A news article circulating on social media about the historic clock tower in Srinagar, Kashmir, claims that the government is planning to demolish it. Photos that are going viral show some vandalism around the clock tower, with litter scattered in the surrounding area.
A user posted a collage of images of the Ghanta Ghar, including one of the vandalism and another of a crowd of Muslims nearby. The user captioned the collage with a verse from the poet Mirza Ghalib.
Another user questioned whether the clock tower was undergoing renovation, or if the government was trying to deceive people. Historic monuments cannot be changed to alter our history, the user argued.
Fact Check:
To investigate this claim, the DFRAC team gathered information and came across a report from ANI. According to the report, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has launched a project to reconstruct the historic Ghanta Ghar as part of its plan to develop Srinagar as a “smart city.” Atahar Amin Khan, the Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), said that work on renovating the Ghanta Ghar is underway. It will be rebuilt with the latest technology. After the renovation, this will have new timepieces, a new roof, and new technology for important updates and information displays. People will be able to see all the information with the new technology.
Source: ANI
Conclusion:
Therefore, it is evident from the fact check by DFRAC that the claim of the Ghanta Ghar in Srinagar being demolished by the government is fake news.
