Amid 77th Independence Day, news is going viral on social media claiming that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will observe 15 August as a ‘Black Day’. Users on social media are fiercely sharing this news.
Pakistani News website The Express Tribune published a news article on August 14, 2023, along with the headline: “Kashmiris to observe black day tomorrow”.
In this news article, The Express Tribune stated: “The people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) will celebrate August 14 as ‘Jashn-e-Azadi’ and observe August 15, India’s Independence Day, as a ‘black day’”. It further added: “In a statement in Srinagar on Sunday, an All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) spokesman felicitated the people and the government of Pakistan on the Independence Day, according to a Radio Pakistan report”.
Moreover, several other Pakistani news websites such as Bol Network, wn.com and Hum news also published this news with similar claims.
Fact-Check
To verify the authenticity of the above viral news, the Dfrac team searched some key words related to the viral news on Google. Meanwhile, the team discovered a press release by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. According to this press release “The Independence Day Function 2023 is scheduled to be held in Bakshi Stadium Srinagar on 15th of August in which the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Jammu & Kashmir, UT will hoist/unfurl the National Flag”.
In addition to that, we found some pictures and videos posted by Hardeep Singh Puri India’s Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs on Twitter . Those pictures and videos show locals and Tourists of Jammu and Kashmir celebrating 77th Independence day with splendour.
Moreover, News Agency ANI posted a video on Twitter with the caption: “#WATCH | Massive Tiranga Rally held in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian ahead of Independence Day”.
The above video shows a large number of people holding Indian flags in their hands, are participating in the Tiranga Rally which is held on the streets of Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of India’s 77th Independence day.
Conclusion
Dfrac’s Fact-Check proves that the news claiming people of Jammu and Kashmir will observe India’s Independence day as a ‘Black Day’ is misleading as the locals and tourists of Jammu and Kashmir celebrated the 77th Independence Day with splendour.
