Times Now Runs Pre-Election Video As NRIs Prepping For 'Howdy Modi’ Rally In Houston

Times Now aired a five month old video of Non Residential Indians (NRIs) performing a dance sequence for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election bid while claiming it to be part of the prep for the PM's 'Howdy Modi' rally scheduled to take place on the weekend.

The clip run by Times Now did not include a 'file video/file footage' key during the broadcast to make clear that the video was old.

Watch: The preparations taking place in Houston for the biggest build-up to @narendramodi event. | #ModiTrumpDosti pic.twitter.com/EUvDDuxhWc

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) September 18, 2019

Click here to view, and here for an archive.

Modi’s massive Indian community event – ‘Howdy, Modi’ in Houston, Texas is scheduled to take place on September 22, 2019. United States President Donald Trump has also confirmed his participation. (Read more)

Video viral on Twitter

The same video was earlier viral on Twitter, where one can spot NRIs wearing 'Namo Again' T-shirts and performing a dance sequence on the Bharatiya Janata Party's 2019 election campaign song - Main Bhi Chowkidar.

Meanwhile, PM Modi's huge fan following in Houston,

His popularity soars day by Day! #HowdyModi #MondayMotivation #MondayMorning pic.twitter.com/bTz6CEsISI

— Geetika Swami (@SwamiGeetika) September 16, 2019

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Houston getting ready for #HowdyModi
Already 50000 bookings made .

Burnol moment for #Pakistan and Librandus pic.twitter.com/7j5R68rEf0

— MEGHDOOT ⚔🇮🇳 2.0 (@meghdootindia) September 17, 2019

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FACT-CHECK

Video from April 2019

BOOM broke the video into key frames and ran a reverse image search using Yandex, a Russian search engine and the search results showed that the video was from April 2019.

The same video was uploaded on April 5, 2019 on YouTube with the caption, "Now NRI's 4 MODI American Indians Free campaign For Modi 2019 JOIN NAMO LAHAR (नमो लहर) JOIN TODAY".

Amazing check out Namo supporters in US!!..
Now NRI's 4 MODI American Indians Free campaign For Modi 2019 JOIN NAMO ... https://t.co/wMvrimHfQv via @YouTube

— Shivani Divadkar (@ShivaniDivadkar) April 16, 2019

Dance sequence by NRI's in Huston, Texas for PM Modi's re-election.

Additionally, we found a Facebook post dated April 5, 2019 that included a longer version of the video.

It was posted with the caption, "Houston presents a brilliant dance sequence for PM Modi. NRIs come together for PM Modi and are conveying in various ways to fellow Indians back home to bring back Team Modi with absolute majority in 2019."

Click here to view an archive.

In another video on YouTube uploaded on April 5, 2019, one can spot the same white banner of 'NRIs For Modi 2019', in the hands of the people wearing Namo Again T-shirts and the narrator states (at 2.48) that the campaign is organised by BJP's unit of Houston, Texas.

BOOM reached out to Times Now for a response, the article will be updated upon receiving a reply.