A viral quote claiming Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman said the Pulwama terror attack in February was a conspiracy of the Bharatiya Janata Party and that Imran Khan is helping Prime Minister Narendra Modi win the elections, is fake.
The post was shared by a Facebook page named 'India page 24 हिन्दी' along with a photo of Abhinandan.
The text of the viral post reads, "The Pulwama attack was a well thought out conspiracy of the BJP which did a fake attack on Pakistan. Imran Khan is helping Modi win the election. The bombing on Balakot happened with Imran Khan's consent."
Click here to view, and here for an archive.
Translated from Hindi "पुलवामा हमला बीजेपी की सोची समझी साजिश थी और पाकिस्तान पर नकली हमला करवाया , मोदी को चुनाव जीतने के लिए इमरान खान मदद कर रहा है । | बालाकोट पर बमबारी इमरान खान की सहमति से हुई हैं । विंग अभिनंदन ।"
The post has gained around eight thousand shares and over 40 reactions as of writing this article.
FACT-CHECK
BOOM searched for news reports of recent comments made by Wing Commander Abhinandan and found that the quote attributed to him, is fake.
A Facebook user named DRX Altaf Khan shared the same graphic on a public group named 'भीम आर्मी महाराष्ट्र प्रदेश' with the caption admitting it is photoshopped which read, 'Look, brother, do not abuse me on this post. I have to tell the truth through this post. In the eyes of BJP people, this is editing, but this is the truth …!'
Hindi translation reads, "देखिये भाई मेरी पोस्ट पर गाली गलौच मत करना। मेने ते पोस्ट सच्चाई बताने के लिए की है। भाजपा वालो की नजर में edting है लेकिन सच यही है...!"
Click here to read the post, and here for an archive.
The most recent interaction of Abhinandan in public was when a video of him surfaced after he was discharged from hospital taking pictures with armed forces personnel.