An alleged front page of The Hindu dated June 6, 1967, which claims that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi urged Indians to stop purchasing gold because of a foreign exchange crisis, has gone viral on social media. However, the widely shared image has been digitally manipulated and is not genuine.
The claim gained momentum after numerous social media users, political analysts, and even BJP leaders circulated the clip, using it to compare Indira Gandhi’s policies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call concerning gold purchases.
What Was The Viral Claim?
The widely shared image purportedly depicted a June 6, 1967 front page of The Hindu featuring a report that Indira Gandhi had called on citizens to refrain from buying gold as part of a “national discipline” initiative aimed at reducing pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves.
The claim re-emerged after Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a rally in Secunderabad on May 10, urged citizens to delay non-essential gold purchases—including jewellery for weddings—citing rising crude oil prices and worries about foreign exchange reserves amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The Hindu Clarifies Viral Image Is Fake
However, The Hindu has formally stated that the front page being shared online is fabricated and is not part of its official archives. “A digitally manipulated image claiming to show the front page of The Hindu dated June 6, 1967, is circulating on social media. The publication clarified that this is not a genuine page from its archives and urged readers to verify information before sharing it online.
Reports indicate that the June 6, 1967 edition of the newspaper primarily featured prominent headlines about the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War, which had broken out the previous day, and did not include any appeal concerning the purchase of gold.
Why The Claim Went Viral
The edited clip was widely shared by numerous social media users and political leaders who sought to compare the Modi government’s recent warning on the economy with earlier economic policies implemented during the Congress period. Among those who shared the viral image were BJP leaders and media houses discussing India’s foreign exchange pressures and rising global oil prices.
Did Indira Gandhi Government Restrict Gold?
Although the viral newspaper clipping is fabricated, the wider issue of gold restrictions under Indira Gandhi’s administration does have some basis in historical reality. In 1968, the Indira Gandhi administration, led by Finance Minister Morarji Desai, enacted the Gold Control Act. This law placed stringent limits on gold ownership, prohibiting the possession of gold bars and coins, with the aim of curbing smuggling, cutting down on gold imports, and safeguarding the Indian rupee during a time of economic difficulty. The law stayed in effect for several years before it was ultimately repealed in 1990.
Verdict
The widely shared June 6, 1967 front page of The Hindu, which alleges that Indira Gandhi urged citizens to stop purchasing gold, has been digitally manipulated and is not genuine. Although the government did implement gold control policies in the late 1960s, the particular newspaper clipping circulating on the internet is not authentic.