CLAIM
A viral message claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was made the chairperson of a forum which includes 53 other countries.
The message reads:
“200 साल तक हमे गुलाम बनाने वाले ब्रिटेन मे, 53देशों के अध्यक्षो के बीच “ *मोदी महाध्यक्ष”*
कसम से अगर आप सचे भारतीय है तो आपकी छाती भी 56इंच की हो गई होगी..
Friends जरा इस फोटो को गौर से देखिये, *भारत के इतिहास में कितने ही प्रधानमंत्री आये और गये* ..
लेकिन यह दृश्य देखने को आपकी आँखें तरस गई होंगी👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼”
The message, which has gone viral on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, is accompanied by a picture of Modi where he is seen folding his hands amid a group of leaders applauding him.
TRUE OR FALSE?
While the photo is genuine, the claim is not. A reverse image search shows that the photo is from the World Economic Forum held in Davos in January 2018.
The photo is in fact from 23 January, when the Prime Minister interacted with top global CEOs at the International Business Council event, and the picture was tweeted by the Press Information Bureau.
DISSECTING THE CLAIM
The message, which states that Modi had been made the chairperson of a forum consisting of 53 countries, likely refers to the Commonwealth – which constitutes of 53 countries.
The Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) this year witnessed the issue of succession being raked up. Several were lobbying for Prince Charles to be appointed the next head after Queen Elizabeth II who currently oversees the Commonwealth.
Later, Prince Charles was announced as the next head of the Commonwealth by its leaders after a closed-door meeting at the Windsor Castle.
EARLIER CLAIMS
This is hardly the first time such claims have emerged. Earlier, a viral message claimed that Modi had been made the “President of 153 countries.”
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