Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (June 13) tweeted about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual participation in the 47th G7 summit that happened in Cornwell, United Kingdom.
In her tweet, she mentioned that PM Modi has sought the G7 countries to extend support to the proposal made by India and South Africa for a TRIPS waiver on vaccines.
Addressing (virtually) the G7 Summit, @PMOIndia @narendramodi sought G7 leadership to extend support for India and South Africa's proposal for a #TRIPSwaiver at WTO-crucial for the global vaccination plan.
India participated as a guest country, for the first time.#G7Summit2021— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) June 13, 2021
She mentioned that India participated as a guest country for the first time. This tweet was made at 8:14 PM on June 13. Minutes later at 8:37 PM, the Finance Minister clarified that India had participated as a guest country prior to this summit too.
However, The Hindu’s Suhasini Haider in an attempt to discredit the Finance Minister quote tweeted saying that India had participated as guest country earlier too. This was posted 24 hours after the Finance Minister had clarified the error.
Actually India has participated as a guest country at G7 several times since 2003, when PM Vajpayee was invited. PM Singh was invited too, esp from 2005-09, and PM Modi was also a guest invitee to France in 2019. https://t.co/N8S5ELjUWt
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) June 14, 2021
To this, the Finance Minister responded dignifiedly thanking Suhasini for her ‘alertness’. She asked her to check the follow up tweet she made last night.
Thanks, @suhasinih for your alertness this morning. However, you may also want to see the follow-up tweet issued soon after the one you’re quoting, both of which were last night 🙂 ICYMI: https://t.co/A75Jgulzmw https://t.co/O7GMae9yZg
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) June 14, 2021
To this, Suhasini responded suggesting the Minister to delete her tweet as it would lead to others making the same mistake.
However, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that she prefers not deleting tweets and that she had done her due diligence and added that she has not given any misleading information.
” I did do my due diligence to add on, would’ve expected a sr journalist such as yourself to take a min to do the same. Thank you regardless. Have a good week.” the Finance Minister said.
Your caution is well taken, but I prefer not deleting tweets — esp since I haven’t left any misleading info dangling here. I did do my due diligence to add on, would’ve expected a sr journalist such as yourself to take a min to do the same. Thank you regardless. Have a good week.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) June 14, 2021
This has kicked off a storm on social media with many mentioning that the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ‘hit a sixer’ for the ‘yorker’.
It Was Not A SLAP
It Was A Kick To 10JP Bootlick 😜 pic.twitter.com/I8l9Rc0hC2
— Anupam@one&Only🇮🇳 (@DareDevilAnupam) June 14, 2021
BJP has started giving back with double the power👏
Hope WBengal gets immediate help.— SwathiRules (@RulesSwathi) June 14, 2021
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