A viral video claiming BJP leader Arjun Singh hoisted the party flag instead of the National Flag on Independence Day has been debunked. The footage is from a July office inauguration.
- The claim that Arjun Singh hoisted the BJP flag on Independence Day is entirely false.
- The viral footage dates back to July 6, during a party office inauguration in Barrackpore.
- A second viral clip from Chhattisgarh was traced back to a training camp in March.
As India celebrated its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, a controversial video surfaced on social media. The clip allegedly showed Arjun Singh, the Labour and Transport Minister of West Bengal and a prominent BJP leader, hoisting the party's saffron flag instead of the Indian Tricolour. The video was amplified by high-profile figures, including Congress leader Supriya Shrinate and the official account of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
However, a rigorous investigation has revealed that the video was taken out of context. A reverse-search of the frames led to Arjun Singh's own official Facebook account, where the video was originally posted on July 6. The event was actually the inauguration of a BJP office in Barrackpore, West Bengal, commemorating the 125th birth anniversary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the weaponization of 'out-of-context' media has become a primary tool in modern political warfare. When established political entities share unverified content, it creates a ripple effect of misinformation that can erode public trust in national symbols and institutional integrity.
"The speed of social media often outpaces the speed of truth, making proactive fact-checking essential to maintain democratic stability."
Arjun Singh addressed the controversy via a Facebook post on August 15, clarifying that the footage was old. He further stated his intention to pursue legal action against the Indian National Congress and the RJD for disseminating falsehoods.
In a similar vein, another video from Kurud, Chhattisgarh, claimed to show BJP workers hoisting the party flag on Independence Day. Investigation revealed that this clip was from an Instagram post dated March 23, related to the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Training Maha Abhiyan, shared by MLA Ajay Chandrakar.
| Claim | Fact |
|---|---|
| BJP flag hoisted on Aug 15 | Videos are from July and March events |
| Tricolour replaced by party flag | Events were office inaugurations and training camps |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Did Arjun Singh hoist the BJP flag on August 15?
No, the video was from a July 6 office inauguration event in Barrackpore.
Q2: What was the context of the Chhattisgarh video?
The video was from a training camp held in March, not from the Independence Day celebrations.