The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are only a few months away, and all political parties are busy preparing for the polls. Amid this, a war of allegations and counter-allegations is also underway. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has recently been attacking the BJP and has also been questioning the Election Commission. Akhilesh Yadav has also been repeatedly raising the issue of alleged donation irregularities related to the Ram Temple.
Meanwhile, a postcard featuring an alleged statement by Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Ameeque Jamei is going viral on social media. The postcard claims that if the SP government comes to power, bulldozers will be used against mathas and temples. The alleged statement reads: “Get the documents of each and every matha, temple and building corrected; once Akhilesh ji’s SP government comes to power, bulldozers will be used.” The postcard was shared by a Facebook user named India News Media.
A similar postcard posted on X by a user named YogiAdityanathFan (Digital Yoddha) Godse Ka Bhakt carries the alleged statement: “Get the papers of mathas and temples corrected; once the SP government comes to power, bulldozers will be used! — Ameeque Jamei, Spokesperson, Samajwadi Party.”
Fact Check:
DFRAC’s investigation found that the viral claim is fake and that Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Ameeque Jamei did not make any such statement. Speaking to DFRAC, Jamei termed the viral statement fake and said that he had never made such a statement.
To verify the viral claim, the DFRAC team first conducted a Google keyword search. However, we did not find any report from any credible mainstream media outlet carrying the alleged statement by Ameeque Jamei. If a national spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party had made such a statement regarding mathas and temples, it would likely have received significant media coverage.
During further investigation, the DFRAC team found a post on Ameeque Jamei’s X account in which he termed the viral claim fake. He wrote:“For several days, the BJP IT cell has been circulating fake graphics in my name linking me with my party and claiming that temples will be demolished under an SP government. As a Muslim, I have always opposed, in my capacity as a Samajwadi Party spokesperson, the demolition of ancient temples in Kashi and Ayodhya by the Yogi government. Our culture is shared, and throughout my life, I have practised Samajwadi politics beyond religion, caste and community, standing with the exploited, deprived and oppressed. If such campaigns are not stopped, I will be forced to approach the court in this matter.”
DFRAC also contacted Ameeque Jamei regarding the viral statement. Jamei again termed the statement fake and said that he had never made such a statement. He further said that he would take legal action against those spreading such fake news on social media.
Conclusion:
DFRAC’s investigation makes it clear that a fake statement attributed to Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Ameeque Jamei is being circulated on social media. Ameeque Jamei did not make any statement claiming that mathas and temples would be bulldozed if the SP came to power. Therefore, the claim made by social media users is fake.
| Claim Review | SP spokesperson Ameeque Jamei said that when Samajwadi Party government comes to power, bulldozers will be run on monasteries and temples. |
| Claim By | Social Media Users |
| Fact check | Fake |
Sources:
- Google Keywords Search
- X Post by Ameeque Jamei
- Ameeque Jamei Statement to DFRAC
