I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Rebukes Mark Zuckerberg Over “Factually Incorrect” Comments on India’s 2024 Election
NEW DELHI, Jan 13: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw took a strong stand against Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Monday for making what he termed as “factually incorrect” claims about India’s 2024 general elections. Zuckerberg, in a recent podcast interview, alleged that the Indian government lost the elections due to its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking controversy and backlash.
Zuckerberg, while speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast, suggested that 2024 was a pivotal election year globally, with several incumbents, including India, losing power. He attributed this trend to issues such as inflation, economic policies during the pandemic, and overall declining trust in democratic institutions.
Responding to these remarks, Vaishnaw utilized Meta’s own Facebook platform to correct the record. “It is disappointing to see misinformation coming directly from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility,” the minister stated, tagging Meta on various social media platforms.
Highlighting India’s accomplishments under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Vaishnaw emphasized the measures taken during the pandemic and their role in securing a decisive third-term victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). “From providing free food to 800 million citizens, administering 2.2 billion free vaccines, and extending aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to steering India as the fastest-growing major economy—these efforts reflect good governance and public trust,” Vaishnaw remarked.
Vaishnaw also pointed out that the 2024 general elections, involving over 640 million voters, reaffirmed India’s democratic strength and the people’s trust in PM Modi’s leadership. “India, as the world’s largest democracy, saw its citizens decisively re-elect the NDA government, a testament to its successful governance,” he said.
The minister expressed concern that Zuckerberg’s comments failed to acknowledge these achievements and risked undermining the credibility of Meta’s platforms. “Mr. Zuckerberg’s assertion that most incumbent governments, including India, lost elections post-COVID is factually incorrect,” Vaishnaw reiterated, urging Meta to ensure greater accuracy in public statements.
