Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Viral video shows that PM Narendra Modi was excluded from the group photo of world leaders at the recent BRICS Summit.
Fact
The PM had already left for India and was represented by S Jaishankar, minister of external affairs, on October 24, when the viral video was taken.
A 46-second video purportedly comparing the 2012 BRICS summit to the recently concluded conference in Kazan, Russia, has gone viral across social media platforms. The users mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, implying that he was left out of the group photo at the 2024 summit, comparing him to the then PM Manmohan Singh, who was photographed with other leaders in 2012.
The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker noticed that Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, minister of external affairs, could be seen in the viral video (middle row, second from left), along with the ANI watermark.
We then ran a relevant keyword search that led us to this ANI tweet, dated October 24, 2024, confirming that it was S Jaishankar, along with the other heads of delegations, at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre, during the 16th BRICS Summit.
The photo was also shared by the minister on X on October 24, 2024, where he stated that he represented Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS Outreach session in Kazan.
Did PM Narendra Modi Attend The Summit?
We then ran a keyword search for “PM Narendra Modi BRICS”, which led us to numerous articles and posts confirming his presence at the summit, which was held from October 22 to October 24.
Newschecker came across this ANI tweet, dated October 23, 2024, sharing a video of PM Modi with other world leaders, including host President Putin and China’s Xi Jinping, at the family photo at Kazan Expo Centre before the BRICS Summit was about to begin.
PM Modi, too, shared a video on X on October 23, 2024, showing the highlights from the summit, while thanking President Putin, the Russian people and the government for their hospitality.
Newschecker then came across this press release from the Ministry of External Affairs, dated October 18, 2024, stating that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Russia from 22-23 October 2024 to attend the 16th BRICS Summit, which explains why Jaishankar was in the October 24 photo op. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (October 23) left for home after wrapping up his two-day “impactful” visit to Russia where he attended the 16th BRICS Summit and held bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping,” read this India Today report, dated October 24, 2024. Similar reports and an ANI post can be seen here, here and here. The ANI video was posted at 12:24am on October 24, 2024, on the last day of the BRICS summit when Modi was already back in India.
Also Read: 2019 Video Of Congress Leader Threatening BJP Supporters Revived Ahead Of Maharashtra Polls
Conclusion
Viral video falsely claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was snubbed for the group photo at the recently concluded BRICS summit. The PM had already left for India and was represented by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, minister of external affairs.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
X post, ANI, October 24, 2024
X post, S Jaishankar, October 24, 2024
X post, PM Narendra Modi, October 23, 2024
MEA press release, October 18, 2024
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
