Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
PM photographed washing his hands inside a toilet
An archived version of the tweet can be seen here.
Fact
We scanned through the comment section of the post by @Spideyweb, and found a tweet by user @nksethi65 saying in Hindi, “it’s not a toilet. The place is either outside Langar hall (dining hall in a gurdwara) or Joda Ghar (where shoes are kept). Know about Gurudwara sahib, before writing.” The user also shared another version of the viral image where a staircase can be clearly seen on the other side of the wall where taps have been installed. Additionally, sparse sunlight can be seen on the staircase as well as PM Modi’s face, indicating that it is likely an open area.
Taking a clue, we conducted a Google reverse image search on the viral photo of the Prime Minister with keywords “PM Modi,” & “Gurudwara”, which led us to a report by Free Press Journal, dated December 20, 2020, titled ‘In Pictures: PM Modi’s surprise visit to Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi.’
The report carried the viral image with the caption, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib on the occasion of the 400th Prakash Parv of Guru Teg Bahadur, in New Delhi on Sunday. | ANI Photo.”
A keyword search for “PM Modi Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib” on Google yielded multiple reports from December 2020 detailing the Prime Minister’s visit to the shrine, and featuring pictures of the same. PM Modi can be seen in the same attire in these pictures as in the viral image. Such reports can be seen here, here and here.
Modi himself tweeted about his visit to the Gurudwara.
Following this, we looked up Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib on Google to ascertain the exact location where the PM Modi’s picture was taken and found several images showing the staircase similar to that seen in the viral photograph. Notably, the staircase can be seen leading to the shrine.
Furthermore, we were able to spot the exact place seen in the viral image, which is basically a set of washbasins installed on one side of the staircase wall. Google images clearly show that the place where PM Modi’s viral photo was captured is an open area, and not a toilet.
Before entering any Gurudwara, the devotees are expected to wash their hands and feet. Such wash basins are, therefore, installed at the entry of the shrines.
We could thus conclude that the viral picture showing the Prime Minister washing his hands is not from any toilet. Viral posts claiming to show PM Narendra Modi inside a toilet are false.
Result: False
Sources
Tweet By @nksethi65, Dated October 20, 2022
Report By Free Press Journal, Dated December 20, 2020
Google Images
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
