Fake claim on India-US military deal debunked: Govt slashes viral rumour

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Ministry of External Affairs has strongly rejected a claim circulating on social media that the US has sought military assistance from India to attack Iran. The ministry called the claim “false, misleading, and fabricated,” urging people to remain vigilant.

The ministry clarified on social media platforms that no such incident had occurred. It also issued a 'fake news alert', stating, "Please beware of such baseless and misleading claims being spread on social media."

This claim originated from a viral post alleging that the US was exploring the use of military resources in western India under the 2016 LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement). The post also mentioned a possible offshore deployment near the Konkan coast and linked it to US-Iran tensions.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs categorically rejected all these claims and said that no such permission has been sought or given for the use of Indian land or military facilities.

It's worth noting that LEMOA is a logistics agreement between India and the United States, under which the militaries of both countries can use each other's military facilities for needs such as fuel, repairs, and supplies. However, the ministry clarified that it is not used for military action against any third country.

Experts believe that in the current climate of global tension, such fake news spreads rapidly, creating confusion. Therefore, the government has appealed to citizens to verify the veracity of any information before sharing it.