📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Defence
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju apologises to Congress after Army refutes fake China posts
✍️ NDTV
🗓 27 Oct 2026, 03:03 PM
👁 18
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju issued an apology to the Congress party after the Indian Army disproved a set of fabricated social‑media posts that claimed to be from China.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly apologised to the Congress party on Tuesday, acknowledging that the statements he had shared were based on unverified information. The apology came after the Indian Army issued a clarification, stating that the viral posts allegedly originating from China were fabricated and had no factual basis.
The Army’s statement highlighted that the images and messages circulating online were manipulated to create a false narrative of Chinese aggression. Defence officials emphasized the need for caution while sharing unverified content, especially on matters concerning national security.
Rijiju, who heads the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said he regretted the lapse and assured that his office would verify information more rigorously in the future. The incident underscores the growing challenge of misinformation in the digital age and the importance of official verification before political commentary.
Congress leaders accepted the apology but called for stricter protocols to prevent similar occurrences. The episode has reignited discussions on the responsibility of public officials in handling sensitive geopolitical information.
The Army’s statement highlighted that the images and messages circulating online were manipulated to create a false narrative of Chinese aggression. Defence officials emphasized the need for caution while sharing unverified content, especially on matters concerning national security.
Rijiju, who heads the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said he regretted the lapse and assured that his office would verify information more rigorously in the future. The incident underscores the growing challenge of misinformation in the digital age and the importance of official verification before political commentary.
Congress leaders accepted the apology but called for stricter protocols to prevent similar occurrences. The episode has reignited discussions on the responsibility of public officials in handling sensitive geopolitical information.