A photograph from Lal Chowk in Srinagar is being circulated on social media platforms with the claim that the national flag is hoisted on the clock tower there.
BJP leader Kapil Mishra shared the photo with the caption which reads, 'Tiranga at Lal Chowk'. At the time of writing this report the photograph has been shared over 6,000 times.
Tiranga at Lal Chowk 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/jwlhFs5pZK
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) August 14, 2020
BJP Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal also shared the same photograph with similar claims.
"Lal Chowk #Srinagar which had remained as symbol of #AntiIndia campaign by dynast politicians & #Jihadist forces, has now become Crown of Nationalism," he wrote.
What has changed since #5Aug2019?
— Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (@JTNBJP) August 14, 2020
Lal Chowk #Srinagar which had remained as symbol of #AntiIndia campaign by dynast politicians & #Jihadist forces, has now become Crown of Nationalism.#modihaitomumkinhai
Thanks my countrymen for electing @narendramodi @AmitShah #ModiSarkar pic.twitter.com/4g8doLRUdp
After a decade big flag at Lal Chowk Srinagar.
— Gaurav Pradhan 🇮🇳 (@OfficeOfDGP) August 14, 2020
Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/iSSb6cZloA
So inspiring, so magnificent:
— Prof Hari Om (@DostKhan_Jammu) August 14, 2020
This Srinagar's Lal Chowk Tower symbolised hatred for Bharat and Bharatiya for 72 years.
And today, our national flag is flying high and showing Jihadis the place they deserve.
10000000000% credit goes to PM @narendramodi and HM @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/O9tOETIBKi
After a decade big flag at Lal Chowk Srinagar.
— Gaurav Pradhan 🇮🇳 (@OfficeOfDGP) August 14, 2020
Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/iSSb6cZloA
The photo is being shared in the backdrop of India's 74th Independence day on August 15, 2020.
Claim:
Photograph from Lal Chowk in Srinagar shows the tricolour hoisted on the clock tower there.
Fact Check:
The claim is false.
A reverse Image search was done using Yandex which led to a blog post by a user 'Mubasshir Mushtaq, which carried the viral photo. It is dated June 22, 2010.
The photo in the blog is the same as the viral one, however, it is without a national flag on the tower.
Below is a comparison of the blog photo (left) and the viral photo (right):
Further, recent images of Lal Chowk, show that the area has changed over the years.
Below is a comparison of the viral photo (left) and a recent photo of that area in Srinagar (right):
Therefore, an old, doctored photograph is being shared to claim that the national flag is flying atop the clock tower in Srinagar's Lal Chowk.
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