DigitEye India Fact Checkers
An image of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi sitting in front of a Christian priest is doing rounds on social media. The image alleges that the couple was getting their marriage registered in a church in Delhi. It shows the couple sitting in front of a table with a pen and paper.
The claim that is going viral with the image states:
“A young couple getting their marriage registered in a Delhi Church. Their son is busy teaching Indians… Hindu Vs Hindutva. 🙂 #IBatheAlone Jai Ho”.
Digiteye India received a request on WhatsApp to fact check this viral image.
FACT CHECK
The Digiteye India team conducted a Reverse Image Search on Google with the picture. The results showed us that it has been in circulation since 2018 with the same claim.
We conducted a keyword search to look for more images from Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi’s wedding. We came across a news report that was published by NDTV in 2015. The article mentions of a video that captures moments from their wedding in black and white. The video was published by Associated Press. The article mentions that the video was originally uploaded by British Movietone. The prominent guests included Indira Gandhi, Zakir Hussain, Sanjay Gandhi, and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.
At the 1:03 mark in the video posted by Associated Press, Sonia and Rajeev are seen getting their marriage registered as Indira Gandhi looks at them. They are in wedding attire, and it confirms that the couple who got married in a Hindu ceremony had their marriage registered.
In the viral image, Sonia Gandhi is seen in a pink dress. Christian weddings often require the bride to wear white to the wedding. The claim is, hence, false.
CLAIM: A viral picture alleges that Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi got married in a Christian ceremony.
CONCLUSION: The original video from Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi’s wedding shows the couple getting their marriage registered while they are dressed in traditional Hindu wedding attire. In a Christian wedding, the bride wears white but in the picture, Sonia Gandhi is wearing pink.
RATING: Misrepresentation — 
