The Ministry of Defence has officially refuted a viral social media claim that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made statements regarding a so-called 'Operation Sindoor'. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry categorically denied that any such remarks were made by the minister.
Viral Claim Debunked
The claim, which spread rapidly on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, alleged that Singh had announced a military operation named 'Operation Sindoor' during a public event. However, the Defence Ministry's clarification stated that no such announcement or comment was ever made. The ministry urged the public not to fall for unverified information and to rely only on official sources.
Official Statement
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Defence Ministry wrote: “It is clarified that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has not made any such statement regarding 'Operation Sindoor'. The claim being circulated on social media is completely false and baseless.” The ministry further warned that spreading such misinformation could harm national security interests.
Background
The viral post, which appeared to be a screenshot of a news report, claimed that Singh had said the operation would be launched in response to cross-border terrorism. However, no credible news outlet had reported such a statement. The Defence Ministry's swift response aimed to curb the spread of false information.
Impact and Response
The clarification comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Analysts suggest that such misinformation can create unnecessary panic and undermine public trust in official communications. The ministry has advised citizens to verify any such claims with official channels before sharing them.
According to a ministry official, “We are monitoring social media for any further instances of misinformation and will take appropriate action as needed.” The incident highlights the challenges of combating fake news in the digital age.
