“Disappointing to See Misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg Himself” – Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Reacts to Remarks on 2024 Elections
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has strongly refuted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent comments on the outcome of the 2024 Indian general elections. Zuckerberg, in a podcast with Joe Rogan, claimed that most incumbent governments, including India’s, lost elections held post-COVID-19, attributing the trend to economic factors and public dissatisfaction.
Vaishnaw took to social media platform X to counter Zuckerberg’s statement, calling it “factually incorrect.” He emphasized that India, the world’s largest democracy, successfully conducted the 2024 general elections with over 640 million voters. He highlighted that the people reaffirmed their trust in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, securing a third consecutive term for the government.
Vaishnaw wrote on X, “People of India reaffirmed their trust in NDA led by PM Narendra Modi ji’s leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg’s claim that most incumbent governments, including India, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect.”
Highlighting Effective Governance
Vaishnaw further elaborated on the government’s performance during and after the pandemic, citing initiatives such as:
- Free food distribution to 800 million citizens during the pandemic.
- Administration of 2.2 billion free COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- International aid and economic measures to ensure stability.
These efforts, he argued, contributed to India emerging as the fastest-growing major economy, reflecting strong public trust in the Modi-led government.
Calling Out Misinformation
Expressing disappointment over the misinformation, Vaishnaw urged Meta and its chief to prioritize accuracy and credibility in public statements. He concluded his post by calling on the platform to be more responsible in sharing factual information, especially when discussing significant democratic events like national elections.
Zuckerberg’s remarks had suggested a global trend of declining trust in incumbent governments post-pandemic, linking it to economic struggles and pandemic response measures. However, Vaishnaw’s response clarifies that India’s 2024 elections showcased continued public support for the NDA leadership under PM Modi.
