While the anti-farm laws protests turned violent and the ensuing riots engulfed the national capital on what was supposed to be a happy and solemn occasion, many prominent journalists, civil society members and public intellectuals were goading the rioters and spreading misinformation. Among these was controversial India Today journalist Rajdeep Sardesai.
Sardesai tweeted that a rioting farmer had died due to police firing. Fully aware of how his tweet could potentially affect the law and order situation in the national capital, Sardesai tweeted, “One person, 45-year-old Navneet killed allegedly in police firing at ITO. Farmers tell me: the ‘sacrifice’ will not go in vain”, along with a photograph of the body covered in the Indian tricolour; the same tricolour that the protesting farmers had disrespected.
However, a report by Rajdeep’s own news network had contradicted his tweet.
The farmer’s death was due to an accident of his own making. He was attempting to dislodge the police barricades on Delhi’s DDU Marg by ramming his tractor onto them head-on, when his tractor overturned. This fact about the farmer’s death is also borne by CCTV footage of the incident.
CCTV footage showing how the farmer who died actually rammed his tractor with the police barricades with force upon which the tractor overturned and got crushed under it. This is so tragic and sad. Who were those leaders provoking tractors to break police cordon by force? (1/2) pic.twitter.com/NGBX11LbIq
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 26, 2021
Post-mortem examinations have further confirmed this.
The post mortem report clarifies that he (farmer who died during the tractor rally in Delhi yesterday) was not shot. He succumbed to the antemortem injuries which he received after his tractor turned turtle as seen in the viral video: Avinash Chandra, ADG Bareilly in Rampur, UP pic.twitter.com/goFuCA1I2X
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 27, 2021
Admittedly, netizens are angry at Sardesai for spreading fake news. Several netizens are calling for charges to be brought against the journalist for his irresponsible journalism.
#rajdeepsardesai should be arrested & barred from journalism at least for a period of 6 years. Spreading blatant lies to incite passions against @DelhiPolice & the @HMOIndia is no journalism, at all. I think we don't have proper media kaanoons in place! @PrakashJavdekar
— Roshogollo (@PplOfIndia) January 27, 2021
Delhi police should Arrest Rajdeep Sardesai for spreading FAKE News & instigating the farmers
Please share https://t.co/Q7OxGx2UXY
— Johnny (@Johnny57061333) January 27, 2021
Now take action against Rajdeep Sardesai for insiting Riots
— Aman Kashyap (@AmanKashyap89) January 27, 2021
76 including yesterday.
Sentiments bolne sei phele 76 logo kei ghar walo ko yaad karlo…Sardesai..
Kaun hai unke maut ka zimadar…. https://t.co/I1tFL8iPSm
— Abhijit Biswas (@abhijit08171987) January 27, 2021
While Rajdeep Sardesai later deleted his tweet, he had, however, spread the dangerous narrative on television, when he added extra masala to the news on India Today.
Sardesai even received a rebuke from Mahima Shastri, granddaughter of former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, for his thoughtless comment provoking enmity between farmers and security forces.
Slogan given by my grandfather Lal Bahadur Shastri was for real kisans not these Khalistanis.
Do we need more proof that this not a kisan andolan? https://t.co/qlNufmcl1y
— Mahima Shastri 🇮🇳 महिमा शास्त्री (@MahimaShastri) January 26, 2021
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