New Delhi, Delhi
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has rejected claims circulating on social media that several world leaders attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi had fallen ill. The ministry’s Fact Check Unit described the claims as false and urged people to remain cautious about unverified information circulating on social media.
The MEA Fact Check Unit issued a post on social media platform X, labeling the claims as a “fake alert.” The ministry clarified that social media posts claiming that leaders attending the BRICS Summit had fallen ill were not credible.
Several viral posts on social media had claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, among others, had experienced health problems following the summit. Various versions of these claims were being widely shared online.
In one post by Wanjun Ji, chairman of the Chinese Democracy Party, it was claimed that Xi Jinping had fainted during the BRICS Summit and suffered a stroke. The post further alleged that he had been taken back to Beijing for medical treatment. However, the claim was not confirmed by any Chinese official or credible news organization.
There was also discussion on social media regarding South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. After returning from the BRICS Summit, he stayed away from some public engagements. His office stated that doctors had advised him to rest and recover due to his health condition.
Following the MEA’s rejection of the false claims, questions have once again been raised over the authenticity of information circulating on social media. The ministry has urged people not to share any claim without first verifying its authenticity.
