Claim
Indonesia is a Muslim country. There are 85% Muslims and only 2% Hindus but there is a picture of Shri Ganesh ji on the currency.
Rating
Explanation
Many social media users including verified Twitter accounts shared an image of 20000 Rupiah Indonesian banknote with a picture of Lord Ganesha in it and claimed that Indonesia being a Muslim country has Lord Ganesha in its currency. This claim was shared widely relating it to the current situation.
Aravind Kejriwal recently writes to PM Modi demanding Lord Lakshmi and Ganesha images on Indian currency notes. This stirred controversy and in this context the claim that the Indonesian currency note has Lord Ganesha in it being a Muslim country and why not ours have Lord Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha images started circulating. The posts with such claims can be seen here, here, and here.
What is the truth?
YouTurn fact-checked the image of Lord Ganesha in the 20000 Rupiah Indonesian currency note in 2018. The image shared as the Indonesian currency note with Lord Ganesha’s image is true. But that particular banknote is no longer valid to use, replied ‘Bank Indonesia’ to the mail sent by Youturn to fact-check if the banknote was real. The reply mail says, “Bank Indonesia established such currency. Yet, it is no longer valid to use nowadays”.
When searching for more details, it is found that four Indonesian currency notes including the 20000 Rupiah note with Lord Ganesha and Hajar Dewantara on it were demonetized in 2008. The circular related to revoking these currency notes was found on the Bank Indonesia website.
The 20000 Rupiah Indonesian banknote that are currently in use is also found on ‘Bank Indonesia’ website. This current banknote was issued in August 2022.
Conclusion
The 20000 Rupiah Indonesian currency note with the Lord Ganesha image in it is true but was demonetized in 2008 and is no longer valid to use.
