Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi astonishingly claimed that his government was responsible for relaxing the mahram (a family relative who the woman is never allowed to marry) rules for Indian women wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah, he became a butt of jokes on social media platforms.

Janta Ka Reporter had exposed the prime minister’s lies through a fact-check article.

Users were quick to highlight the prime minister’s lies with many pointing out that it was the Saudi Arabia, which had relaxed the rules.

Addressing Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Modi had said, “Why this discrimination? And when I went into the depth of the matter I was surprised to find that even after 70 years of our independence, we were the ones who had imposed these restrictions. For decades, injustice was being rendered to Muslim women but there was no discussion on it.”

Where the prime minister can truly take credit for is if he is able to ensure that women even below the age of 45 can travel to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj and Umrah without having to be escorted by a mahram. But, the government and the prime minister know it well that they simply can’t do so unless the Saudi themselves relax the rules.

Here’s how social media users reacted to Modi’s lies;

My dear PM, this rule is not by the govt of India but by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia! For 2018, my wish for you is to stop “lying” to people of this great Nation! @narendramodi https://t.co/lD8jHWyHKu — shama mohamed (@drshamamohd) December 31, 2017

Narendra Modi realised women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Then he took a Historical Landmark Decision https://t.co/S6cvUEvcES — Joy (@Joydas) January 1, 2018

This rule has recently been changed by Govt of Saudi Arabia. I am happy that PM is taking credit for it. God bless him. https://t.co/FFf93jTIkL — shahid siddiqui (@shahid_siddiqui) January 1, 2018

Bhakts,

In case you weren’t aware, 2017 ended with the historical achievement of Shri Narendra Modi ji taking over as the Monarch of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and immediately relaxing the “mehram” rules to enable Muslim women to go on Hajj, unaccompanied by any male relatives. — Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) January 1, 2018

Shameful that @narendramodi is spreading misinformation against Muslim community. Women over 45 don’t need companion for Haj. Below 45 without male companion Saudi Arabia doesn’t issue visas. Stop demonsing Indian Muslims Modi https://t.co/PIX8ELjPch — Kewrious (@Kewrious) December 31, 2017

I do not think all these tall claims are because of ignorance, these are deliberate twisting of facts or true lies with a concerted attempt to mislead.. But we should say aloud the facts and truth. Thank you @iamrana

for this article https://t.co/l4Nw6iW7HI — James Wilson (@jamewils) January 1, 2018