It was clear from the video itself that the police were trying to reunited the child with his father.
The post with the fake claim that went viral and the kid waving to his father.
The screenshot of a boy, a Sabarimala pilgrim, is being widely shared by right-wing influencers, claiming it reflected the “condition of Hindus in Kerala”.
Kerala has constantly been the target of right-wing elements and a victim of misinformation and fake narratives.
The misuse of a photo of a child crying is the latest in the series of misinformation campaigns against the state. Several right-wing social media handles, including BJP leaders, have made innuendos that the photo was an example of Hindus, including devotees of Lord Ayyappa, being persecuted by the LDF-led state government.
The handles claimed that the boy was detained by the police and was being taken in a police van. The allegation that the communist government in the state was against the Hindu religion and torturing the devotees, including small children, has been made frequently.
All these claims were made even though the video that went viral with the fake claims showed the reality. Several netizens pointed to the facts as evident in the video — the screenshot of which was used for misleading narratives.
Recently, several claims by right-wing social media influencers who try to portray Kerala as a place that prosecutes the Hindu population were debunked.
Recently, a spat between a few passengers on a private bus was shared by several people including BJP national spokesperson Anil Antony, with a fake narrative. Another fake narrative was that Kerala does not celebrate Deepavali because the state has fewer Hindus.
The boy shown in the video had got lost in the crowd and was crying for his father. The kid was not inside a police van but a state RTC bus arranged for the devotees.
From the video itself, it was clear that the police were trying to help the kid and he was reunited with his father.
Several others opined that if someone wanted to criticise the government, they should do it against the mismanagement of the crowd and not by peddling fake narratives.
The registration number of the bus, KL-15-A-814, seen in the clipping itself punched holes in the right-wing narrative. KL-15 is allotted only to KSRTC buses.
Condition of Hindus in Kerala. They didn't even spare a kid..💔💔💔#sabrimala pic.twitter.com/G4nh3ejmKw
— Mr Sinha (Modi's family) (@MrSinha_) December 12, 2023
Meanwhile, several social media users debunked the fake claims and added the actual context of the video.
One X user, with the username @Advaidism, shared the details and background of the video.
“Back-story of this video: A kid gets briefly lost in the huge rush at Sabarimala and cries. Kerala police immediately reunites him with his father within 10 minutes. At 0:27 in the video, the kid sees his father,” he wrote on X.
Back-story of this video: A kid gets briefly lost in the huge rush at Sabarimala and cries. Kerala police immediately reunites him with his father within 10 minutes. At 0:27 in the video, the kid sees his father.
But Bagree uses this video for his standard Sanghi propaganda. 🤡 https://t.co/7ct2UXK2St
— Advaid അദ്വൈത് (@Advaidism) December 12, 2023
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday, 13 December, directed the state government to implement crowd control measures.
“We direct the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to cap the spot booking to 10,000 per day on those days when booking has reached the maximum cap of 80,000,” the court said.
When the state government counsel informed the court about the narratives being spread regarding the pilgrimage, the court said: “That can’t be prevented because now it is not only print and visual media, it is also social media, YouTube, etc.”
On Tuesday, the court directed the authorities to ensure support to Sabarimala pilgrims who reach the shrine. They were also asked to provide adequate vehicle parking facilities.
The bench of Justice Anil Narendran and G Girish asked the state police to ensure that the rush to the hilltop shrine was under control.
The court asked the police not to allow overcrowding of devotees in the queue complex and to keep it clean every day.
“The TDB shall consider whether the pilgrims can be provided with drinking water and biscuits at such locations through NSS volunteers or with the assistance of the Local Self Government Institutions concerned,” the court said.
The court also said that more facilities should be arranged at the shrine for pilgrims, including children.
The court was considering the complaints of lack of basic amenities and safety measures in Sabarimala. The hearing will continue on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said nothing unusual had happened at the Lord Ayyappa Temple and urged officials to make the necessary intervention to inform the public about the new arrangements and systems put in place there.
The chief minister directed that arrangements should be made in such a way that it is beneficial for the pilgrims.
An average of 62,000 pilgrims visited the hill shrine daily during the first 19 days of the Mandala Puja season, a CMO statement quoting him said.
In the four days since 6 December, the number of pilgrims has increased to 88,000, leading to the huge rush, he said.
The darshan time has been increased by one hour to resolve the issue, he further said and suggested limiting spot booking.
“Nothing unusual has happened in Sabarimala. It is necessary to inform the people about the arrangements and the facilities that have been put in place there,” he said.
Steps should also be taken to counter fake news being spread in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage and efforts should be taken to create awareness and inform the people about the arrangements and facilities at the shrine, Vijayan added.
Intervention should be made to counter the false narrative being spread inside and outside the state and authorities, including the TDB President, should remain at Sabarimala and coordinate this effort, he further said.
He also criticised the UDF MPs who protested in front of Parliament raising the issue of alleged lack of facilities for Ayyappa pilgrims.
“The UDF is not ready to expose the discrimination shown by the Union government towards Kerala. They refuse to address the bias shown towards Kerala and are eager to please the BJP. They are standing with the BJP which is harming the prospects of Kerala,” the chief minister alleged.
While the state government is trying to explain to the people the efforts being made to destroy the federal system, constitutional values, and challenges faced by secularism in the country, the UDF MPs are using their time to defame the state in Parliament.
“They are seeking the Union government’s interference in the Sabarimala issue. This is a move that may scare the pilgrims from other states,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress criticised the Left government on the Sabarimala issue and accused it of failing to ensure basic amenities for the pilgrims at the shrine.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly VD Satheesan said unprecedented incidents are happening in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
“Many pilgrims from neighbouring states are ending their pilgrimage abruptly at Pandalam due to the heavy rush,” he told reporters in Kochi.
Stating that devotees are forced to stand in queue for over 20 hours, he charged that neither the state government nor the TDB are showing any responsibility to address their plight.
Satheesan said a UDF team, led by Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, MLA, has gone to Pamba, the base camp, to understand the issues faced by the pilgrims.
“We will prepare the suggestions and will be handed over to the government soon,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)
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