Propaganda website The Wire in a report claimed the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said the Ramcharitmanas would help combat Covid-19.
The new report went viral like a wildfire.
Later, after the damage was done, The Wire pulled down the report and said the mistake had happened inadvertently.
The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Lucknow.
This is not the first time The Wire has done so. On many occasions in the past, it has reported fake news.
In some cases, it has silently changed the content of the report without offering any apology or explanation.
Veteran journalist Kanchan Gupta tweeted, “Not the first time this has happened and each time this platform has sought refuge behind ‘Press Freedom’ and drummed up support. Damage is done. The bogus report is now swirling on WhatsApp.
The intended purpose is served. Correction and apology are meaningless.”
