Claim:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was intentionally excluded from a BRICS Summit group photo, suggesting an “international insult.”
Verdict:
False
The Claim:
A video circulated online showing world leaders gathered for a group photograph at the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia. The video did not show PM Modi, leading to claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin had deliberately excluded him from the photo-op. This claim gained traction as viewers speculated that it was an intentional snub, portraying it as an “international insult” to the Indian leader.
Fact-Check Analysis:
Upon investigation, we found that this claim is incorrect. Here’s a breakdown of our findings:
- Verification of the Event Date and Modi’s Departure
By reverse searching keyframes from the viral video, we found an October 24 post on ANI’s official X account. The post confirmed that the image in question was from the BRICS-plus format session held on October 24. By this time, PM Modi had already departed from Russia.
- Departure Confirmation
A video posted by ANI on October 23 showed PM Modi boarding a plane back to India. The post confirmed that he had returned after attending the primary sessions of the BRICS Summit, which took place from October 22 to 23. Thus, Modi was not present in Russia when the BRICS-plus event occurred on October 24, which explains his absence in the group photo. - Representation by External Affairs Minister
Further keyword searches led us to reports that confirmed that External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar represented India at the October 24 session. Jaishankar’s presence with other global leaders in the photo corroborates the fact that Modi’s absence was due to his departure schedule rather than any deliberate exclusion. - Official Statements and Social Media Confirmation
Modi’s last social media post related to the Summit was made on October 23, further indicating that he had completed his participation and returned to India. There were no posts or official mentions of any involvement by PM Modi on October 24.
Context:
The BRICS Summit, held annually, often includes multiple sessions over consecutive days. This year, the primary sessions concluded on October 23, after which PM Modi returned to India. The BRICS-plus format on October 24 involved delegations and additional leaders from various regions, with EAM S. Jaishankar representing India on behalf of Modi.
Conclusion:
The claim that PM Modi was excluded from a BRICS group photo as an “international insult” is false. Modi’s absence from the October 24 event was simply due to his scheduled return to India. His role at the BRICS Summit was complete on October 23, and his representation by EAM S. Jaishankar for the BRICS-plus format was planned accordingly. The PM, in fact, shared photos of his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on October 25 at his residence in New Delhi. Thus, it is clear that by the time the photo-op seen in the viral video took place at the BRICS Summit on October 24, Modi had already arrived in India.
Verdict:
False