DigitEye India Fact Checkers
A video of BJP candidate from Hyderabad Madhavi Latha insisting that Indian Muslims cannot be terrorists is going viral, following her defeat in the constituency to AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi in just concluded 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
चुनाव हारते ही अक्ल आ गई __ 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/NspjxnxIXb
— Sunil V B __ (@SunilVB4) June 13, 2024
During the campaign, Madhavi Latha faced criticism for her anti-Muslim remarks and her appearance at a booth where she demanded female Muslim voters to lift their burqas and show their identity. The latest video claimed that there is a change in her rhetoric after the defeat. The claim attributed a statement to her as stating, “Indian Muslims cannot be terrorists”. The caption in Hindi stated:”चुनाव हारते ही जिज्जी को अकल आ गई” [Translated into English, it reads: “She gained wisdom after losing the election”]
FACT-CHECK
Digiteye India took it up after receiving a request on WhatsApp and found the original post uploaded by Hyderabad Festivals on Youtube on April 22, 2024. It was part of an interview with a headline: ‘Hyderabad BJP Madhavi Latha interview’ and was taken early, when the poll campaign was in full swing, and not after the declaration of poll results for Lok Sabha on June 4, 2024. Polling in Hyderabad was held on May 13, 2024.
The video shows her responding on several issues, and when asked if Muslims are terrorists, she said that it is not possible for Indian Muslims to be terrorists. She further explained, “But children who are affected by poverty, who are provoked in the name of religion, in which direction will their minds go? What can I say?”
Claim: Hyderabad BJP candidate Madhavi Latha changed her stand after election defeat, saying ‘Indian Muslims cannot be terrorists’.
Conclusion: The claim is false. Madhavi Latha said it during poll campaign and not after her defeat.
Rating: Misrepresentation — 
