People across the world are on the edge of their seats scrolling through news and updates regarding the coronavirus pandemic, hoping against hope for things to get better. While doing so, it is easy for people to get anxious and restless. And for fake news to spread during this time is nothing but harmful.
According to a report by International Business Times, a reputed Indian news channel reported a Delhi-based army veteran as dead. The army veteran, Major Ranjit Singh who is also the President of Defence Colony Welfare Association, is, in fact, alive and took to Twitter to call out the news channel for spreading fake news and causing distress to his family.
Have a look at Major Ranjit Singh’s tweets here:
Aaj Tak I am the President of Defence Colony Welfare Association and alive as of now. Are you reading my near future. Idiots wake up. pic.twitter.com/rjHoq8RFCm
— Major Ranjit Singh (@MajorRanjitSin2) April 15, 2020
Idiotic people I am very much alive. I am Major Ranjit Singh (Veteran), President Defence Colony Welfare Association. Apologize or be prepared to be sued. My family members are distressed. pic.twitter.com/7VAKhX1CcZ
— Major Ranjit Singh (@MajorRanjitSin2) April 15, 2020
Major Singh in a later tweet claimed that the journalist in question apologised to him and that it must have been a “genuine” mistake on his part for “working under stress” in such “trying times”.
I think it was a genuine mistake by the Aaj Taj Journalist, working under stress during these trying days. The journalist has apologised which I have accepted and bear him no grudge. As a Fauji I have learnt how genuine mistakes take place and need to forgive
— Major Ranjit Singh (@MajorRanjitSin2) April 16, 2020
People on the internet slammed the news channel and accused them of irresponsible journalism. Have a look:
😳😳 Oh no. 'Major' mistake.
— ASHWARYA (@FOLLOWASHI) April 15, 2020
As Mark Twain once remarked “reports of my death are highly exaggerated”
— kps (@kunsing) April 16, 2020
Cleansing of heads of such reporters editors is required first before they dare write such fake news with disturbance causing headlines. Incorrigibles be booked under NSA.
— Ashok KG 🇮🇳🚩 (@AshokKG2) April 16, 2020
FIR arrests etc are the solution for stopping this business TRP by spining spicing divisiveness, by cooking up infos without
on – ground investigative authentication, by putting the cooked up strories with latent agenda — there is no cintrol, have taken system for granted— AnupK Bagchi (@AnupBagchi) April 16, 2020
Never believed in Reincarnation , now I do.. 😋
— Kaps کیپس (@pherohkaps) April 16, 2020
Aaj Tak dont worry! Perhaps its a tweet from heaven 😂😂😂
— New Horizon (@ArunAgr37394001) April 16, 2020
That’s ridiculous.@aajtak must correct it and fire their source who has given this information abt RWA President.
— Abhishek Dutt (अभिषेक दत्त) (@duttabhishek) April 15, 2020
I doubted must be AAJ TAK news & I was right ..
Thank you Major Ranjit for informing us about ur safety.#StayHealthy— Sumit Dubey (@drsumitdubey) April 15, 2020
You must teach them a lesson book an FIR against them.
— Syed Abdahu Kashaf (@syedKashaf95) April 16, 2020
See, this is how news channel run the news now a days without any verification.
— Amit Bhadricha – अमित भाद्रीचा (@AmitBhadricha) April 16, 2020
Unbelievable 😂
— PadmaRani (@KPadmaRan1) April 16, 2020
While it is true that the current crisis has had a stressful impact on people making it difficult for them to work with a clear mind, journalists should be extra careful about the kind of information they are letting out to the public.
What do you think of this issue? Let us know.