New Delhi: A photo of former prime minister Indira Gandhi addressing Indian Army soldiers at ‘Galwan Valley’ is going viral on social media. The black & white photograph has been widely shared across Facebook and Twitter, even by verified handles of Congress leaders. But ThePrint has found that the picture is not from the Galwan Valley.
Ramniwas Rawat, working president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, shared the picture on Facebook with “#SurenderModi” and the caption: “Modi ji, understand the history of Congress. Indira Gandhi ji at Galwan rally.”
मोदी जी कांग्रेस के इतिहास को समझिए। इंदिरा गांधी जी गलवान रैली के दौरान।#SurenderModi
Ramniwas Rawat यांनी वर पोस्ट केले रविवार, २१ जून, २०२०
The UP East Youth Congress Facebook account too shared the photograph with the caption: “Indira Gandhi ji at Galwan Valley with soldiers.”
इंदिरा गांधी जी लेह में सैनिकों के साथ।
U.P East Youth Congress यांनी वर पोस्ट केले रविवार, २१ जून, २०२०
On Twitter, the picture shared by a fan page of the former prime minister had over 17,900 likes and over 4,000 retweets. In fact, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera also retweeted the post, which reads: “Indira Gandhi addressing Army jawans at Galwan Valley, Ladakh.”
Indira Gandhi addressing Army jawans at Galwan Valley, Ladakh pic.twitter.com/y7BOdlpI8M
— Indira Gandhi (@indira_gandhi1) June 21, 2020
Other verified handles like the Indian Youth Congress and the Uttar Pradesh Congress also shared the picture. In fact, the Youth Congress handle tweeted the picture with the caption, “While one roared, another cowered”, alluding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Former PM Indira Gandhi addressing Army jawans at Galwan Valley.
While one roared another cowered. pic.twitter.com/SmRdHc2LQO
— Youth Congress (@IYC) June 22, 2020
इंदिरा गांधी जी गलवान वैली में सैनिकों के साथ। pic.twitter.com/iUSu3SkCii
— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) June 21, 2020
Praveen Pathak, Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh, also used ‘#SurenderModi’ and wrote: “Indira ji at Galwan Valley with soldiers… Modi ji, understand the history of Congress. It is a history of the self-respect and self-reliance of this country.”
इंदिरा जी गलवान वैली में सैनिकों के साथ ,मोदी जी कांग्रेस के इतिहास को समझिए। वो इस देश का आत्म सम्मान और आत्मनिर्भरता का इतिहास है। #SurenderModi@RahulGandhi @INCMP pic.twitter.com/4U0tdIAARi
— Praveen Pathak (@PRAVEENPATHAK13) June 22, 2020
Karnataka Congress leader Srivasta Y.B. shared it with the caption: “Indira thundered. Modi surrendered.”
Indira thundered. Modi surrendered. https://t.co/GZDez7JXnd
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) June 21, 2020
Also read: ‘Surender Modi’ tweet intensifies BJP backlash against Rahul Gandhi, Congress & all critics
Fact check
The viral photograph of Indira Gandhi is not from Galwan Valley, but was taken when she was addressing the Indian Army in Leh in 1971.
The photograph can also be found in the Press Trust of India photo archive — if one searches for ‘Indira Gandhi Leh’, it shows up.
Leh, the capital of Ladakh, stands approximately 200 kilometres — or a six-hour car ride in the hills — away from the Galwan Valley.
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Why Congress reps are misleading the nation.
Congress is the dirtiest of the dirty.
Sycophants of Congress first family will go to no ends to prop up the dynasty.
Okay its Leh. And certainly not a television studio.
So?