Qutub Minar was not illuminated with colors of Russian flag, viral claims are false
Global Times, an English-language Chinese news outlet tweeted a set of photos and claimed that India lit up the Qutub Minar in Delhi with the colors of the Russian flag to support Moscow's invasion of Russia.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 9 March 2022 10:00 AM GMT
HYDERABAD: Global Times, an English-language Chinese news outlet tweeted a set of photos and claimed that India lit up the Qutub Minar in Delhi with the colors of the Russian flag to support Moscow's invasion of Russia.
"India lit up the Qutb Minar, one of the landmark buildings in New Delhi, with the colors of the Russian flag," reads the now-deleted tweet. (archived tweet)
The same set of photos is now being widely circulated by social media users with the same claim.
FACT CHECK:
The pictures of the lit-up Qutub Minar are from the Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2022 event that took place from March 1, 2022, to March 7. It is an initiative under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) that aims to spread awareness about the usages of generic medicines and the benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. (Read more here)
On a closer look at the image, the text "Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana '' in Hindi can be seen.
The official Twitter handle of PMBJP tweeted the same set of photos with the caption, "Qutub Minar illuminated with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Jan Aushadhi theme from 5-7th March 2022."
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare also tweeted the same set of images with the caption, "As part of the #JanaushadhiDiwas2022 celebrations, Qutub Minar is illuminated to spread more awareness about quality generic medicines."
We checked the official Twitter handle of 'Amrit Mahotsav' and also found the same images posted with the hashtag #JanaushadhiDiwas2022.
The government's fact-checking wing, PIB FactCheck, also refuted the Global Times' tweet and clarified that the monument was lit up "as a part of the #JanaushadhiDiwas2022 celebrations."
The pictures are being shared claiming that India supports Russia. However, it should be noted that India shares diplomatic ties with both Russia and the United States. India has not condemned Russia. India has so far refrained from voting on the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the UN Security Council and General Assembly. The center has asked both sides to resolve the conflict through dialogue.
Qutub Minar was not illuminated with the colors of the Russian flag. Thus, the claim is false.
