Centre Debunks Fake Video Alleging RSS Chief's Call To Saffronise Indian Army

The Government of India has **debunked a viral video claiming that Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), told Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “saffronise” the Indian Army and remove non‑Hindu soldiers — calling it a digitally altered fake. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) released a fact‑check warning after the manipulated clip spread widely on social media.

In the deepfake video, a voice purportedly of Bhagwat says that the Army must be “saffronised” to maintain purity, and that non‑caste Hindus should be expelled — along with threatening political consequences if these demands were not met by 2028. The clip implied that Bhagwat had communicated this to the prime minister. According to government fact‑checkers, this audio and imagery are fabricated and do not reflect Bhagwat’s actual remarks.

The PIB Fact Check unit, tasked with countering misinformation, shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) asserting that the video is “fake and has been digitally altered.” It urged internet users to report misleading or manipulated content and highlighted the dangers of deepfake technology being used to misinform the public. The government fact‑check also provided a link to the original unaltered footage to demonstrate the contrast.

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In reality, the original segment from which the manipulated clip was taken featured Bhagwat discussing the difficulty of understanding the RSS solely through its association with a political party, without mentioning the Army, recruitment, or religious purging. The genuine remarks focused on organisational philosophy rather than any military policy.

Political analysts say the spread of such deceptive content underscores wider concerns about misinformation campaigns leveraging artificial intelligence and social media to influence public opinion. Deepfakes can be particularly potent in politically sensitive contexts like defence forces or national unity, where they can sow discord or mistrust. Authorities and fact‑checkers have increasingly called for greater public scepticism and reliance on official sources.

Social media platforms have faced scrutiny for failing to stem the tide of manipulated digital content, with experts urging improved detection tools and user awareness. The government’s prompt rebuttal aims to prevent the fake clip from shaping narratives about the Army or fuelling communal tensions. Citizens are advised to verify contentious videos through credible fact‑checking channels before sharing them

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