Did Switzerland’s Matterhorn mountain lit up our flag after India supplied HCQ tablets?
An image of the Indian National flag being projected on Switzerland’s Matterhorn mountain is going viral with a misleading message.
Claim: “Matterhorn mountain in Swiss Alps lighted with tricolour in the name of HOPE after India under @narendramodi supplied HCQ tablets & leads the #Covid_19 battle… #IndiaFightsCorona”.
BJP National General Secretary BL Santosh tweeted an image with the same claim and the post has been retweeted more than 2,600 times.
The official Facebook page of Prasar Bharti News Service also posted an image with the same claim.
Many others shared the photo and the claim on Facebook.
TRUTH
The image of the Indian National flag being projected on Switzerland’s Matterhorn mountain is true. However, the claim shared with the image that this happened after India supplied the HCQ tablets to Switzerland is false. With the keyword search on Twitter that led us to a tweet by the official handle of the Indian embassy in Switzerland. As per the tweet, the Indian tricolour was projected on the Matterhorn mountain to express solidarity to all Indian in the fight against COVID-19.
INDIAN TRICOLOR ON THE MATTERHORN MOUNTAIN: Indian Tricolor of more than 1000 meters in size projected on Matterhorn Mountain, Zermatt, Switzerland to express Solidarity to all Indians in the fight against COVID 19. A big Thank You to @zermatt_tourism for the gesture. @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/y4diNDSlT9
— India in Switzerland, The Holy See & Liechtenstein (@IndiainSwiss) April 17, 2020
The official Twitter account of Zermatt Tourism also shared the image with the caption, “The Indian flag on the Matterhorn, Switzerland’s landmark, is intended to express our solidarity and give hope and strength to all Indians.”
The Indian flag on the Matterhorn, Switzerland's landmark, is intended to express our solidarity and give hope and strength to all Indians. #Hope #Zermatt #Matterhornhttps://t.co/qFjiKuZNsE@MySwitzerlandIN pic.twitter.com/C8Ut0kqfZ1
— Zermatt – Matterhorn (@zermatt_tourism) April 18, 2020
Zermatt-Matterhorn also shared flags of several other countries fighting the pandemic were projected on the mountain and not just the Indian tricolour.
Iran is one of the countries most affected by the coronavirus. We send a sign of hope and wish much strength and perseverance to overcome the crisis. #hope #Zermatt #Matterhornhttps://t.co/qFjiKuZNsE pic.twitter.com/lNloUi0gJy
— Zermatt – Matterhorn (@zermatt_tourism) April 25, 2020
In Russia, coronavirus infections are heading towards the peak. We are sending a lot of hope and strength to the people, many of whom have already been with us on holiday, to get through this difficult time. #hope #Zermatt #Matterhorn https://t.co/qFjiKuZNsE pic.twitter.com/7uePnubzmb
— Zermatt – Matterhorn (@zermatt_tourism) April 25, 2020
Australia is having a hard time with the bush fires and now the Coronavirus. Today we think of the Australian people and send hope and courage to get through the crisis well. #Australia #Zermatt #Matterhornhttps://t.co/qFjiKuZNsE pic.twitter.com/qFKgakRlbp
— Zermatt – Matterhorn (@zermatt_tourism) April 23, 2020
Our thoughts are with all American people at this unprecedented time. #USA #hope #Zermatt #Matterhornhttps://t.co/qFjiKuZNsE@WSJ @nytimes @USATODAY @CNN pic.twitter.com/ldguh1UrSJ
— Zermatt – Matterhorn (@zermatt_tourism) April 16, 2020
The population of China had to suffer greatly, now it is on the road to recovery. We send our best wishes! 🤗#Zermatt #Matterhorn #Hopehttps://t.co/qFjiKuZNsE pic.twitter.com/ksramDndgF
— Zermatt – Matterhorn (@zermatt_tourism) April 19, 2020
This confirms that the gesture was meant to express solidarity with all Indians in the fight against COVID-19 and had nothing to do with HCQ supply at all.
