Fact Check: Kejriwal says Ambedkar was drunk while drafting Constitution? No, viral video is clipped
A video of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal is viral with the claim that he said Dr BR Ambedkar was drunk while drafting the Indian Constitution.
Claim: The video shows Arvind Kejriwal saying that Dr BR Ambedkar was drunk while drafting the Indian Constitution.
Fact: The claim is false. The viral clip was clipped. The extended video shows Kejriwal mocking a clause in the Congress party’s constitution about a ‘no consuming alcohol’ policy for its members.
Hyderabad: The legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar recently became a topic of heated debate after remarks by Home Minister Amit Shah stirred controversy. In this context, a video clip featuring AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal is viral on social media with the claim that Kejriwal insulted Dr Ambedkar by saying that the latter was drunk while drafting the Constitution.
An X user shared the video with the caption, “BR Ambedkar was drunk while writing the Constitution: @ArvindKejriwal.” (Archive)
In the nine-second black-and-white video clip, Kejriwal can be seen saying in Hindi, “We were talking about how whoever wrote the constitution must have written it after drinking (alcohol).”
Similar posts can be seen here and here. (Archive 1, Archive 2)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video was clipped to misrepresent Kejriwal’s complete statement.
Responding to the post with the viral video, AAP Rajasthan spokesperson Devender Yadav shared a video in the comments stating that it is the original version of Kejriwal’s speech.
In the 22-second colour video, Kejriwal can be heard saying, “I have read the constitutions of all (political) parties. Congress constitution states that no Congress member will drink alcohol (sounds of laughter from the crowd). We were talking about how whoever wrote the constitution must have written it after drinking (alcohol).”
There is no reference to Dr Ambedkar or the Indian Constitution in the video.
Using the information gathered so far, we found a video published on the YouTube channel of the Aam Aadmi Party with the title ‘Arvind Kejriwal @ Rajghat’ dated December 3, 2012.
According to its description, the video showed Arvind Kejriwal making a public speech at Rajghat on November 25, 2012. In the video, at the 4:38-minute timestamp, Kejriwal can be heard making the same statement about the Congress' constitution.
We also found a report titled, ‘Say Cheers! Congress axes ‘abstention from alcohol’ clause’, published in The New Indian Express on February 26, 2023. According to the report, the Congress Party revised its constitution, removing the requirement for members to abstain from alcohol. Additionally, the party made wearing khadi a choice rather than a mandate. These changes were announced by party general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala during the AICC plenary in Raipur.
(This story was originally published by newsmeter.in, and republished by english.varthabharati.in as part of the Shakti Collective)
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Defamatory post against Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade: Case registered against Girish Mattannavar
Belthangady: A case has been registered at Dharmasthala police station against Girish Mattannavar over a complaint regarding alleged defamatory posts on social media against Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.
The complaint was filed by Subrahmanya Prasad, a resident of Dharmasthala.
The complainant stated that Mattannavar posted content on Instagram making allegations against Dr. Heggade and allegedly affecting his reputation.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which is related to spreading false information, rumours, or alarming news, on April 18, and the investigation is in progress.
Following information about Mattannavar’s appearance at the SIT office on May 7, a police officer from Dharmasthala police station issued a notice directing him to appear at the station within a week.
