Pranab Mukherjee

Pranab Mukherjee (December 11, 1935 – August 31, 2020) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. With a political career spanning over five decades, Mukherjee was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and held several key positions in the Government of India, including Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, and Minister of External Affairs. Known for his deep understanding of Indian politics, diplomacy, and economic affairs, Mukherjee was often regarded as one of the most respected political leaders in India.

Mukherjee began his political career in the early 1970s, quickly rising through the ranks of the Congress party. As Finance Minister in the 1980s, he was credited with implementing significant economic policies, including the introduction of measures that laid the foundation for India's economic liberalization in the 1990s. His tenure as Defence Minister was marked by strategic initiatives to strengthen India’s military capabilities, while as External Affairs Minister, he focused on enhancing India’s global diplomatic relations.

In 2012, Mukherjee was elected as the President of India, where he sought to maintain the constitutional integrity of the office and foster dialogue across political divides. He was known for his scholarly approach to governance, commitment to parliamentary democracy, and efforts to uphold the values of the Indian Constitution. After his presidency, Mukherjee continued to be active in public life, advocating for educational reforms, political consensus, and national unity.

In September 2020, BOOM fact-checked a viral screenshot falsely claiming that journalist Rana Ayyub tweeted about Afzal Guru in connection with Pranab Mukherjee's death.

BOOM found out that the screenshot had been doctored and no such tweet was ever posted by Ayyub, debunking the misleading claim.