MEA Fact Check Addresses False Claims About BRICS Summit Illnesses
Clarification on Misleading Social Media Posts
Photo: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 17: On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Fact Check issued a warning regarding various deceptive and harmful posts circulating on social media about the BRICS Summit, which falsely claimed that several global leaders had fallen ill after their participation in the event held in India.
In a statement on the social media platform X, MEA Fact Check remarked, "Misleading! We advise caution against such harmful posts on social media platforms."
The fact-checking account highlighted a post from 'First Squawk', which stated, "BBC reports that several world leaders, including Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, have allegedly fallen ill following the BRICS summit in India, while the situation regarding China's Xi Jinping remains unverified."
Additionally, MEA Fact Check referenced a post by 'unusual_whales', which claimed, "JUST IN: Several world leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and reportedly, though unconfirmed, China's Xi Jinping, have allegedly fallen ill after attending the BRICS summit in India, according to BBC."
Another post shared by MEA Fact Check came from 'Raw Egg Nationalist', who posted a video with the caption, "EXCLUSIVE: Here’s the first footage of the catering for the BRICS summit that has supposedly harmed Xi Jinping and Cyril Ramaphosa."
Furthermore, MEA Fact Check shared a post from a user named 'Dakkadakka', which claimed that leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Chinese President Xi Jinping, had experienced food poisoning during the BRICS event in India. MEA Fact Check labeled this assertion as misleading.
Another misleading claim was shared from the 'BRICS News' account on X, which stated, "JUST IN: South African President Ramaphosa falls ill after attending the BRICS summit in India." MEA Fact Check again identified this claim as misleading.
Additionally, MEA Fact Check highlighted a post from 'Emmanuel Kimutai Motelin', which asserted, "DEVELOPING: Multiple world leaders have reportedly fallen ill after attending the BRICS summit in India." This post was also deemed misleading.
The fact-checking account further shared a post from a user named 'Maverick', who commented, "Two world leaders returning from India in poor health! Perhaps the acronym BRICS has a different meaning? Both Returned In Catastrophic Shits."