Fact-Check: Allu Arjun’s New York Appearance Falsely Linked to Congress Support

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th May. A video featuring South Indian actor Allu Arjun at a New York event has been circulating with misleading claims suggesting his endorsement of the Congress party during the current Lok Sabha elections. However, fact-checking investigations have revealed that the footage actually captures Arjun’s participation at the India Day Parade in New York, organized by the Indian diaspora, where he was honored with the title of Grand Marshal in 2022.

Similar visuals of Arjun waving at a crowd from the same event had previously been shared with false claims of him campaigning for Congress. In the viral video, Arjun can be heard addressing the crowd with the words, “This is India’s tri-color. It will never bow down.” However, a caption overlaying the video falsely attributes the statement “Congress Zindabad, Bharat Jodo” to Arjun.

BOOM, a fact-checking organization, debunked similar misinformation in the past where Arjun’s footage was falsely linked to Congress campaign activities. The footage indeed originates from the India Day Parade 2022, as evidenced by Arjun wearing a stole bearing the words “Grand Marshal.”

Further investigation revealed that Arjun delivered the same dialogue and wore the same attire seen in the viral video in a YouTube video dated August 22, 2022. The event was organized by the Federation of Indian Associations to commemorate 75 years of Independent India. Arjun had also shared similar footage of the event on his official YouTube channel on August 23, 2022.

The Federation of Indian Associations, based in the United States, hosts the India Day Parade event, described as one of the largest parades outside India, bringing together over a hundred thousand members of the diaspora for a cultural extravaganza in New York City.
As misinformation continues to circulate amidst the electoral fervor, fact-checking efforts play a crucial role in debunking false claims and providing clarity to the public.