The Post-Truth Eulogy: Unpacking the Fake News and Narratives Surrounding Manmohan Singh’s Death

“I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter, the Opposition in Parliament… when history is written we will come out unscathed,” were the prophetic words spoken by Dr Manmohan Singh in his last speech as Prime Minister.

Ironically, these words have proven to be a poignant reflection of his legacy, as he passed away on December 26, 2024, at AIIMS Delhi. Despite his frail health, Dr Singh couldn’t escape the cruel scrutiny of social media trolls. The news of his illness spread rapidly, and he was subjected to relentless criticism and mockery, even before he passed away. Neither could he escape death, not the trolls and hatred from media and social media.

This report analyzes the media and social media response to Dr. Singh’s passing, providing insights into the misinformation and divisive narratives that emerged. It seeks to underscore the broader issue of fake news, hate speech, and the lack of accountability in digital spaces, focusing on the following topics:

This report covers the following:

The spread of misinformation and divisive narratives

Viral fake news circulation

Fake tweets and their implications

Prevalence of hate speech, memes, and mockery on social media

Spread of Misinformation and Divisive Narratives

Misrepresentation of a 2006 Speech

The passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh reignited debate around a 2006 speech, often misquoted to claim he prioritized one community’s needs over others. This misrepresentation, shared widely on social media, drew criticism and fueled divisive commentary.

In his original speech on December 9, 2006, Dr. Singh emphasized the importance of empowering minorities, particularly Muslims, alongside other marginalized groups such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, women, and children. His intent was to ensure inclusive development without discrimination.

Notably, this controversy emerged in April 2021, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Congress manifesto and past policies, claiming that Singh had prioritized Muslim interests. The deliberate misinterpretation of Singh’s speech has contributed to a divisive narrative, fostering communalism and hatred.

In the words of Singh himself, “India must shine, but shine for all”. It is essential to promote inclusivity, understanding, and factual accuracy, rather than perpetuating divisive narratives that undermine the country.

The misquoted phrase, “They must have the first claim on resources,” was, in fact, part of a broader discussion on collective priorities, including agriculture, irrigation, health, education, and other vital sectors. The distortion of this statement highlights the dangers of misinformation and the responsibility to promote accurate narratives.

Claims of Disrespect from other Leaders

The second narrative surrounding Dr. Manmohan Singh’s legacy claims that other leaders didn’t respect him, but instead held Sonia Gandhi in high esteem. This notion originated from a widely circulated video and photographs shared by Rishi bagree in 2018, 2021, and 2024.

 Image 1 was taken on November 23, 2017, when Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former PM Manmohan Singh, and other Congress leaders met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Manmohan Singh was not the Prime Minister at the time.

VERDICT: FALSE

The image was taken on November 23, 2017, when Manmohan Singh was no longer the Prime Minister .  ANI  also reported the same.

 Image 2 was taken on October 6, 2019, when Congress President Sonia Gandhi and ex-PM Manmohan Singh met with Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina. The meeting was held due to a “special bond of friendship” between the Awami League and the Congress party.

VERDICT: FALSE

The image was taken on October 6, 2019, and Singh was present as a senior Congress leader. We at DFRAC found a media report from  Hindustan times.

 Image 3 

It appears that Sonia Gandhi is given attention, however, Manmohan Singh is ignored by others.

VERDICT: FALSE

The image was taken on July 19, 2012, and a video of the moment shows that Gandhi was gesturing to Pranab Mukherjee to cast his vote next. We found a video from  NDTV showing the whole scenario

Several fabricated stories emerged after Dr. Singh’s passing:

1. False Funeral Claims: After Manmohan Singh’s passing, a false claim circulated nationwide, alleging that no Congress members attended his funeral. However, this was completely untrue.

However, reality be told, top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were present to pay their last respects to the former Prime Minister. His funeral was held with full state honors, and the government even declared a 7-day national mourning period in his honor.  We found videos verified from media reports such as the Print and Youtube

2. Development in Ancestral Village: Another fake news that trended recently regarding Manmohan Singh’s death is the claim that he was involved in infrastructure development in his ancestral village in Pakistan, specifically Gah, located in Punjab, Pakistan. It was also claimed that the development took place on Indian Tax payers money.

It was alleged that Singh developed excellent roads, solar systems, and Reverse Osmosis water purification systems in the village during his term as Prime Minister of India. However, facts as investigated by DFRAC, revealed that Singh had requested the Pakistani government to undertake development work in Gah, and the provincial government in Punjab built roads, schools, hospitals, and water supply systems, as mentioned by Ndtv . Singh arranged for an Indian firm to install solar-powered lights and a water heating system in the village.

3. Fake Political Posters: A fabricated poster is circulating on social media, purportedly showed former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The poster featured a photo of Singh with the caption, “I was helpless but you are not. Press the lotus button and bring back the BJP government.” However, this claim is entirely fake.

Investigations revealed that neither Manmohan Singh nor the BJP has made any such statement or released this poster. In fact, Singh has been critical of the Modi government in the past, highlighting issues like unemployment and the informal sector’s struggles due to demonetization. The Congress party has also denied any involvement in the creation or dissemination of this fake poster. 

Further, AajTak media report mentioned  “talked to Manmohan Singh’s personal assistant GM Pillai about this statement. He also said that Manmohan has not given any such statement.”  

The poster has been circulating on social media since 2019, with several users sharing it on Twitter and Facebook.

Spread of Fake Tweets

1. A fake post attributed to former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has gone viral on social media. The post features Singh’s image and a caption claiming that the Congress party built institutions like IIT, IIM, colleges, hospitals, airports, railways, dams, and ISRO over 70 years, which are now being sold. However, investigation by DFRAC has  revealed that the post is entirely false.

The post’s authenticity was disproven when a search for the Twitter handle @PMdrmanmohan mentioned in the post yielded no results. Additionally, a Congress spokesperson confirmed that Manmohan Singh has no social media presence and has never been active on such platforms. The fake post is believed to have originated from a Facebook user named Ajit Chaudhary, residing in Gurugram, Haryana. This incident highlights the recurrence of counterfeit posts in Manmohan Singh’s name on social media.

2. A viral post on social media claims that former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement on Twitter about the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The post allegedly states that PFI has never been linked to violence or terrorism, whereas RSS has been involved in such activities. However, the post also claims that the government banned PFI due to its connections with the Sangh.

Investigations conducted by DFRAC  revealed that this tweet is fake and was made from a parody account, @Mr_ManmohanSing, which has no connection to the former Prime Minister. Manmohan Singh did not have an official Twitter account.

Hate, Humour, Memes and Mockery

Following the passing of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, social media platforms were flooded with a disturbing wave of memes, mockery, and hate. Many individuals resorted to name-calling, creating derogatory memes, and cracking jokes at his expense. Furthermore, some people crossed all bounds of decency by using abusive language, showcasing a shocking lack of empathy and respect.

The use of abusive language and derogatory content highlights the darker aspects of social media culture, emphasizing the need for users to maintain dignity and respect, even in disagreement or criticism.

Conclusion

The passing of Manmohan Singh highlighted the best and worst of social media. While it brought out an outpouring of tributes and condolences from people across the country, showcasing the power of social media to unite and honor, it also exposed the darker aspects of online behavior. The lack of empathy, respect, and decency towards the deceased was on full display, underscoring the need for users to maintain a sense of dignity and compassion, even in the online sphere.