Fact Check: Indian journalist’s video about army purge is altered

A social media user shared a video of Indian journalist Palki Sharma claiming that the Indian army has decided to expunge non caste Hindus from the military.

The X user, The Whistle Blower, shared a post captioned, “Indian Army announces 50% reduction of non caste Hindus in the Indian Army in the wake of new reforms pushed by the Rashtraya Swayam Sewak Sangh. Prime Minister Modi is adamant that it must complete before 2028.”

An accompanying video shows Indian journalist Palki Sharma in her signature style delivering the news show at the digital media outlet Firstpost.

She can be heard saying, “In a breaking news today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a summary bill of removing 50% of non-caste Hindus from the Indian Army by the year 2028. This summary comes in the wake of protests by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, in which they had claimed that the sons of invaders are now polluting the Indian Army with their presence and they must be removed in order to complete the Dharam Yudh in this Triloc era. Prime Minister Modi gave his assent to Chief of Defence Staff General Upendra Dvivedi on Wednesday when he was meeting a delegation of senior Indian Army officials regarding the Trishul exercises. This decision has sparked backlash amongst the Muslim, Dalit and Christian minorities in India. However, the Prime Minister seems adamant on this demand.”

Fact Check has determined the video is digitally manipulated with an audio recording. The video follows a similar video of the Indian army claiming that non caste Hindus should be expelled from the army.

The video in which journalist Palki Sharma is seen wearing the dress as depicted can be viewed on YouTube. A careful analysis of the video shows there is no mention of the purge but tri services military drill in the eastern Himalayas.

Thus, the video shows the Indian journalist reporting about purge in the India army is FALSE and misleading.