A claim viral since early June suggests that former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has been appointed as the governor of Jammu and Kashmir. BJP MLA from Gujarat Bhanuben Babariya asserted the same on June 4 and congratulated Bedi. She wrote, “श्रीमती किरण बेदी जी को जम्मू कश्मीर के नए राज्यपाल बनने की बधाई. (Congratulations to Smt Kiran Bedi for becoming the new governor of Kashmir.)”

Facebook page Modi Mission 2024′ had earlier made a similar claim on June 1 – “खुशखबरी. किरण बेदी होंगी जम्मू-कश्मीर की गवर्नर. यानी 370 और 35 (A) हटाने की दिशा में एक कदम (Good News. Kiran Bedi will become the governor of Jammu and Kashmir. This is a step toward removing 370 and 35(A).)” The post drew 6,700 shares and 4,000 likes.

Several other pages and groups – I Am Proud Indian, भारतीय जनता पार्टी महा संघ, Yogi Adityanath Fan Club, Main Bhi Chowkidar, Jai Ram Thakur (जयराम ठाकुर ) CM of Himachal with modi ji, Namo – alleged the same.

The claim is also massively viral on Twitter. A poster of BJP UP MLA Chandrapal Kushwaha congratulating Bedi was shared on the social media platform.

Fake news

Kiran Bedi has not been appointed as the governor of J&K. The former IPS officer has been serving as the lieutenant governor of Puducherry since May 2016. The same is also mentioned on her Twitter profile. The official Twitter handle of Lt Gov Puducherry also recognises her as the officer bearer.

The governor of Jammu and Kashmir is Satya Pal Malik. He was appointed in August last year.

The term of governor’s office is five years and no media reports say that either Kiran Bedi or Satya Pal Malik are being removed from their current positions before the expiration of their terms. It is noteworthy that speculations on social media began after the duo, along with the governor of Nagaland, met Prime Minister Modi on June 1. Rumours claiming that Bedi was appointed the governor of J&K were viral in 2017 as well. The former IPS officer had dismissed the claims.

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About the Author

Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.