Recently, a video has been circulated by several Pakistan-based X (former Twitter) accounts claiming that Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi accused the Indian government of concealing casualties during Operation Sindoor and announced his resignation in protest before handing over command to General Dhiraj Seth.
The circulated video attributes the following statement to General Dwivedi:
“We are being made scapegoat for something that we never participated in. It was Center’s decision to hide the casualties in Operation Sindoor. Minister Rajnath Singh clearly said in parliament on oath that Indian Army suffered no losses & now people like Vikram Misri are being used to set blame on military leadership, exonerating the political decision making, which we followed. For this I am resigning in protest and handing over the command to General Dhiraj Seth.”।
See the posts circulated on social media with this claim here (Archive), and here (Archive).
Fact Check
The Rumor Scanner team’s investigation found that the viral video claiming General Upendra Dwivedi accused the Indian government of hiding casualties during Operation Sindoor and resigned in protest is false. In reality, the video has been digitally manipulated by adding fabricated audio to footage of General Dwivedi’s official farewell address during the routine transfer of Army command.
To verify the claim, Rumor Scanner examined the viral video and searched for any credible reports regarding the alleged statement or resignation. If the Chief of the Indian Army had publicly accused the government of concealing military casualties and resigned in protest, the incident would have received extensive coverage from Indian and international media. However, no such reports were found in any credible news outlet or official government source.
Subsequently, using the logo of the Indian news agency Asian News International (ANI) visible in the video as a lead, a search of the outlet’s X account identified three videos featuring remarks by General Upendra Dwivedi. A review of these videos found that while the opening portion of one video matches the footage used in the circulated clip, the speech itself is different. In the original video, General Dwivedi is seen speaking in Hindi, whereas in the circulated video he is heard speaking in English. Moreover, the voice in the circulated clip does not match his original voice. This confirms that the circulated video was created by replacing the original audio of a portion of the video with different audio.
The authentic footage shows General Upendra Dwivedi delivering his farewell remarks while formally handing over the responsibilities of the Indian Army to General Dhiraj Seth. At no point in the original speech does he mention Operation Sindoor, casualties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, political interference, or any disagreement with the government.
Instead, General Dwivedi says:
“I express my heartfelt gratitude. Today, I am handing over this responsibility to General Dhiraj Seth. He is a seasoned soldier and a capable leader. I have full confidence that under his leadership, the Indian Army will reach even greater heights with its glorious traditions, professionalism, and resolve.
As I hand over this responsibility today, I have full confidence in the future of the Indian Army—that our Army will remain connected to its traditions, stay alert to current challenges, and be constantly prepared for every situation that may arise in the future. To highlight this, the Indian Army has published the ‘Strategic Security Guidelines 2047’. The sources of inspiration for this document are ‘Viksit Bharat Vision 2047’ and ‘Armed Forces Vision 2047’.
In conclusion, I will remain lifelong grateful for the firm faith and full cooperation of every soldier, every veteran, every family, and every citizen of India. I wish for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of you all, and will continue to do so in the future. Thank you. Jai Hind.”
Additionally, no official announcement from the Indian Army or the Government of India indicates that General Dwivedi resigned in protest. The transfer of command to General Dhiraj Seth took place as part of the scheduled change of command and was accompanied by an official farewell ceremony.
Therefore, the viral video claiming that General Upendra Dwivedi accused the Indian government of hiding casualties during Operation Sindoor and resigned in protest is digitally manipulated or altered.
Sources
- ANI X Account Post
- Deccan Herald Website: General Upendra Dwivedi signs off as Army Chief, says wars will be more theatre-oriented in future
- Rumor Scanner’s Analysis