Fact Check: Has the government sold the Indian Railways to Adani Group as alleged in a viral video shared by Priyanka Vadra?

Team Udayavani, Dec 17, 2020, 12:19 PM IST

A video of a train pasted with the banners of ‘Fortune Chakki Fresh Atta’, claiming that the Indian Railways have been privatised by the Indian Government and sold to the Adani Group has been going viral on social media

On December 14, Priyanka Gandhi shared a video showing “Adani Wilmar” written on the engine of a train. She wrote, “The BJP government has put a stamp of its billionaire friend Adani on the Indian Railway, which was established through hard works of millions of people. Gradually, a large portion of railways will go to Modi ji’s billionaire friends. Farmers are fighting to prevent farming from going into the hands of Modi ji’s billionaire friends”

The video was also shared by the working President of Gujarat Congress Hardik Patel, saying, “Adani’s fresh flour advertisements on Indian Railways are worth a watch. Now we can say with belief that the farmers’ fight is on the path of truth.”

भारतीय रेल पर अदानी के फ़्रेश आटे का विज्ञापन देखने लायक़ हैं। अब तो दावे के साथ कह सकते है की किसानों की लड़ाई सत्य के मार्ग पर हैं। pic.twitter.com/WB97kaG6Fe

— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) December 12, 2020

However, Press Information Bureau has rubbished the allegations of Adani Group taking over the Indian Railways that have surfaced on internet along with the video.

दावा: #फेसबुक पर एक वीडियो के साथ यह दावा किया जा रहा है कि सरकार ने भारतीय रेल पर एक निजी कंपनी का ठप्पा लगवा दिया है। #PIBFactCheck: यह दावा भ्रामक है। यह केवल एक वाणिज्यिक विज्ञापन है जिसका उद्देश्य केवल ‘गैर किराया राजस्व’ को बेहतर बनाना है। pic.twitter.com/vSmK8Xgdis

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) December 16, 2020

The tweet mentioned that the posters of Adani Wilmar were just commercial advertisements that are intended to improve the revenues of the Indian Railways.

Karnataka Social Welfare Minister, B Sriramulu urged “people in responsible chairs” to verify the news before sharing it on social media platforms

Fake news has been a menace in the society today. I urge @priyankagandhi @HardikPatel_ and other people in responsible chairs to run a fact check before putting it across on a social media platform. https://t.co/5sh16vsQxN

— B Sriramulu (@sriramulubjp) December 17, 2020