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
Jammu & Kashmir BJP circular directs party workers to attend Engineer Rashid’s welcome rally.
Fact
No such order by the Jammu & Kashmir BJP. Circular found to be fake.
Abdul Rashid Sheikh, who has been lodged in jail since 2019 in an alleged terror funding case, was recently granted interim bail to campaign for his party, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), in upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Widely known as ‘Engineer Rashid,’ he defeated former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, contesting the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls.
In this context, an alleged circular by the Jammu & Kashmir BJP directing party workers to attend the welcome rally for Engineer Rashid has surfaced on social media platforms. Newschecker, however, found that the circular is not authentic.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Video From Myanmar Shared As Indian Helicopter Shot Down In Crisis-Hit Manipur
Fact Check/Verification
We looked up keywords “Engineer Rashid,” ”BJP” and “welcome rally” on Google led us to a PTI report, dated September 11, 2024. “Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Wednesday described as “fake” an order on the party’s letterhead asking the party workers in the valley to attend the welcome rally of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid,” it stated.
Alleging “political propaganda by frustrated opposition,” Raina said that no such order was issued from his office. “I have requested @ECISVEEP to register FIR in the political fraud,” he said in an X post.
The official X handle of the Jammu and Kashmir BJP also carried Raina’s comments on the viral circular, terming it “fake”
Sat Sharma, who was recently appointed as the Working President of the Jammu & Kashmir unit of the BJP, also denounced the viral circular terming it fake.
Also Read: Image Of Digitally Translated Hindi Report Criticising Rahul Gandhi Viral With False Claim
We then ran past the image on Google lens which yielded a Facebook post by the Jammu and Kashmir BJP from November, 2021 carrying an order on the “disciplinary Proceedings” against “Vikram Randhawa State Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory in reference to making of reckless and defamatory remarks against particular community and women.”
A comparison between the viral image and circular on Vikram Randhwa indicated manipulation in the former. The date stamp, and the reference were missing the viral image. We also noticed discrepancies in Raina’s signature. The addresses were, however, the same.
We then compared the purported BJP circular with other releases by the party from the second half of 2023, and found several discrepancies. Apart from the obvious difference in Raina’s signature, the number attributed to him was also different in the circulars from 2023. Additionally, all such official circulars carried a date stamp, and a reference number. However, the same was missing from the viral image. Such releases can be seen here, here and here.
Not BJP Proxy: Engineer Rashid
Following his release on interim bail, Rashid dismissed the claims of him being a BJP proxy, and claimed to be a victim of the saffron party.
“My victory was to send a message across about what exactly the people of Kashmir want; it is not for the love of Mr. Modi…if the people were so happy about the abrogation of Article 370, why the government had to send hundreds of people to jail and why the BJP could not find even a single candidate of its own in Kashmir?,” Rashid said. “You don’t allow me to enter Parliament. Why are you so afraid, Mr Modi; don’t be scared and don’t scare anyone,” he was also quoted as saying.
Conclusion
Hence, the alleged Jammu & Kashmir BJP circular directing party workers to attend Engineer Rashid’s welcome rally was found to be fake.
Result: False
Sources
Report By PTI, Dated September 11, 2024
X Post By @RavinderRaina, Dated September 11, 2024
X Post By @BJP4JnK, Dated September 11, 2024
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates.
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.
