Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim: Sheikh Hasina following Hindu customs in India.
Fact: Viral image is edited. The original picture features Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Months after resigning as the PM of Bangladesh following intense protests, an image of Sheikh Hasina, now reportedly living in hiding under tight security, is going viral on social media platforms, where she can purportedly be seen following Hindu customs.
The image, viral on Facebook, shows Sheikh Hasina receiving blessings from Hindu monks and is being widely shared to show her pro-Hindu leanings.
Many such claims can be seen here, here and here.
Fact Check/ Verification
A reverse image search of the viral photo revealed a similar image was published in a report on ABP Live‘s website on September 14, 2022. However, the photo actually features Congress leader and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, not Sheikh Hasina, receiving blessings from Hindu monks.
According to the report, during the 2022 ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra,’ Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the Shivgiri Mutt in Thiruvananthapuram, where he paid homage to saint Sri Narayana Guru.
We found another report by Times of India, featuring the same image, published on the same day.
A further search revealed that on September 14, 2022, Congress’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle also shared pictures of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Narayana Guru’s mutt in Thiruvananthapuram.
We compared the viral image with the picture of Rahul Gandhi and noticed that both images were identical, with Rahul Gandhi’s image replaced with Sheikh Hasina’s in the viral version.
Conclusion
Thus it is clear that the viral image is edited.
Result: Altered Image
Sources
Report by Abp Live, Dated September 14, 2022
Report by Times Of India, Dated September 14, 2022
X post by Congress
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Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
