Dr Manmohan Singh's last image shows him bedridden in hospital? No, image is from 2021

newsmeter , Vartha Bharati | 27-12-2024 | 16:31:00 IST

Image Credit: newsmeter.in

Claim: The image of Dr Manmohan Singh bedridden in the hospital is his last picture.
Fact: The claim is false. The image shows Dr Singh admitted to AIIMS in 2021 after complaining of weakness following a fever.

Hyderabad: Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92, following age-related health complications. He was receiving treatment at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

In this context, an image of Dr Singh, reportedly bedridden in a hospital, has been circulating on social media, and some claim it shows his last picture.

An X user shared the image and wrote, “Last photo of Manmohan Singh ji. Salute to such a great personality who took the sinking economic condition of the country to new heights.” (Archive)

एम्स में एडमिट पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह से मिलने पहुंचे केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री डॉ. मनसुख मंडाविया। pic.twitter.com/JHXfYQL8CN

— NBT Dilli (@NBTDilli) October 14, 2021

We also found the image published in a video report by The Tribune on October 14, 2021. According to the media outlet, Mansukh Mandaviya met former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to enquire about his health, as he had been admitted to AIIMS after complaining of weakness following a fever. ANI also posted pictures on the same day of Mandaviya going to meet the former Prime Minister and Congress leader at AIIMS.

However, according to a Hindustan Times report dated October 15, 2021, Mandaviya’s visit to enquire about former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s health faced criticism due to the same photograph allegedly taken inside the ward without the family’s consent. The Congress party condemned the act, accusing the BJP of staging a ‘photo op.’

The criticism came after Singh’s daughter, Daman Singh, accused Mandaviya of bringing a photographer against the family’s wish.

We also came across an October 15, 2021, report by The Print titled, “‘Not animals in a zoo’: Manmohan’s daughter says Mandaviya got pix shot in AIIMS despite objection.”

Speaking to the media outlet, Daman Singh revealed that her mother was deeply upset after a photographer entered the room with the minister. Despite her mother’s insistence that the photographer leave, her request was ‘completely ignored.’

The report quoted Daman as saying, “She was very upset. My parents are trying to cope with a difficult situation. They are elderly people, not animals in a zoo.”

Therefore, we conclude that the image of Dr Singh bedridden in the hospital is from 2021 and does not show his last picture. The claim is false.

(This story was originally published by newsmeter, and republished by english.varthabharati.in as part of the Shakti Collective)

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.

Air India resorts to cost-cutting ways amid 'tough times'; layoffs not anticipated

08-05-2026 ¦ 08-05-2026 IST

Image Credit: PTI

New Delhi/Mumbai (PTI): Hit hard by Pakistan airspace closure and Iran war, Air India has resorted to cost-cutting measures, including holding back annual increments for staff and asking them to cut discretionary spending as well as non-critical expenditures, warning of "tough times".

On Friday, Air India Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director (CEO & MD) Campbell Wilson told the staff it is going to be a "very, very difficult year" if things don't improve on the Middle East front.

A day after the loss-making airline's board discussed various cost-saving steps, Wilson, along with Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sanjay Sharma and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Ravindra Kumar GP, addressed the employees during a townhall on Friday where the emphasis on the need to keep a close watch on costs.

With higher jet fuel prices due to the West Asia conflict and airspace curbs, the loss-making airline's expenses have spiralled in recent times and against this backdrop, Sharma also told staffers that FY26 has seen a softening in revenue amid heightened external uncertainties.

Calling for a relentless focus on costs in these tough times, Wilson urged employees to suspend discretionary spending, renegotiate rates where feasible, and defer non-critical expenditures.

"There must be a laser-sharp focus on eliminating wastage and leakages," he said.

Stressing the need to tighten the belt for a while, Wilson sounded optimistic that travel demand would rebound and the industry would continue on its upward path.

CHRO Ravindra Kumar told staff that the airline will proceed with variable pay for the last financial year and continue with planned promotions while noting that annual increments will be deferred by at least one quarter.

"We don't anticipate layoffs," he said.

At the airline's board meeting on Thursday, various cost-saving steps, including likely furloughs, were discussed. The Tata Group-owned airline has around 24,000 employees.

Generally, furlough refers to sending staff on unpaid leaves by companies during a tough financial situation.

During the townhall, CFO Sanjay Sharma said while strong revenue growth and fleet expansion drove financial momentum through FY25, FY26 has seen a softening in revenue amid heightened external uncertainties.

Air India has seen around 40 per cent CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) in revenue between 2022 and 2025, he added.

The airline was acquired by the Tata Group from the government in January 2022.

The Air India CEO mentioned the external challenges being facing the aviation industry as a whole, including the continued closure of Pakistan airspace that is expected to persist for the foreseeable future and geopolitical conflicts leading to disruptions and airspace closures across West Asia.

Wilson, who is set to step down later this year, also flagged a sharp depreciation of the rupee and a 2.5-3 times increase in jet fuel prices, and added that these factors have adversely affected travel sentiment and consumer confidence, as per the sources.

If the Strait of Hormuz opens, oil prices fall and consumer as well as business confidence come back, there is a decent chance of a solid recovery, Wilson said, adding that unless those circumstances happen, it was going to be "a very, very difficult year".

"I feel somewhat responsible that we ended up with probably the biggest surprise of the year in the external environment which was a full-scale war in our neighbouring region in the Gulf. That has had a huge impact on airspace," he said.

For Air India, Wilson said the situation is compounded by the fact that the airline cannot fly over the neighbouring country and has to take a much longer routing for any west-bound destination.

"Every airline is reporting that they are under some sort of financial pressure as a result of higher fuel prices and economic uncertainty. So, it is unfortunately not a great environment to be running an airline," the Air India CEO said.

The Air India Group -- Air India and Air India Express -- is projected to have incurred more than Rs 22,000 crore loss in the financial year ended March 2026.

At the townhall, Wilson also highlighted various initiatives, including completion of the retrofit of its legacy narrow-body aircraft and rapid network optimisation to redeploy capacity more efficiently.