Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
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
MEA S Jaishankar cancelled a meeting with US lawmakers after they refused to exclude Pramila Jayapal from the delegation scheduled to meet him.
Fact
An incident dating back to 2019 has been shared out of context.
Amidst the chatter on Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the US, several social media users claimed that the Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar has cancelled “his meeting with a group of US lawmakers following their refusal to exclude anti-India Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from the delegation that was scheduled to meet him.”Newschecker found that the reports on Jaishankar cancelling a meeting over the presence of Jayapal date back to 2019, and have been shared out of context.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
A website called News Riveting also reported the incident on June 22, 2023. Insinuating that the event was recent, the report stated, “Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday cancelled his meeting with a group of US lawmakers following their refusal to exclude anti-India Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from the delegation that was scheduled to meet him.”
Newschecker also received the claim on our WhatsApp tipline (+91-9999499044) requesting to be fact checked.
Jayapal, who has been critical of the Indian government, along with US Senator Chris Van Hollen led a letter to President Biden urging him to raise human rights issues with PM Modi during his recent visit. Reportedly, 75 US lawmakers were signatory to the same. She was again in news after a video of her applauding PM Modi after his speech at the US congress surfaced online.
Also Read: Video of 2019 ‘Howdy Modi’ Event In Texas Falsely Linked To PM Modi’s US Visit
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Jaishankar,” “Pramila Jayapal” and “meeting” on Google led us to multiple reports from 2019 detailing the incident. One such report by Deccan Herald, dated December 20, 2019, stated, “India recently cancelled External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with a group of United States lawmakers, as it included Pramila Jayapal, who introduced a bipartisan resolution in the American House of Representatives asking New Delhi to end restrictions on communication and arbitrary detentions in Jammu and Kashmir.”
We also found a Facebook post by news agency ANI, dated December 20, 2019, stating, “EAM S Jaishankar on reports that India cancelled meeting with US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal over her report on Kashmir: Don’t think it (report) is fair understanding of situation in J&K or fair characterization of what Govt of India is doing. I have no interest in meeting her.”
ANI had also shared a video of Jaishankar’s remarks on Jayapal on December 20, 2019.
Also Read: Photo Of PM Modi Looking Inappropriately At Rihanna Is Digitally Manipulated
In a tweet, dated December 20, 2019, Jayapal said that the cancelling of the meeting was “deeply disturbing.” Adding, “It only furthers the idea that the Indian government isn’t willing to listen to any dissent at all.” In her tweet, Jayapal quoted a report by The Washington Post, dated December 19, 2019, elaborating details on the cancellation of the meet.
Reacting to Jayapal’s tweet, Kamala Harris had said, “It’s wrong for any foreign government to tell Congress what members are allowed in meetings on Capitol Hill. I stand with @RepJayapal, and I’m glad her colleagues in the House did too.”
Other reports on the incident can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Old, Unrelated Images Shared Claiming To Show Anti-Modi Posters In US Amid PM’s Visit
Conclusion
We can thus conclude that an old incident of S Jaishankar cancelling meeting with US lawmakers over the presence of Pramila Jayapal has been shared as recent.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Report By Deccan Herald, Dated December 20, 2019
Facebook Post By ANI, Dated December 20, 2019
Tweet By @RepJayapal, Dated December 20, 2019
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
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.
