Social media in Kashmir is abuzz with what users called a false claim made by the LG’s office in Jammu Kashmir.
The press release published on its Front page by Greater Kashmir on September 7 was titled, “LG Manoj Sinha breaks record, becomes first head of the state to visit Downtown Srinagar in 75 years.”
The claim was also carried by The Print in an article written by senior journalist Ananya Bhardwaj’s tweet. Several journalists and social media users responded to Ananya Bhardwaj’s tweet, pointing out that the claim was false.
The Kashmiriyat verified if any heads of the state had visited the downtown in the past. We found that other than Chief Ministers, Governors have also visited Srinagar’s downtown.
Reports dating back to 28 June 2012 said that the then Governor N N Vohra’s visited the downtown of Srinagar. In his visit to the Khanyar area of Srinagar, Vohra was who was the Governor of JK from 2008 to 2018, also interacted with several locals.
“Governor N.N. Vohra undertook an extensive tour of Downtown Srinagar and visited various places, including Hazratbal, Jamia Masjid, Naqashband Sahib and Dastgeer Sahib” another reported dated to 2018 reads.
Before the abrogation of Article 370, the elected heads of the state were frequent visitors of the Downtown Srinagar.
Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, who was the former chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir visited the downtown area of Srinagar on frequent basis as a CM. In fact, he led the Eid prayers in Eid gah downtown on August 13, 1980.
The former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah was attacked by militants with eight rifle grenades in Downtown in 1997. However that was not his solitary visit to the Downtown area of Srinagar. He used to visit Rajouri Kadal, Islamia School or different shrines in Old City including Makhdoom Sahib which forms the core of downtown.
Mufti Mohammed Sayed during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir in 2015, also carried out an intensive tour of downtown Srinagar including the historic Jamia Masjid at Nowhatta and the Khanqahs of Khanqah-e-Muala.
Bhagwan Sahai, who was governor of Jammu Kashmir during 1970’s, often visited educational institutions in the valley. During his frequent visits, he atteded the annual function of Islamia School Razia Kadal (heart of downtown).