Fact Check: Islamic flag mistaken for Pakistan’s at NCP rally in poll-bound Maharashtra

Image from the rally with the flag in background was shared on social media with the claim that it was Pakistan’s. However, it lacks the vertical stripe seen on Pakistan’s flag.

New Delhi: A photo of a green flag with a white crescent and star, seen during a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) roadshow by former minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik in Mumbai, has gone viral with claims that it is a Pakistani flag.

The image was shared on X with a Hindi caption, translated as: “Why should the Pakistani flag be waved behind? Guys…” Archived versions of such posts can be found here and here.

Screenshots of the viral social media posts. (Source: X/Instagram/Modified by Logically Facts)

The campaign is in preparation for the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, scheduled for 20 November, with results on 23 November. Malik is the NCP candidate for the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency, while his daughter, Sana Malik, is contesting in Anushaktinagar, another constituency in Maharashtra.

However, our investigation found that the flag in the image is not a Pakistani flag but an Islamic religious flag.

What did we find

Using reverse image search, we found a similar photo published by Deccan Herald, titled “Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Ajit Pawar”. This photo shows Malik, his daughter, and associates in the same attire as in the viral image. The report confirms that on 7 November, 2024, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar joined campaign roadshows for Malik and his daughter Sana Malik.

Malik also posted campaign photos from his Shivaji Nagar roadshow on X (archived here), including the viral image with a Hindi caption translating to: “Strong leadership of Maharashtra National President of the Nationalist Congress Party and beloved Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Hon. @ajitpawarspeaks Dada’s Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar. Welcome to the assembly constituency”.

Ajit Pawar, who campaigned alongside Malik, also shared images from the event on X (archived here).

The unaltered image posted by Malik shows the same green flag, indicating it has not been tampered with. However, social media posts have mistaken this flag for the Pakistani flag, which is actually an Islamic religious flag.

Difference between the Pakistani flag and the Islamic flag

The green flag in question features a white crescent and star at its center, along with smaller stars surrounding it. In contrast, the Pakistani flag includes a green field with a white vertical stripe on the left side, with only a single crescent and star in the remaining green portion.

Screenshot of the viral image highlighting the green flag and the Islamic flag. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

 

The absence of a white stripe on the left side clearly indicates this is not the Pakistani flag but the Islamic flag, often featuring other design elements such as smaller stars.

Comparison of the image of the flag in the viral image, the Islamic flag with the Pakistani flag. (Source: X/Britannica/Wikimedia Commons)

A similar Islamic flag featuring the crescent, star, and additional elements is available on the stock photo site Alamy and closely resembles the flag in the viral image. Flags of this kind are also sold as Islamic flags for Eid Miladunnabi on e-commerce platforms.

A similar flag, as seen in the viral image, was available for sale on an e-commerce platform, where it was identified as an Islamic flag. (Source: Screenshot/ Flipkart)

News coverage of the 7 November roadshow in Shivaji Nagar and Mankhurd did not report any display of Pakistani flags. The image circulating online is misrepresenting an Islamic flag in the background, promoting a misleading narrative amid Maharashtra’s election.

Logically Facts has previously debunked similar claims where Islamic flags at rallies were misidentified as ‘Pakistani flags’.

This story was originally published by Logically Facts as part of the Shakti Collective. Apart from the headline, excerpt and introduction, this story has not been edited by ThePrint staff.