Fact Check: Modi’s doppelganger is not related to the Prime Minister; neither is the photograph digitally altered
Modi’s doppelganger is not related to the Prime Minister; neither is the photograph digitally altered
The widely circulated image of an auto-rickshaw driver bearing a striking resemblance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is creating a buzz on social media, accompanied by a claim that he is Modi's younger brother.
Numerous individual Facebook users and pages are sharing the image with a Hindi caption that roughly translates to, "Saluting the man leading the country, while his younger brother remains an auto-rickshaw driver." It's worth noting that this photo of the auto-rickshaw driver has been circulating on social media for an extended period.
Fact Check:
The claim is false.
The man who looks like Modi has been identified as Ayub, a resident of Telangana's Adilabad district. The photograph has been in circulation since 2016, and various media organizations have previously debunked the claim. A screenshot of a report by Navbharat Times, discrediting the assertion, is below.
Ayub initially served as a contract driver with the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) in 1998. However, after a few years, he faced job loss. Subsequently, Ayub took on roles as a lorry driver and an auto-rickshaw driver. In 2014, he secured a permanent position with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) as a driver, stationed at the Adilabad bus depot.
Moreover, none of Prime Minister Modi's siblings operates an auto-rickshaw. PM Modi has three brothers: Sombhai Modi, Amrut Modi, and Prahlad Modi. According to an article in India Today, Sombhai manages an old age home in Vadnagar, Gujarat, while Amrut Modi had worked as a fitter in a private company. The youngest among the four brothers, Prahlad Modi, owns a fair price shop.
Hence, the claim is false. Modi’s doppelganger in the image is not related to the Prime Minister; neither is his photograph digitally manipulated.