Rishi Sunak Did Not Say India Need Prime Minister Like Manmohan Singh

An alleged comment by UK Rishi Sunak on Indian politics is going viral on social media. By sharing a graphic carrying logo of Dainik Bhaskar, users are claiming that Rishi Sunak said India needs a prime minister like Manmohan Singh to improve its dwindling economy. 

Fact Crescendo received it on our WhatsApp Tipline (9049053770) with fact-check requests.

We found that the viral graphic is digitally edited with a false statement. 

WHAT’S THE CLAIM?

The viral graphic shows images of Rishi Sunak and former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The text below it reads as follows:

“To steer India on the right path and to revitalize its declining economy, India needs a prime minister like Manmohan Singh – Rishi Sunak.”

Original Post – Twitter | Archive

Original Post – Twitter | Archive

Fact Check

First of all, we could find any credible news that confirms this so-called statement by Rishi Sunak. 

If Sunak had really made this comment, it would definitely have been covered by the International media. But no such reports are available on the Internet. 

We didn’t even find it on the Twitter account of Rishi Sunak. 

Although, we came across a similar graphic shared by Dainik Bhaskar on Twitter. We can see that the text on the graphic is different from the viral post. 

Dainik Bhaskar’s original graphic reads as follows:

“Chidambaram-Tharoor suggests minority leader become PM; BJP reminds them India already had Manmohan Singh as PM.”

After Rishi Sunak became the first India-origin prime minister of the United Kingdom, Congress leaders P. Chidambaram and Shashi Tharoor remarked that “India needs to learn a lesson from the UK and the US who have embraced the non-majority citizens of their countries and elected them to high office in government”

Responding to it, BJP hit out that Congress leaders conveniently forgot that Manmohan Singh from their own party was from a minority who have led India for two terms. 

You can see the difference between the viral graphic and the original image by Dainik Bhaskar.

Bhaskar has issued a clarification about the viral graphic terming it to be fake. 

“This fake picture is being shared in the name of Dainik Bhaskar. Bhaskar did not publish this story. It is an act of some mischievous elements. Please don’t fall for such misleading information,” reads Bhaskar’s tweet. 

Bhaskar’s Gujrat Desk Manager Rohit Patel also confirmed to Fact Crescendo that the viral graphic was fabricated. 

CONCLUSION

It is clear that Rishi Sunak did not say India needs a prime minister like Manmohan Singh. Dainik Bhaskar’s graphic has been grossly edited to make a false claim. (If you also come across any such videos and images you think are falsely viral, send them on our WhatsApp Helpline (9049053770) or tag us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.)