Fact Check: No lockdown in Telangana, viral letter is fake
A purported letter of the General Administration Department claiming that the state government has ordered all shops and commercial establishments to remain closed from 6 pm to 8 am till April 30, is viral on social media.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 1 April 2021 6:15 PM GMT
HYDERABAD: A purported letter of the General Administration Department claiming that the state government has ordered all shops and commercial establishments to remain closed from 6 pm to 8 am till April 30, is viral on social media.
Users claim that the decision has been taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
This led to several social media users forwarding the viral letter on WhatsApp. "Partial lockdown in Telangana from 6 pm to 8 am. Shops to remain shut during this time till April 30," reads the viral message.
(archive)
FACT CHECK:
It was noted that the letter contained the name of Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, but It was unsigned. NewsMeter spoke to Somesh Kumar and found that the viral letter is fake.
"It has come to the notice of the government that an unsigned document claiming to be a GO issued on April 1, 2021, asking for the closure of shops and commercial establishments, etc, is circulating on social media. It is hereby clarified that the document is fake. No such order has been issued by the Government of Telangana. It is also clarified lockdown is not even being considered," he said.
Furthermore, according to news reports by TIMES OF INDIA and NEWS MINUTE, KCR stated that there will be no lockdown in Telangana.
"No more lockdowns will be there. Industries will not be closed. There's no need to worry. We've already suffered a lot. We will take all measures to contain COVID-19, but under no circumstances will there be a lockdown in the state," he said.
Below is a video of KCR stating that there would be no lockdowns in Telangana.
Hence, it is clear that the letter is fake. Telangana will not be under a partial lockdown till April 30.
