PIB Debunks Viral Social Media Claims of PM Modi Resigning

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued an official clarification on Tuesday debunking viral social media reports that claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi had resigned. A fabricated letter, circulating widely on platforms like X and WhatsApp, suggested that the Prime Minister had submitted his resignation to the President. PIB’s fact-checking unit confirmed that no such letter was issued and the claims are entirely baseless. The government urged citizens to rely only on official communications and verified news outlets for political developments. The statement was released at approximately 3:00 PM IST to contain the spread of the misinformation.

The rumor gained traction through various non-verified handles that shared a digitally altered document mimicking an official Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) letterhead. These posts claimed internal political shifts led to the sudden decision, causing a brief surge in search queries and social media chatter. Despite the lack of any credible source or news broadcast, the visual nature of the fake letter helped it bypass basic scrutiny for many users. The incident highlights the persistent challenge of deepfakes and doctored documents in India’s digital ecosystem. Government monitors flagged the surge in this specific rumor early on Tuesday morning.

The central government has directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to monitor the origin of the fake document. Under current IT rules, platforms are required to act swiftly against misinformation that could cause public disorder. For the average Indian reader, this serves as a reminder to verify explosive political claims through the PIB Fact Check portal or major national broadcasters. The Prime Minister’s schedule remains unchanged, with several high-level meetings and public appearances planned for the remainder of the week. Security agencies are also looking into whether the rumor was part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.