FACT CHECK: Did The New York Times Publish This Caricature Of Indian PM?

Joseph Casieri | Fact Check Reporter

A post shared on social media purportedly shows a screengrab of a recent New York Times (NYT) article that shows a caricature of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Verdict: False

This claim is inaccurate. A statement from The NYT in 2021 previously debunked the image.

Fact Check:

The Indian election for Prime Minister is underway with the largest election in the world with a billion people eligible to vote, Reuters reported. The election takes place in seven phases starting April 19, polls indicate Modi is on track to win a third term, according to the outlet.

A post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, alleges that the NYT published a cartoon image of Modi. The alleged cover shows Modi nude and in a large red throne with a crown.

The alleged headline reads, “Supreme Court of India declares The King* is Naked”.

Once translated, the caption reads, “On Electoral Bond, International Media The New York Times is saying that Raja has been stripped naked, ‘Modi’s Family.'”

The claim is inaccurate. The image does not appear on the NYT website. The outlet commented on the image saying that they did not publish it.

In the top right corner of the image is a small satire label. The account that shared it consists of many memes and jokes. The owner of the account told the AFP that it was meant as a joke.

The image can be found on an open source website, Krita-Artists, from Feb. 2021. The image also circulated on social media at that time. (RELATED: Does Video Show Explosion At Francis Scott Key Bridge?)

This is not the first time misinformation has been shared online. Check Your Fact debunked a claim the Royal Family admitted to using a surrogate.

Joseph Casieri

Fact Check Reporter

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