India Fake News discovered that PM Modi’s skull cap had been digitally inserted to the widely shared photos.
Images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that have been digitally altered to make it look like he’s wearing a skull cap during a Mumbai inauguration ceremony hosted by the Bohra community are circulating online.
Images have been digitally altered, according to India Fake News. Modi does not appear to be wearing a hat or cap in the initial photos taken at the event. On February 10, only days before the city’s high-stakes municipal elections, Narendra Modi opened a new campus of the Dawoodi Bohra community’s educational institute Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in Mumbai.
According to reports, Modi claimed that he did not attend the inauguration event of the powerful Bohra group in his official capacity as prime minister but rather as a family member.
The image is being promoted with the words “Shinde was astonished.. wondered for a second “did I shake hands with AIMIM?”
Shinde was shocked.. thought for a moment “did I shake hands with AIMIM?”🤦♀️🤦♀️😉😉 pic.twitter.com/GY3Hf1xauY
— Rezina Sultana (@RezinaSultana29) February 11, 2023
Fact Check
Using a reverse image search, India Fake News discovered that the viral photos had been digitally altered. Even while it has been widely reported that Prime Minister Modi wore a skull cap during his meeting with Dawoodi Bohra Muslims, the original photos do not indicate this to be the case.
Image 1
We traced the photo back to a February 10 tweet from the official account of Maharashtra’s chief minister, Eknath Shinde. The photo was posted along with a collection of others from the event with a Marathi caption reading, roughly translated, “‘Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah’ Arabic Educational Institute at Andheri Marol, Mumbai was opened today under the auspices of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Additionally, Devendra Fadnavis, the state’s deputy chief minister, was present.
मुंबईतील अंधेरी मरोळ येथील 'अलजमीया – तुस – सफीया' या अरेबिक शैक्षणिक संस्थेचे उद्घाटन आज पंतप्रधान माननीय @narendramodi जी यांच्या शुभहस्ते करण्यात आले. यावेळी उपमुख्यमंत्री @Dev_Fadnavis हेदेखील उपस्थित होते. pic.twitter.com/AYcHPHz6yy
— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) February 10, 2023
Here’s a look at the viral image next to the photo tweeted by Maharashtra’s chief minister, Eknath Shinde.
Image 2
In the second image, posted to PM Modi’s official Twitter account, he is not seen donning a head covering of any kind. Captioned on Twitter on February 10 as “Delighted to join the program to mark the inauguration of the new campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in Mumbai,” the photo was taken at the inaugural ceremony. “The Dawoodi Bohras.”
Delighted to join the programme to mark the inauguration of the new campus of @jamea_saifiyah in Mumbai. @Dawoodi_Bohras pic.twitter.com/whzwwXGhjM
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2023
Compare the image below to the one tweeted by PM Modi to observe the discrepancy.
Image 3
Several publications from February 10, 2023, featuring this photo, were discovered. During the opening of the Arabic Academy for the Dawoodi Bohra community in the Marol neighbourhood of Andheri East, Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was pictured with spiritual leader Mufaddal Saifuddin. This photo was published in the Free Press Journal.
The Press Trust of India is credited for the image in the article. See the difference between the original and the viral shot below!
