Saurav Das shares fake Gaurav Bhatia quote on Swatantra Bhardwaj; deletes after being called out

According to a report by Alt News, Saurav Das, the co-convener of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), shared an image on the social media platform X on September 5 that attributed a controversial quote to BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia. The post, which featured the logo of the news outlet NavBharat Times, alleged that Bhatia had made specific derogatory remarks regarding an individual named Swatantra Bhardwaj. The post gained traction before being deleted by Das following public scrutiny and accusations that the quote was fabricated.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges regarding the spread of unverified information and doctored media in India's highly polarized political landscape. By using the branding of a recognized news organization, the post sought to lend an air of legitimacy to the claim, a common tactic in digital disinformation campaigns. The subsequent deletion of the content by the original poster serves as an admission of the inaccuracy of the attribution.

This event underscores the importance of verifying social media claims before they are amplified, particularly when they involve public figures and political organizations. As digital platforms continue to play a central role in political communication, the role of independent fact-checkers in identifying and documenting such instances of misinformation remains critical to maintaining public discourse integrity.