Government Dismisses Wave of False Social Media Claims Amidst Heightened Tensions
New Delhi, May 10, 2025 – The Indian government today categorically refuted a series of inflammatory claims circulating on social media, denouncing them as fabricated and intended to incite communal discord. These false narratives emerged against a backdrop of heightened tensions and follow recent military operations. The government’s proactive debunking underscores the growing concern over the spread of misinformation and its potential to escalate existing tensions.
The most alarming of these false claims alleged a drone attack by India on the revered Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan, the birthplace of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak. The government swiftly dismissed this as "completely fake," emphasizing its commitment to respecting religious sites and condemning the malicious intent behind such fabrications. The PIB Fact Check Unit, a government body dedicated to verifying information, confirmed the falsity of the claim and warned against its potential to inflame communal sentiments within India.
Further fueling the misinformation campaign were false reports regarding an Indian pilot ejecting from a fighter aircraft in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the capture of a female Indian Air Force pilot in Pakistan. These claims, also debunked by the government, attempted to create a narrative of escalating military conflict and potential Indian casualties. The government urged citizens to rely solely on official sources for accurate information, highlighting the dangers of unverified social media posts.
Beyond military-related falsehoods, the government addressed claims concerning critical infrastructure and civilian aviation. Reports of a Pakistan-orchestrated cyberattack crippling India’s power grid were categorically denied, as were assertions of the Mumbai-Delhi airline route being temporarily shut down. The government clarified that while the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had indeed implemented temporary closures on certain air traffic routes, these were due to operational reasons and not related to any external threat.
Adding to the list of debunked claims was a misleading video depicting young men crying, falsely portrayed as Indian soldiers reacting to recent events. The PIB Fact Check Unit identified the individuals as students from a private defence coaching institute celebrating their selection into the Indian Army, clarifying that the video was originally uploaded in 2020 and unrelated to current military operations. This underscores the deceptive practice of using old or unrelated footage to bolster fabricated narratives.
Finally, the government addressed a flurry of international media reports alleging multiple explosions near airports in Srinagar and Jaipur. These claims, also deemed false, highlight the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly across borders. The government reiterated its call for relying on official sources, emphasizing the importance of accurate information in maintaining public order and preventing unnecessary panic. The string of debunked narratives underscores the deliberate and coordinated nature of the disinformation campaign, designed to create anxiety and distrust.
The government’s swift and comprehensive response to these false narratives is crucial in combating misinformation and maintaining public trust. By highlighting the fabricated nature of these claims, the government aims to prevent the spread of false narratives that could incite communal disharmony and escalate existing tensions. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for critical thinking and responsible consumption of information in the digital age.