Edited News18 graphic falsely claims Mohan Bhagwat said the saffron flag, not the Tricolour, is Hindus’ true identity
Edited News18 graphic falsely claims Mohan Bhagwat said the saffron flag, not the Tricolour, is Hindus’ true identity
Executive Summaryसारांश
A viral News18 Digital graphic claims RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said young people should understand that their identity is the saffron flag, not the Tricolour. OFI Fact Check has marked the graphic edited. The original News18 Himachal card quoted him as saying the new generation must be taught to tell right from wrong, at an RSS event in Nagpur.A viral News18 Digital graphic claims RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said young people should understand that their identity is the saffron flag, not the Tricolour. OFI Fact Check has marked the graphic edited. The original News18 Himachal card quoted him as saying the new generation must be taught to tell right from wrong, at an RSS event in Nagpur.
Full Reportपूरी रिपोर्ट
On October 28, 2026, the X user V N Yadav (@VishwaN66027954) shared a News18 Digital “postcard” with a photo of Mohan Bhagwat speaking, alongside a Hindi caption attacking the RSS. The text on the card read that youth should understand that their identity is not the Tricolour but the saffron flag, which has been the identity of Hindus for centuries. OFI Fact Check found that the card was edited. The original, posted by News18 Himachal on October 20, 2026, uses the same photo and layout. Its text reads "नई पीढ़ी को सही-गलत को समझने की कला सिखानी होगी... नागपुर में RSS के कार्यक्रम में बोले मोहन भागवत" (“The new generation must be taught the art of understanding right and wrong, said Mohan Bhagwat at an RSS event in Nagpur”). The accompanying post described it as his Vijayadashami message on teaching Gen Z the difference between right and wrong and awakening a “nation first” spirit. The fake card replaced this with an invented quote on the national flag. Altering a news outlet’s graphic to put words in a public figure’s mouth is a common tactic, so quote cards should be checked against the outlet’s original post before being shared.
On October 28, 2026, the X user V N Yadav (@VishwaN66027954) shared a News18 Digital “postcard” with a photo of Mohan Bhagwat speaking, alongside a Hindi caption attacking the RSS. The text on the card read that youth should understand that their identity is not the Tricolour but the saffron flag, which has been the identity of Hindus for centuries. OFI Fact Check found that the card was edited. The original, posted by News18 Himachal on October 20, 2026, uses the same photo and layout. Its text reads "नई पीढ़ी को सही-गलत को समझने की कला सिखानी होगी... नागपुर में RSS के कार्यक्रम में बोले मोहन भागवत" (“The new generation must be taught the art of understanding right and wrong, said Mohan Bhagwat at an RSS event in Nagpur”). The accompanying post described it as his Vijayadashami message on teaching Gen Z the difference between right and wrong and awakening a “nation first” spirit. The fake card replaced this with an invented quote on the national flag. Altering a news outlet’s graphic to put words in a public figure’s mouth is a common tactic, so quote cards should be checked against the outlet’s original post before being shared.