Ashish Ranjan
Modi ‘biggest contender’ for Peace Prize: Asle Toje, the second-in-command of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, denied Thursday media reports that he had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi the “biggest contender” for the Nobel Peace Prize. Toje’s clarification came after some television channels and a now-viral tweet claimed that, during this visit to India, Toje had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi the “leading candidate” for the Nobel Peace Prize.
At the time of writing, the viral tweet, which Toje dismissed as false news, has received over 1.5 million impressions.Toje told the news agency ANI that he was in India as the director of International Peace and Understanding and as a friend of India Center Foundation, not as the esteemed committee’s deputy leader (ICF). He emphasised, “A tweet containing false information was sent, and we should consider it as such.”
“I am in India as the Director of International Peace and Understanding and as a friend of the India Center Foundation,” he explained.India Center Foundation (ICF) is a non-profit organisation based in Delhi.”And I am in India to discuss your nation’s governance and development. Consequently, I am the deputy chairman of the Nobel committee. A tweet containing false news was sent, and it should be treated as such. It’s a hoax.”
“Let’s not give it vitality or oxygen by discussing it or giving it attention. I categorically deny saying anything similar to what was contained in that tweet.”Toje praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, for reminding Russian President Vladimir Putin that “this is not a time of conflict.”
“The statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that ‘this is not the age of conflict’ was an expression of optimism. India has indicated that this is not how we should be resolving international disputes today. “PM Modi has the support of the vast majority of the world’s population,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
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As per report ICF chairman Vibhav K. Upadhyay stated that Indian news outlets had misquoted Toje.Upadhyay hoped that it was taken up by television networks “by accident or by extra enthusiasm,” adding that it is illegal if it was done “on purpose.”
