The Indian National Congress is once again facing political heat after a post from its affiliated youth wing handle, ‘India With Congress’ (@UWCforYouth), caused a stir on social media. The controversial post claimed that “73 Indian nationals have been arrested in Iran on charges of spying for Israel.” It also referred to Israel as a “terrorist state” and used the hashtag #IranIsraelWar—further fueling tensions amid ongoing conflict in the region.
The post quickly attracted backlash, especially from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amit Malviya, who heads the BJP’s National Information & Technology Department, slammed the Congress for circulating unverified and inflammatory information on a sensitive diplomatic issue. He shared a screenshot of the now-deleted post, overlayed with the word “FAKE” in red, calling out Congress for irresponsibility.
Amit Malviya said, “Congress Desperation Knows No Limits! In just under 24 hours, the Congress has twice resorted to spreading Fake News from its official platforms.
- First, they blatantly lied about the caste census.
- Now, they are peddling misinformation on the sensitive Iran-Israel conflict.
This is what Rahul Gandhi’s weak and directionless leadership has reduced the Congress to — a party led by lazy mandarins with no achievements and zero credibility, entrusted with key responsibilities they clearly don’t deserve. No wonder the Congress is fast slipping into political oblivion. It has earned it.”
🚨 Congress Desperation Knows No Limits!
In just under 24 hours, the Congress has twice resorted to spreading Fake News from its official platforms.
🔴 First, they blatantly lied about the caste census.
🔴 Now, they are peddling misinformation on the sensitive Iran-Israel… pic.twitter.com/qpew7H4m5J— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 17, 2025
What’s The Truth?
Despite the viral claim, there is no verified report of 73 Indians being arrested by Iran for espionage. Iranian authorities recently confirmed the arrest of a few individuals accused of collaborating with Israel’s Mossad, but none of the suspects were identified as Indian nationals.
- On 15 June, Iran arrested two individuals in Savojbolagh County for suspected ties to Mossad.
- On 15 June, five others were detained in Yazd for alleged collaboration awith Israeli agencies.
- On 16 June, Iran executed a man named Esmaeil Fekri, arrested in 2023, for spying for Mossad.
- Iran’s judiciary also revealed that 28 individuals across 15 espionage cases had been referred to Tehran’s Security Prosecutor. However, their nationalities were not disclosed.
The Congress youth wing’s post appears to have grossly misrepresented these developments, attributing the espionage arrests to Indian citizens without basis.
The episode has once again highlighted the perils of political parties using sensitive global developments for point-scoring without verifying facts. With diplomacy and citizen safety at stake, spreading misinformation risks not just reputational damage, but also international embarrassment and security concerns.
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