Gandhinagar: A video showing vehicles moving on a road riddled with potholes was widely circulated on social media on Sunday, falsely claiming to depict the condition of roads in Gujarat. In the footage, vehicles can be seen bouncing due to the potholes. However, upon verification, it was revealed that the video is years old, with multiple posts asserting that the footage is from China.

The video was shared extensively by several social media users supporting the Congress party, reaching millions of people and spreading misinformation to damage Gujarat’s image. Nevertheless, vigilant netizens were quick to counter and debunk this false narrative.

Upon learning about the video, Harsh Sanghavi, the Minister of State for Home, assured that legal action would be taken against those responsible for disseminating it. ” Misinformation Alert! This fake people are Spreading false videos to tarnish Gujarat’s image is unacceptable. We stand against deliberate attempts to harm reputations. Legal actions will be taken,” the MoS posted on X.

The misleading video was shared by one Prahlad Dalwadi on X, who wrote,” PM Modi Saheb ni Saath, Maru Gujarat che Taryyar. As Amitabh Bachhan once said, “Are Kuch Din Toh Guzaro Gujarat Main” I say “Anjar Panjar Dheele Hone ki Gurantte,” Andhra Pardesh soon to adopt the Gujarat Model”

Another user Chirag Patel while sharing the false video wrote, “This is world class Gujarat Health Model after 3 decades of governance.”

This is world class Gujarat Health Model after 3 decades of governance.

Thank you @Bhupendrapbjp and @narendramodi https://t.co/Em2SAtwz2p

— ‎Chirag Patel (@tuvter) August 4, 2024

The video posted by Chirag Patel was even shared by some journalists, reposting Chirag Patel’s tweet Senior Journalist Deepal Trivedi wrote  “Practice for hurdle race has already begun in #Gujarat. #Olympicgames So Vibrant?!”

One Bavachan Varghese, with the ID @mumbaislifeline, also shared this video. All these users deleted the false video after their lies and misinformation narrative was exposed. 

Several Tweeples reacted to these videos and busted the fake new narrative; one user wrote, “Before peddling fake news just check The boards which are in Chinese ”

Before peddling fake news just check The boards which are in Chinese 🤦‍♂️

— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) August 4, 2024

Another one said, “Congress have paid money for its IT Cell to post fake videos. They are paying money for their blue tick handle to get more coverage. BJp is sleeping. They don’t even promote pro BJP tweet.”

Congress have paid money for its IT Cell to post fake videos. They are paying money for their blue tick handle to get more coverage. BJp is sleeping. They don’t even promote pro BJP tweet.

— Robby (@robbymeranam) August 4, 2024

One of the user also pointed out this same video was shared earlier and at that time it was claimed that it was from Mumbai, “In 2020 this video was said to be from Mumbai  Now you claim it to be from Gujarat. @GujaratPolice @GujaratPoliceGP, @dgpgujarat pls note fake video being posted to malign Gujarat , the PM and CM of Gujarat Strict action needed,” the user said.

In 2020 this video was said to be from Munbai 😏
Now you claim it to be from Gujarat. @GujaratPolice @GujaratPoliceGP , @dgpgujarat pls note fake video being posted to malign Gujarat , the PM and CM of Gujarat
Strict action needed 🙏🏽

Proof : https://t.co/dStHsn7sDk

— ExtraSpiceAni (@ShrivastavAni) August 4, 2024

Another Tweeple wrote, “The Congress IT cell is in overdrive, churning out fake and manipulated videos daily to malign Gujarat. This latest attempt is laughable—it’s clearly from China, as the banners reveal. Desperation much?”

The Congress IT cell is in overdrive, churning out fake and manipulated videos daily to malign Gujarat. This latest attempt is laughable—it’s clearly from China, as the banners reveal. Desperation much?

— Ishant Jain (@ishantj) August 4, 2024

Here is the old video posted 4 years ago on YouTube titled “Potholes on Chinese Roads After Heavy Rain”