The picture of a circular stating that government has banned employees from criticising its policies and achievements on social media is doing the rounds online. Many users have shared the circular claiming that it has been issued by the Punjab Government. And they have criticised Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for implementing such a move.
A Facebook user posted the viral post with a caption: लवणासुर की तानाशाही शुरू (English translation: The beginning of the dictatorship of Lavanasur)
You can check the post here.
The headline on the image states: Kejriwal govt’s order stop criticising govt on social media. Punjab to send notice to govt employees who criticise govt
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the viral post, and found it to be false.
Conducting a Google Keyword Search to find out whether any circular has been issued in the country recently, we spotted a screenshot of a circular shared on a Telegram channel — JKSSRB Aspirants — dated February 18, 2023. The circular seems like a full-page copy of the viral circular as the sections under social media match exactly.
We notice JKSSRB/JKPSC written in the first paragraph. It is worth noting that the terms stand for J&K Service Selection Recruitment Board and JAMMU AND KASHMIR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, respectively. This hints that the circular may have been for Jammu and Kashmir and not Punjab.
Searching further, we identified an Instagram post on the official handle of Aam Aadmi Party Punjab, dated February 22, 2023. Through the post, the party debunks the claim and clarifies that the Punjab government has not taken any such step.
We found a similar clarification from the party on their official Twitter handle as well.
We also found newspaper clippings by Tribune News Service, dated February 19, 2023, claiming that the circular was supposed to be issued by the Punjab government, but later corrected themselves on February 22, 2023, stating that it was, indeed, from Jammu and Kashmir.
Therefore, we can conclusively say that the viral post’s claim is fabricated.
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