New Delhi: A photograph of Congress workers feeding cake to a poster featuring former adult film star Mia Khalifa has been doing the rounds on social media.
Khalifa recently made headlines after she last week tweeted her support to Indian farmers’ agitation against the Narendra Modi government’s three contentious farm laws. Several international celebrities, including US pop star Rihanna and environmental activist Greta Thunberg, have voiced their support for the farmers in the past week and drawn flak in India.
What in the human rights violations is going on?! They cut the internet around New Delhi?! #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/a5ml1P2ikU
— Mia K. (@miakhalifa) February 3, 2021
Confirming I have in fact regained consciousness, and would like to thank you for your concern, albeit unnecessary. Still standing with the farmers, though ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ttZnYeVLRP
— Mia K. (@miakhalifa) February 4, 2021
The photograph featuring Khalifa was shared by users on Twitter, including BJP leaders.
BJP member Raj Anand Singh shared the photograph and tweeted: “Why do these bootlickers like international dancers and those who show skin? No one asks for local Swara Bhaskar and what can we say about Arfa Khanum.”
@miakhalifa खालिस्तान आंदोलन के समर्थन मे किए ट्वीट के बाद कॉंग्रसी चमचे खुशी मनाते हुए वो भी देश के सबसे शिक्षित राज्य केरल मे.
इन चमचों को विदेशी नाचने और अंग प्रदर्शन करने वालीं ही क्यू पसंद आता है ?देशी @ReallySwara को कोई पूछ ही नहीं रहा इस बार और @khanumarfa खैर छोड़ों ? pic.twitter.com/14HqoKM4hx
— Raj Aanand singh?? (@rajanand_) February 6, 2021
Another Twitter user Pink Shukla’s post featuring the photograph was liked over 3,000 times and shared by more than 900 people.
अब जाके लगा है कि नेहरू जी की कांग्रेस है…!! pic.twitter.com/ygv0FRPL4H
— पिंकू शुक्ला (@shuklapinku) February 6, 2021
Several other Twitter users also shared the photo.
ये क्या हो रहा है? कॉंग्रेसी तो एकदम भावुक हो गए ? pic.twitter.com/v3IuGAEEsn
— साधना (@Sadhana2345) February 6, 2021
राहुल जी के कांग्रेसी !
फिर कहते हैं EVM हैक हो गई …. pic.twitter.com/sN4OagUCkZ
— Orange Is The Future.?????? (@OrangeIsTheFut1) February 6, 2021
The image has been viral on Facebook as well.
Also read: Image of policeman stamping on man’s face is decade old, not related to farmers’ protest
Fact check
A reverse image search revealed that the photograph was actually morphed.
The original poster featured Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and was taken on 19 June 2007. It is available on Getty Images website and was taken by AFP photographer Raveendran.
The image features Youth Congress supporters who had cut a massive cake on the occasion of Gandhi’s birthday. He was the president of the Youth Congress at the time.
The caption, accompanying the photograph on Getty, read, “Indian Youth Congress supporters cut a huge birthday cake during celebrations for the 37th birthday of Rahul Gandhi, leader of the youth wing of the Congress Party, in front of Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi’s residence in New Delhi, 19 June 2007. Indian Youth Congress supporters organised the birthday celebrations for Rahul Gandhi, Congress Party member of parliament (MP) and son of the Congress-led UPA government chairperson Sonia Gandhi.”
In collaboration with SM Hoaxslayer
Also read: Sambit Patra shares edited video of Arvind Kejriwal to claim he supports farm laws