UAE-based newspaper Khaleej Times has taken down its report that a Kerala-born Indian businessman was appointed the Major General of Kyrgyzstan after Kyrgyz embassy called it fake news.
On the New Year Day, the UAE-based Khaleej Times published the news titled, ‘Self-Made Malayali Businessman Now Top Brass In Kyrgyz Army.’ The report said Shaikh Rafik Mohammed, Chairman, Gammon Group (UAE and Saudi Arabia), has been appointed Major General by Ali Mirza, Defence Minister of Kyrgyzstan, at an official ceremony held in the military head office of the Central Asian country.
Almost all Indian media houses lapped up the Khaleej report, and many hailed the businessman, who was featured in Kyrgyz military uniform, for his outstanding achievement.
Advertisement
However, nearly two months later, on February 24, Khaleej Times issued a one-paragraph clarification in its inner page. “The Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to UAE, Mr Chyngyz Eshimbekov has clarified to the newspaper that Mr Shaikh Rafik Mohammed has never been awarded with any military title in the Kyrgyz Republic.”
“Apparently the Khaleej Times correspondent has got this fake news from unreliable sources and has not done due verification,” said an official statement issued by the Ambassador to the newspaper. (Outlook has sent an email to the Kyrgyz embassy in UAE. This story will be updated with their response as and when we receive it).
Advertisement
Quoting Rafik’s media advisor Omar Abu Baker, the Khaleej Times report had claimed that Rafik’s was an ‘inspiring story’. He met former President of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev, in his 20s while working in Iran, where Rafik was developing a major steel plant.
Later, he worked as an advisor to the president. Rafik is a school dropout who migrated from Calicut, Kerala, to the Gulf before completing his fifth-grade.
Later, in his interview, wearing Kyrgyz military uniform, to a Malayalam channel Rafik said he wanted to be “an inspiration” to the Malayali expatriates in the gulf countries. They (Malayali expatriates) always worry that they can’t achieve anything. If I could make it to such a big position in spite of being a fourth-standard drop out, then they can definitely make it for bigger things,” he told the channel.
He said that Kyrgyzstan was backward in terms of education and he would work for the betterment of it. “They should not lack in education like me,” he said.
After the clarification in his newspaper, the Khaleej Times reporter on his facebook posted a statement by Rafik defending the news. He blamed it on the tussle between the foreign and the defence ministries.
“The defence ministry and the army of Kyrgyzstan, which was part of the Soviet Russia for a long time, are still indirectly controlled by Russia. I was conferred the post by the defence ministry. What I understand is that it is the communication gap between the defence and foreign ministries that has caused such a misunderstanding. That is the reason why the embassy working under the foreign ministry issued such a letter to a newspaper. It will be resolved soon.”
