Fact Check: Viral image of tonsured Modi is morphed
Meanwhile, his photo with a bald head is going viral with a claim that he was tonsured after performing the funeral rites.
After the demise of his mother on December 31, 2022, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed her last rites and got back to work later. Meanwhile, his photo with a bald head is going viral with a claim that he was tonsured after performing the funeral rites.
The claim in Hindi goes as “श्री माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री
श्री माताजी हीरा बहन को भावपू
When translated, it claims “Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Modi ji got his head tonsured, after his mother’s demise, according to the Hindu customs. This Karma Yogi is blessed. Soulful tribute to Shri Mataji Hira Behen. Om Shanti”
The claim is viral on Facebook as well as on Twitter.
Fact Check:
The claim is FALSE. The viral image is morphed.
When we searched the image using Google reverse image search, we found the image being shared online since January 2021. Here are some of the links where this image was shared.
We also found some news website articles which shared similar images published in 2018, 2019, etc.
https://www.siasat.com/modi-
Here is a comparison of the original image and the viral image.
After performing the last rites of his mother, Modi participated in the inauguration of railway and metro projects in West Bengal. Here is the video of his speech during the launch.
In another tweet shared by the Indian PM on December 31, 2022, we can clearly see that he is not bald-headed as claimed. Here is the tweet.
Therefore, the image being shared with the claim that Modi was tonsured after performing the last rites of his mother is FALSE. The image shared is morphed and it has been online for more than a year.