Fact Check: Did Muslim Vendor Refuse To Display Indian Flag At His Shop In Viral Video?

A viral video of a Muslim coconut seller asking people not to put the Indian national flag on his shop is scripted and not a real incident.

Screenshot of the viral claim alleging a Muslim man opposed displaying the Indian national flag. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

Source : (Source:X)

The Verdict [False]

Content creator Ritik Kataria produced the video in 2023. He confirmed to Logically Facts that the footage was scripted and not a real incident.

What is the claim?

A 50-second video clip depicting a coconut seller, wearing a skull cap, asking people not to put the Indian national flag on his shop has gone viral on social media. In the video, other people can be seen arguing, saying that 'it's their country, and they will place the flag wherever they want.'

This video is being shared with divisive claims, labeling Muslims as 'traitors' and suggesting, "Earlier, traitors used to have problems with the saffron flag, and now they have problems with tricolor flags as well." One such post had 3,72,200 views and 77,000 likes at the time of writing this article. Archived links to similar claims can be found here, here, here, and here.

Screenshot of the viral claim. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the claim is false, and the incident is not real. The video actually shows a scripted skit created by Ritik Kataria in August 2023.

What did we find?

A reverse image search revealed that the viral video was originally shared on a YouTube channel named Ritik Kataria in August 2023. The full-length video (archive here) was uploaded on August 14, 2023, with the title "A fight over the Tiranga between a Hindu and a Muslim mother-son" (translated from Hindi). The channel's bio describes its content as "motivational videos."

The viral clip begins at the 0:56 mark of the full video, which is over four minutes long. In the complete version, the Muslim character initially opposes placing a flag at his shop's entrance. However, by the end, he argues that positioning the flag too low disrespects it, explaining his initial objection. A short segment of this video has been taken out of context and shared as a real incident with communal claims.

Logically Facts contacted Ritik Kataria, who identifies as an actor and content creator. He stated, "I created that video in 2023, but it didn't gain traction then. So I reposted it on my YouTube channel this year. However, some people have taken it from there and are sharing it as if it were a real incident. The full video conveys a different message and is intended to be motivational. Unfortunately, a portion has been taken out of context and is now being circulated."

The verdict:

A scripted video from 2023 is being shared as a real incident with a communal angle. The viral video is a motivational video created by Ritik Kataria.

(This report first appeared on logicallyfacts.com, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. ABP Live has edited the headline and feature image of the report while republishing)