In the wake of India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, sections of Indian media have come under sharp scrutiny for parroting enemy propaganda and amplifying disinformation. Chief among the culprits is The Hindu, whose coverage—particularly by senior journalist Vijaita Singh—has once again raised concerns about biased, irresponsible, and inflammatory reporting.
Operation Sindoor: Amplifying Pakistani Propaganda
The latest controversy erupted following India’s precision counter-terror strikes, Operation Sindoor, targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. While the Indian Army emphasized the operation’s surgical nature, Pakistani media and propaganda networks immediately circulated false claims of retaliatory strikes and downed Indian jets.
Amid this disinformation campaign, alleged journalist Rana Ayyub had earlier amplified a Bloomberg report titled “India Strikes Pakistan After Kashmir Attacks. Pakistan Says It Has Shot Down Five Indian Planes, Taken Soldiers Prisoner,” despite Pakistan’s own Defence Ministry later debunking the claims.
Equally concerning was The Hindu’s now-deleted social media post falsely suggesting Indian jet crashes—a claim swiftly refuted by defense experts as mere fuel tank jettisoning. The post read, “Just In|At least three Indian jets have crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor, Ramban, and Pampore areas, a government official told The Hindu, @vijaita reports.”
The publication’s quick deletion of the post, without clarification, only deepened suspicions of deliberate misinformation.
The Hindu’s Dubious Track Record: A Pattern Emerges
This is far from the first time The Hindu has shown questionable editorial judgment in matters of national interest. In fact, under the guise of “independent journalism,” the publication and journalists like Vijaita Singh have repeatedly eroded public trust through selective, inflammatory, and often erroneous reporting.
During the Rafale controversy, The Hindu was accused of editing and misrepresenting official documents to manufacture a scandal. Now, as India defends its citizens after a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the paper once again published misleading reports suggesting aircraft crashes—claims immediately debunked by defense experts as misinterpreted fuel tank jettisoning. After facing backlash, The Hindu quietly deleted the post—without apology or correction—underscoring the dangerous impact of real-time misinformation.
Vijaita Singh’s Coverage of Manipur: Irresponsible And Inflammatory
Beyond the Kashmir-Pakistan narrative, Vijaita Singh’s reporting during the Manipur ethnic conflict stands out for its recklessness. Since violence erupted in May 2023, her articles have repeatedly highlighted unverified claims, inflammatory statements, and misleading headlines that have only deepened the rift between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
In March 2025, Singh quoted a protester who accused security forces of saying, “We are not Indians”—a claim that was later walked back by the protester themselves. Still, Singh chose to amplify the quote without context, potentially stoking anti-security sentiment in a state already teetering on the edge.
In January 2024, she authored a report claiming that “Meitei MLAs call for positive action,” which was later clarified by The Hindu itself to be factually incorrect. The resolution in question had not been passed exclusively by Meitei MLAs, as originally reported—an error with significant communal implications.
Vijaita’s tweet and The Hindu’s clarification. pic.twitter.com/u3JuhZmDyh
— Luwang Meitei Khamba (@meiteikhamba) March 10, 2025
In another instance, Singh reported on Chief Minister N. Biren Singh skipping a North Eastern Council meeting, framing it as a rebuke of the central government. Once again, her narrative placed the state and Centre at odds during a period requiring collaboration and restraint.
Vijaita Singh has also been accused of leaking sensitive information, including the names of Army officers stationed in Manipur. This reckless act drew comparisons to the infamous 2008 Barkha Dutt controversy, where journalism blurred into national compromise.
The Real Cost of Misinformation
In a volatile democracy like India, journalistic irresponsibility can escalate crises. Reports like those by Vijaita Singh not only inflame public sentiment but also risk undermining the very institutions tasked with maintaining order. The Hindu, by repeatedly pushing such narratives, is no longer just failing at journalism—it is actively eroding national cohesion and aiding disinformation networks, wittingly or not.
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