DigitEye India Fact Checkers
A viral video clip is making rounds on twitter with a claim that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen offering a handshake to a differently-abled person without arms in a public meeting. Being circulated on social media, the claim seeks to depict Rahul Gandhi as “insensitive” to the differently-abled man on a wheel-chair.
Insensitivity is writ large all over… pic.twitter.com/EPfs0qEFmp
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 12, 2023
The post was shared among others by the BJP’s IT department, Amit Malviya, who took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi by calling him “insensitive” and his views were shared by more than three lakh viewers.
Another user wrote, “Heights of being senseless! @RahulGandhi trying to handshake with a divyang person?”
One user @erbmjha stated:“This guy is the most problematically dimwitted person I’ve ever seen. Rahul Gandhi tried shaking hand with physically disabled person on the wheelchair without an arm… unbelievable!”.
FACT CHECK
When the Digiteye India team checked the original video clip from Rahul Gandhi’s official YouTube channel uploaded on April 11, there was a move by the differently-abled man extending his hand to which Rahul Gandhi reciprocated and even embraced him.
पूरा देश ही परिवार हो जिसका, पूरा देश ही घर हो जिसका उसको क्या ख़ाक तुम डरपोक लोग डराओगे! @RGWayanadOffice pic.twitter.com/i7k9gmLPTk
— Kerala Pradesh Congress Sevadal (@SevadalKL) April 12, 2023
The differently-abled man is seen extending his right arm to greet Rahul Gandhi twice within a span of 30 seconds while his left arm is holding a placard with Gandhi’s picture printed on it along with the text – “We are with Rahul”. Hence, the claim that Rahul Gandhi is seen extending his hand to the disabled man is misleading.
The claim is totally false.
*We are with Rahul* ❤️
Watch how a physically handicapped man shows his love to Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9pL8CGiDKt
— Surbhi (@SurrbhiM) April 11, 2023
The claim in this video has similar point that was made on videos depicting US President Joe Biden in the past, to showcase him as old and forgetful. It has been debunked by Digiteye India here. In fact, such videos have become part of the opposite camps to spread a fake and wrong perception of the leader.
Claim: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen offering a handshake to a differently-abled person without arms.
Conclusion: Video shows the man extending his hand which was graciously held by Rahul Gandhi, who embraced him instead.
Rating: Misleading — 
