No, This Picture Of Narendra Modi's Mother Hiraben Is Not Photoshopped But It Is Old

An image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben tweeted by a Minister of State on Friday has generated a lot of conversation on Twitter with many alleging that the picture is photoshopped.

The picture was posted by Minister of State For Social Justice and Empowerment, Vijay Sampla on May 4. Taking a dig at United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Sampla compared Gandhi to the prime minister's mother.

Our Beloved PM Shri @narendramodi 's Mother is still travelling in Auto, While @RahulGandhi 's Mother is the World's 4th Wealthiest Politician!#NarendraModi pic.twitter.com/HsLuTBYUaI

— Vijay Sampla MoS (@vijay_sampla) May 4, 2018

However, his Tweet caused a furore online. Many literally zoomed in on the photograph and alleged that it had been photoshopped.

I can see two ghost hands holding her 😳😳

Photoshop failure : Exhibit A pic.twitter.com/qTb46uMzHh

— FYI (@_NairFYI) May 5, 2018

World's best PhotoShop award goes to "BJP - Bhartiya JanPhotoShop Party"...

ये हाथ मुझे दे दे ठाकुर !!!!!!#BJPLies pic.twitter.com/Cykg7A7Yx9

— Alpesh Thakor (@AlpeshThakor_) May 6, 2018

Why is it wonderful that your mother travels by auto when you can afford better for her. Also is Minister tweeting photoshopped pic .. there's a disembodied hand clutching her upper arm https://t.co/5LPIicGzvp

— Gargi Rawat (@GargiRawat) May 6, 2018

Terrible photoshop job! https://t.co/XlU8hE7sod

— Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza) May 6, 2018

BOOM did a Reverse Image search of the picture and found that it was taken in April, 2014 when Hiraben when to cast her vote in the Lok Sabha elections for BJP's then PM candidate and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. She voted in a school located at sector 22 area of Gandhinagar.

VIDEO: Narendra Modi's mother travels in auto to cast vote https://t.co/0uTA56k4ih pic.twitter.com/2lYZTvD7Ra

— Times of India (@timesofindia) April 30, 2014

The exact same image has also been used by News 18 and Hindustan Times. The photo caption of the image used in Hindustan Times' article clearly states that it is a Press Trust of India photo.

We traced the image back to PTI's photo archives where even a thumbnail version of the photo shows that it has not been photoshopped. Besides it is unheard of that a wires news agency would manipulate a picture to this extent. Click here to view PTI's photo archives.

A separate video by wires news agency ANI suggest that PTI's photographer might have taken the photo standing on the opposite side of autorickshaw. Click here to view the video.

An error level analysis of the photo also does not show any inconsistencies.