Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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
Gandhi family skips funeral of former prime minister Manmohan Singh.
Fact
Viral claims are false, several visuals from live footage of Singh’s funeral show the Gandhi family paying their final respects to the former prime minister in New Delhi.
A video purportedly from the funeral procession of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on Saturday has gone viral with the claim that senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not attend the funeral. “Today we did not see the Gandhi family on Dr Manmohanji’s last journey! Is this the respect Congress has for senior leaders outside the Gandhi family? Those who did the drama of walking thousands of kms in BJY… today could not take even one step?” read one such X post.
The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker first ran a keyword search for “Rahul Gandhi Manmohan”, which led us to this Mint’s live blog with updates following the news of the former PM’s death on Thursday (December 26) and his last rites were performed at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi on Saturday (December 28).
“Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi paid his last respects and laid a wreath on the mortal remains of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Nigam Bodh Ghat, where his last rites will be performed. Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also paid their last respects and laid wreaths on the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister,” read the post, dated December 28, 2024, at 12:40:34 PM IST.
“…Several politicians including Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also paid last respects to Singh,” read another post at 11:43:59 AM IST on December 28, 2024.
We then came across footage streamed live by ANI News, showing Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paying their last respects to Dr Manmohan Singh at the Congress headquarters. The live-streamed footage, from the 06:48 mark shows Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi placing a wreath and flowers on Singh’s body.
A Mid-day video, headlined “Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi pay tribute to Manmohan Singh”, uploaded on December 28, 2024 on Youtube can be seen here. “Former PM Manmohan Singh’s mortal remains were brought to the AICC headquarters in Delhi. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge paid heartfelt tributes to Singh…” read the description, contradicting the viral claim.
The Congress posted pictures from the funeral procession, where Manmohan Singh’s body was taken from Congress HQ to Nigambodh Ghat, where you can clearly see Rahul Gandhi on the truck. A Reuters photo showing Rahul Gandhi with the procession, shared by Al Jazeera in its December 28, 2024 photo feature on the state funeral with full military honours at the Nigambodh Ghat, can be seen here
Rahul Gandhi, too, has posted photos of him from the funeral on December 28, 2024 on X, while paying tributes to Dr Singh. Priyanka Gandhi had shared Congress’s live stream of the funeral on December 28. The Hindu’s live feed from December 28, 2024, showing visuals from Dr. Mamohan Singh’s residence, AICC headquarters, the funeral procession and last rites at Nigambodh Ghat, can be seen here.
Also Read: Pakistani Airforce Helicopter Shot Down By Afghan Forces? Old Video Viral With False Claim
Conclusion
Footage, reports and photos prove that the Gandhis — Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi — did not skip Manmohan Singh’s funeral on December 28, 2024.
Result: False
Sources
Mint live blog, December 28, 2024
ANI live feed, Youtube, December 28, 2024
Mid-day report, Youtube, December 28, 2024
The Hindu live feed, Youtube, December 28, 2024
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
