A viral video has circulated on social media, purportedly showing Uddhav Thackeray, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, admitting to eating beef. The clip has gained traction amidst political discussions ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, leading many to believe that Thackeray made this controversial statement. However, the video is a clipped version of a longer speech delivered during a Dussehra event in Mumbai, where Thackeray was actually referencing comments made by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju regarding beef consumption.
Claim
The claim states that Uddhav Thackeray admitted to eating beef during a public speech. This assertion is false, as the video has been edited to misrepresent his actual statements.
Fact
Investigations reveal that the viral video is misleading. In the original speech, Thackeray did not claim to eat beef; instead, he criticized the hypocrisy surrounding cow protection laws and referenced Rijiju’s past comments from 2015 about beef consumption. The top three sources confirming this fact include:
- The Quint
- Boom Live
Conclusion
This fact check falls under the category of False Content, as it presents information that is wholly false and misleading regarding Uddhav Thackeray’s statements about beef consumption.