Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inaugurated for a third term on Sunday in an elaborate ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. The grand event saw the attendance of around 8,000 guests, including foreign heads of state and other esteemed dignitaries, signifying the importance and gravitas of the occasion. However, an unexpected twist followed the ceremony and took social media by storm with a short video clip that ignited widespread speculation and debate.
The video footage, which surfaced online a day after the ceremony, displayed an enigmatic animal in the background as BJP MP Durga Das Uikey was seen greeting President Droupadi Murmu following his oath procedure. The nature of this animal left many viewers puzzled, leading to a heated discussion: was it a cat or a leopard?
The clip quickly went viral, capturing the attention and imagination of social media users across various platforms. Numerous theories emerged about the identity of this shadowy figure, with some users convinced that it was a leopard leisurely wandering through the presidential estate. Others posited that the animal in question was simply a domestic house cat, its appearance distorted by lighting and camera angles.
One tweet exclaimed, “Shocking, Leopard roaming in President house,” accompanied by the video for viewers to judge for themselves. Another tweet encouraged, “Let me know in comments if you spot it too,” soliciting opinions on the mysterious sighting.
The video’s virality was further fueled by the intrigue surrounding its context—such a grand and secure event like the Prime Minister’s swearing-in ceremony should be devoid of unaccounted wildlife, making the scene even more bewildering.
Following the widespread dissemination of the clip and growing speculations, the Delhi Police stepped in to clarify the matter. Through an official statement, the police addressed and debunked the claims made in the viral video, firmly stating that the animal seen was not a leopard but a common house cat. The police explained that the size and appearance of the cat seemed larger due to the interplay of shadows and peculiar angles captured by the camera.
“These facts are not true.
. The animal captured on camera is a common house cat. Please don’t adhere to such frivolous rumours,” the Delhi Police tweeted, urging the public to disregard the sensational claims.
While Delhi Police’s intervention and clarification sought to put an end to the speculation, the incident highlighted how quickly misinformation can spread and captivate the public’s attention. The phenomenon of viral content spreading unfounded theories is not new, but the high profile of the event lent an unusual weight to this particular instance.
The debate also sparked discussions around the security protocols in place at such significant national events. Questions were raised about how such a misunderstanding could occur under what should be stringent surveillance measures. Social media platforms, meanwhile, buzzed with memes and humorous takes on the situation, lightening the tone of what was essentially a misidentification.
This incident might lead to further scrutiny and perhaps even more rigorous checks to avoid any such confusion in future high-profile events. It also serves as a reminder of the power and reach of social media in shaping narratives and influencing public opinion, often based on a few seconds of unclear footage.
In summary, while the grand ceremony marking Narendra Modi’s third term as Prime Minister proceeded without a hitch, it was the mysterious animal sighting that grabbed headlines post-event. The clarification by Delhi Police sought to ground the wild theories and return the narrative to a more pedestrian reality—that of an ordinary house cat finding itself momentarily in the spotlight amidst an extraordinary event.
Despite this, the incident serves as a compelling case study of modern media dynamics, illustrating how swiftly an innocuous clip can spiral into a viral sensation, prompting official clarifications and stirring public dialogue.
As the questions subside and the video retreats into the vast repository of internet curiosities, one is reminded of the adage: appearances can be deceiving, especially in the era of instant virality and digital proliferation.
