New Delhi, May 11 (IANS): India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong rebuttal against multiple false claims circulating on social media, including a widely shared report by The Times of India alleging that India and the United Arab Emirates were planning an evacuation arrangement for Indian nationals through Fujairah port. The MEA’s official fact-check handle issued a direct “Fake News Alert,” stating: “There is no basis in fact for such a story. There is no evacuation being planned. Please stay alert against such false and baseless claims,” with officials clarifying that no such discussions or agreements exist between India and the UAE. In a separate but equally serious warning, the MEA also flagged a “Deepfake Video Alert” after an AI-generated clip falsely depicting MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal began circulating online, with the manipulated video falsely claiming that India had admitted to losing Rafale fighter jets and making other misleading allegations including claims related to water flow to Pakistan. The MEA categorically rejected the video as fake, stating that the spokesperson had never made such remarks, and urged citizens to stay alert against such fabricated content on social media.
The Press Information Bureau’s fact-check unit, PIB Fact Check, also confirmed that the video was digitally altered and part of a coordinated misinformation campaign, urging citizens not to believe or share manipulated content and to verify all information only through official government sources. PIB Fact Check further noted that the original, unedited video of the MEA briefing is publicly available through official platforms, reinforcing that no such statements were ever made. Officials revealed that several Pakistan-based propaganda accounts were identified as being behind the circulation of these misleading videos and fabricated headlines, with the apparent aim of distorting facts and damaging India’s international image. Authorities have once again appealed to citizens to remain vigilant, avoid sharing unverified content, and rely solely on authenticated government communications for accurate and credible information.