Highlights
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Responds to Mark Zuckerberg’s Claims
On Monday, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed comments made by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who stated that following the COVID-19 pandemic, many incumbent governments, including India’s, lost elections in 2024. Vaishnaw firmly declared this assertion to be “factually incorrect”.
India’s 2024 General Election
In a post on X, Vaishnaw highlighted India’s status as the world’s largest democracy, mentioning the 2024 general election that engaged over 640 million (64 crore) voters. He remarked:
- “The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.”
- “Mr Zuckerberg’s assertion that most incumbent governments, including India in the 2024 elections, lost post-COVID is not accurate,” the Information and Broadcasting Minister emphasised.
Context of Zuckerberg’s Claims
Zuckerberg had reportedly mentioned in a podcast that during the 2024 elections worldwide, most incumbent governments, including India, experienced defeat. Responding to this, Vaishnaw elaborated:
- “From providing free food for 800 million people, delivering 2.2 billion free vaccines, to offering aid to countries globally during the COVID crisis, PM Modi’s significant third-term victory is a clear indication of effective governance and public confidence.”
Call for Fact-based Dialogue
While tagging Meta, Vaishnaw expressed his disappointment at the spread of misinformation from Zuckerberg. He concluded by urging, “Let us uphold facts and credibility.”