Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Congress leader promises compensation and jobs to the family members of terrorists killed in Kashmir.
Fact
The video dates back to December 2018, and has been shared out of context. The Congress had disowned and rejected Khan’s remarks.
A video showing Congress leader Haji Sagheer Saeed Khan accusing the BJP of killing “innocent” people in Kashmir, and promising compensation to the deceased’s families is being widely circulated on social media platforms amid the Lok Sabha Polls. Multiple users shared the video stating that the Congress leader is “promising to give ₹1 crore each to the family members of terrorists killed by Indian Armed Forces,” and claiming that it unveils the “true face” of the grand old party. Newschecker found that the video has been shared out of context.
In the video Khan is heard saying, “Kashmir used to be known as heaven, is now filled with corpses…those innocent people who were killed here, if Congress comes to power, their families will be given ₹ 1 crore compensation and job to one person. Those innocent people who are behind the bars in terror cases will be released. The BJP leaders who are responsible for the killings here, no matter how prominent and powerful they are, a new law will be enacted, and they will be hanged…The army is just following their orders.”
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the video, we spotted the watermark of Republic channel on the top left, and bottom right corner in the footage.
Taking a clue, we looked up keywords “Sagheer Saeed Khan,” “1 crore” and “Kashmir” on the official YouTube channel of Republic World . This led us to a video report by the news outlet, dated December 26, 2018, carrying the viral footage.
A report by ABP News, dated December 27, 2018, also carried the viral footage. The report titled ‘Congress Leader Sagheer Saeed Khan Lands Party In A Soup,’ stated, “We will give compensation of one crore rupees to the family members of those killed in the valley. We will also provide government jobs to their family members. Terror suspects will be released from jails,” said Khan.”
Detailing the incident, an India Today report, dated December 27, 2018, stated “Congress leader Sagheer Saeed Khan is in the eye of a storm after he sympathised with the terrorists and also announced a cash reward for them in case the party comes to power. Speaking to local journalists in Jammu, the Congress leader targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the saffron party was committing “atrocities on innocent people” in Jammu and Kashmir.”
It added that the Jammu & Kashmir Spokesperson said that the party rejects Khan’s remarks. “The Congress disowns and rejects Sagheer Saeed Khan’s statement. He is not a spokesperson of the party. He has no mandate to speak on such issues…We stand with our security forces in the fight against terrorism,” Ravinder Sharma was quoted as saying.
We also found a Facebook post by the Jammu & Kashmir Congress, dated December 26, 2018, carrying a video byte of Ravinder Sharma rejecting the remarks by Khan. It also stated, “In a statement PCC Chief Spokesperson #RavinderSharma while totally disowning the statement of Haji Sagheer Saeed Khan said that he had no mandate to make any statement on policy matter of the party without consulting the JKPCC any such statement which goes against status policy of government is totally disowned and out rightly rejected besides seeking appropriate action against him by the minority department of the party.”
Adding, “Mr. Sharma said that party’s stand is clear that terrorism has to be dealt sternly and there cannot be any compromise on the issue of security and safety of the people. He said that no individual has any authority to issue any policy statement in this matter without approval of the duly authorized and nominated official spokesperson with the approval of central leadership. Hence any misgiving on this account needs to be set at rest. (sic)”
We found multiple reports from December 2018 elaborating on the remarks by Khan. Such reports can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Blast At Kalyan Jewellers Showroom in Karnataka Due To AC Fault, Not A Terror Attack
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that a 2018 video of Khan’s remarks on Jammu & Kashmir has been shared misleadingly as the Congress leader’s recent comments. The Congress has rejected and disowned his remarks.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
YouTube Video By Republic World, Dated December 26, 2018
YouTube Video By ABP News, Dated December 27, 2018
Report By India Today, Dated December 27, 2018
Facebook Post By @INCJammuKashmir, Dated December 26, 2018
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
