is purportedly heard saying: “Pakistan made us lose one worthy minister via Jantar Mantar protests. Now it’s time for Pakistan to cry. See what will happen in PoK in the next few days.” The video is being shared as proof that Rajnath Singh linked the protests to Pakistan and threatened action in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Fact Check:
DFRAC investigated the viral claim and found it to be false. A reverse image search led us to the original video uploaded on the official X account of ANI. The footage shows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressing a gathering in Drass during the Kargil Vijay Diwas commemoration. In the original speech, Rajnath Singh states: “Our intention is clear. There will be no talks with Pakistan. If there are any talks, they will be only on PoK, which is a part of India and is under Pakistan’s illegal occupation.”
At no point in the original video does the Defence Minister mention the Jantar Mantar protests, the resignation of any minister, or make the remarks attributed to him in the viral clip.
To further verify the claim, DFRAC examined reports published by The Times of India and The Hindu. Both reports quoted Rajnath Singh reiterating that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is an integral part of India under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. He also warned that any attempt to undermine India’s sovereignty would invite a decisive response from the Indian Armed Forces. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he stated that its success demonstrated India’s capability to respond to Pakistan’s provocations with a severity far beyond its imagination.
DFRAC also analysed the viral video using AI detection tools, including Detect Video AI and Deepfake-o-Meter. The assessment from both platforms indicated that the viral clip had been manipulated and contained signs of AI-generated or altered audio.
As part of the investigation, DFRAC also consulted AI expert Kumar Aniket, who examined the viral clip and concluded that the audio had been edited and does not match the original speech delivered by Rajnath Singh.
Based on these findings, DFRAC concluded that the viral video was digitally altered by replacing the original audio with fabricated content while retaining the authentic visuals, thereby falsely attributing statements to the Defence Minister.
Conclusion:
DFRAC’s investigation confirms that the viral claim is false. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did not say that “Pakistan made us lose one worthy minister via Jantar Mantar protests,” nor did he threaten action in PoK in the manner claimed in the viral video. The clip has been digitally manipulated by replacing the authentic audio with fabricated content to create a misleading narrative.
Sources:
- ANI
- Times of India
- The Hindu
- AI tool Deepfake-o-Meter
- AI tool Detect Video AI
