India’s Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed as “fake” and “malicious” a wave of social media posts claiming that multiple world leaders fell ill after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, even as it separately acknowledged a genuine case: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been withdrawn from public engagements on his doctors’ advice.
The ministry’s fact-checking unit posted on X, “Fake Alert!!! We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms!” The warning singled out a post from Polymarket, one of the world’s largest prediction market platforms, among the content it flagged as false.
Ramaphosa withdraws from public duties
The South African presidency confirmed in a statement Wednesday that Ramaphosa, 73, was advised by his medical team to rest and recover after returning from the New Delhi summit on Monday. “Where possible, the President has asked the respective Ministers to represent him at scheduled public engagements,” the presidency said.
His absence leaves South Africa without both of its top two leaders in public view, since Deputy President Paul Mashatile is also recovering from a minor medical procedure.
Speculation has circulated online that food served at the summit could be linked to Ramaphosa’s illness. The summit menu has drawn separate attention in India, where opposition parties have criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for serving an exclusively vegetarian dinner to visiting leaders, accusing him of disregarding the country’s cultural diversity. Modi, like many members of India’s dominant Hindu castes, is a vegetarian.
China’s President Xi Jinping arrives before the start of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12, 2026. (AFP Photo)
Unverified claims swirl around Xi Jinping
Separately, unverified posts claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping fainted during the summit and was flown back to China for emergency medical treatment. The claim originated with Xie Wanjun, chairman of the unregistered, US-based China Democracy Party, which is banned in China.
Xie alleged Xi suffered a severe ischemic stroke but refused treatment in Delhi, saying the Chinese leader was taken to Beijing’s 301 Hospital after landing. “When boarding the plane, Xi Jinping walked with difficulty, his steps faltering, his body repeatedly leaning to the left,” Xie wrote.
Neither Chinese nor Indian officials have confirmed the claim. Xi is confirmed to have attended the summit and held bilateral talks with Modi. China’s foreign ministry said Xi departed Delhi on Sunday afternoon after “successfully concluding” his attendance, an itinerary consistent with the summit’s official September 12-13 dates, though his visit lasted roughly 24 hours.
The rumors gained traction after footage aired by India’s national broadcaster showed Modi briefly pausing his opening remarks to check on Xi, who was seated beside him.
“Is it OK?” Modi asked as aides appeared to rush toward Xi, repeating the question before Xi nodded and Modi resumed his speech. Chinese journalists later posted a longer video on X, a platform banned in China, arguing that Modi was reacting to a faulty earpiece Xi was using for real-time translation.
Xi has not been seen in public since returning to China, which commentators say has fueled further speculation. American journalist Bill Gertz said “rumours are flying” about Xi’s health, including unverified talk that “rival group armies are mobilising for civil war.”
Political analyst Gordon Chang wrote that there were “sensational rumours that the Chinese military has freed two of Xi Jinping’s most powerful enemies, Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang,” adding that if true, Xi “will not feel safe leaving China.”
Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University, cautioned that rumors in China have historically been used as “political weapons” once seized upon by interested parties.
The speculation has raised questions about Xi’s scheduled September 24 meeting with US President Donald Trump, which would be their third face-to-face encounter in the past year.
India dismisses the reports
India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued its rejection of the broader illness claims only after Ramaphosa’s office had confirmed his own withdrawal from public duties, drawing a line between the substantiated South African case and the unverified claims about Xi and other leaders.
The BRICS bloc, whose current members include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, concluded its two-day New Delhi summit on September 13 with discussions focused on inclusive global growth and the situation in the Middle East.
September 17, 2026 07:25 PM GMT+03:00
