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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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
