Fact Check: BJP letter asking workers to welcome Er Rashid is fake
NewsMeter has found the claim to be false, as the letter is fake.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 12 Sept 2024 8:54 AM IST
Claim: BJP has instructed its workers in Kashmir to attend the welcome rally of Baramullah MP, Er Rashid, who was granted interim bail on September 11.
Fact: The claim is false. Jammu & Kashmir BJP and its President Ravinder Raina have clarified that no such order has been issued and the letter is fake.
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as `Engineer Rashidā, won the 2024 Lok Sabha election for Baramulla, defeating Omar Abdullah and Sajad Gani Lone.
The founder of the Awami-e-Ittihad Party (AIP), Rashid had been incarcerated for five years in Tihar Jail on terror funding charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He was granted interim bail on September 11. Omar Abdullah criticised the release, suggesting it could split votes and benefit the BJP in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, scheduled for September 18, 25, and October 1.
In this context, a letter on BJP letterhead, bearing the signature of its J&K President Ravinder Raina, has been circulating. The letter claims that the party's high command has instructed BJP workers to attend Engineer Rashid's welcome rally.
An X handle shared the letter and wrote, āDeal is now open. BJP directs its workers to attend and support Engineer.ā (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter has found the claim to be false, as the letter is fake.
Inam Un Nabi, Chief Spokesperson of the Awami Itihaad Party, called the letter fake in a post on X. He accused the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) of desperation, attempting to undermine Engineer Rashidās growing support. He further accused both parties of spreading āmalicious falsehoods.ā (Archive)
Taking a cue from this, we compared the viral letter with an official one issued by BJP Jammu & Kashmir, signed by President Ravinder Raina. We observed that the viral letter lacks both a reference number and a date of issue.
Furthermore, we checked Raina's X handle and found a clarification in which he stated that the letter was fake, calling it political propaganda by the Opposition. He also requested that the Election Commission of India register an FIR regarding political fraud. (Archive)
The official X handle of BJP Jammu & Kashmir quoting Raina clarified in a post that the letter is fake. (Archive)
Hence, we conclude that the letter is fake and that the claim of BJP instructing its workers to attend Rashid's welcome rally is false.
