May 17th 2024.
Let's take a closer look at a recent viral claim that has been spreading like wildfire on social media. The claim in question states that the Pakistani national flag was raised at a roadshow held by politician Anil Desai Mumbai during the Indian general election. However, after conducting a thorough fact-check, we have determined that this claim is false.
At first glance, the video being shared on various social media platforms like X and Facebook does show a green flag with a white crescent moon and star attached to the arm of a crane. The video, which is almost two minutes long, also features party supporters bursting firecrackers as Shiv Sena leaders move around in a vehicle. Symbols and flags of Shiv Sena and its allies such as the Congress, National Congress Party, and their coalition, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, can also be seen in the footage.
One user even posted the video with a caption claiming that it was Uddhav Thackeray candidate Anil Desai's campaign in Chembur with the Pakistani flag to appease minority voters. However, this claim has been proven to be false. Upon further investigation, we found out that the flag seen at Desai's roadshow was not a Pakistani flag but an Islamic flag.
We were able to spot Desai himself in a frame from the viral video, confirming that it does indeed depict a roadshow he held. We then checked Desai's verified Facebook account and found photos and a video of a rally held in Chembur on May 15. This helped us establish that the viral video was also shot in Mumbai's Chembur. By taking a closer look at the flyover and a building visible in the video, we were able to pinpoint the location to Lokhande Marg in Chembur. We also noticed the same retail outlets seen in the viral clip, which were also visible in the latest Google Street View images.
Upon examining the green flag seen in the viral clip, we noticed that it is not Pakistan's national flag. The actual Pakistani flag is green with a thick white vertical band on the side of the flagstaff, with a tilted white crescent moon and a five-pointed star centered in the green field. However, the flag seen in the video has a crescent moon and star that are slightly straightened and shaped differently, with five small stars distributed around the center. Additionally, this flag has no white band on the left. After comparing it to the actual Pakistani flag, we can confirm that the flag in the viral video is an Islamic flag often used by mosques, Muslim households, and Islamic organizations throughout the world. These flags can vary in design but typically feature the color green and Islamic symbols.
Despite claims by some outlets that the flag in question belongs to the Indian Union Muslim League, we found that it does not match their official flag. The IUML flag usually shows the crescent moon facing the flagpole, whereas the flag in the viral clip shows the moon facing away from the pole. Furthermore, Logically Facts has previously debunked similar claims where Islamic flags at rallies were misidentified as the national flag of Pakistan.
In conclusion, the viral video claiming to show a Pakistani flag raised at a Shiv Sena roadshow in Mumbai is false. The flag in question is not Pakistan's national flag but a common Islamic flag. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false. This story was originally published by Logically Facts and is being republished by OrissaPOST as part of the Shakti Collective. We hope that this fact-check has helped clarify any confusion surrounding this claim.
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