Mumbai: A photo is viral on the internet which shows PM Narendra Modi on the American daily Newspaper ‘The New York Times’ with a headline ‘LAST, BEST HOPE OF EARTH’. The New York Times (NYT) has said that the image is fake and has called out the same image as a “completely fabricated image”.
“This is a completely fabricated image, one of many in circulation featuring Prime Minister Modi,” the newspaper’s communications account tweeted on Tuesday, adding a link to its “factual reporting” on Modi.
The image has been reportedly under circulation on various social media websites, especially WhatsApp and Twitter.
The image circulating is one of a New York Times print newspaper that was edited to show a picture of Modi with the headline “LAST, BEST HOPE OF EARTH.”
“WORLD’S MOST LOVED AND MOST POWERFUL LEADER, IS HERE TO BLESS US,” the image continues with a picture of Modi signing a paper. The edition is dated September 26, right after Modi visited the US. But “September” on the dateline of the said edition has been misspelt.
The Hill reports that the New York Times said fabricating images such as this contributes to misinformation on the internet.
NYT’s clarification has amused many in India though some claims in certain publications claim that many thought Modi made it to the front page of the Times.
Those who found NYT’s disclaimer amusing said that it was anyway a meme with every aspect manipulated. One such tweet in response to NYT’s clarification read: “It’s SARCASM .. SATIRE … Nowadays jokes are getting fact-checked”
The caption to PM Modi’s photo in the too had read: “Modiji is signing on a blank paper to bless us”
These type of images are viral on social media all the time. People share the images without cross checking the facts. Sometimes fake news lead to bigger problems. During the pandemic there were several things which were circulating on social media and after proper fact check turned out to be fake.
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