Fact Check: Stalin gives retrofitted petrol scooters only to Muslims with disabilities?
Know the facts here
_vb_90.jpeg)
Claim: The image shows TN CM Stalin distributing retrofitted petrol scooters as part of a government scheme only intended for Muslims.
Fact: The claim is false. The government scheme does not mention a particular religious identity as part of the eligibility criteria.
The Government of Tamil Nadu has announced the distribution of retrofitted petrol scooters to persons with disabilities through the ‘Retrofitted Petrol Scooters by Welfare of Differently Abled Persons Department’ scheme.
While mentioning the scheme, several social media usersare claiming that the TN government is showing favouritism to a certain religious community. Many are sharing a photograph of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin handing over a retrofitted scooter to a woman, insinuating that the woman is a Muslim and that the scheme is only intended for Muslims.
“Are there no differently abled persons in the Hindu religion? Is Tamil Nadu in India or Pakistan? (translated from Tamil)” wrote a Facebook user who the shared the image.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. People of all religious beliefs are eligible for the scheme.
Through a reverse image search, we found the same image on the official Instagram account of the Tamil Nadu chief minister’s office, dated March 3, 2025. The caption read, “Retrofitted petrol scooters were distributed by the chief minister during an official program in Nagapattinam district.” There is no special mention that the woman is a Muslim.
View this post on Instagram
Further, through a keyword search, we found the viral image in a news report about other welfare measures and government projects by the TN government. ETV Bharat Tamil Nadu published the image in a report on March 3, 2025. The caption read, “The chief minister presents a three-wheeler to a woman.”
The report stated that, in a program held in Nagapattinam District, the chief minister inaugurated 35 completed projects worth Rs 423.18 crores and laid the foundation stone for 206 new projects. Further, he distributed welfare measures to 38,956 beneficiaries. There is no mention of any special benefits being extended to Muslims.
It is clear that the beneficiary in the image was presented with the scooter as part of the welfare scheme and not because she is a Muslim.
While checking for information from the government about the scheme, we found that the Instagram account of the Department of Information and Public Relations shared the video on March 4 of another beneficiary of the scheme, Dilli Babu, thanking the chief minister for providing the vehicle. Hence, this showed that the scheme is applicable to persons with disabilities from all religious backgrounds.
View this post on Instagram
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
