News Desk
NEW YORK: Indian authorities and mainstream television channels have refrained from commenting on a recent investigative report by The Washington Post, which accuses Indian media of spreading fake news under government pressure, damaging the country’s credibility and foreign policy.
The report, published by the US-based newspaper, points to the Indian media’s role during recent Pakistan-India tensions, highlighting a spree of misleading and false news stories. It cites one glaring example from 9 May, when several Indian outlets aggressively broadcasted claims of a military coup in Pakistan and the arrest of its Army Chief — a story that was entirely fabricated.
According to The Washington Post, the rumor initially circulated on WhatsApp and was picked up by a state-run broadcaster, eventually becoming breaking news across much of the Indian media landscape within minutes. The report suggests this was a case study in how misinformation, fueled by hyper-nationalist narratives, can spiral unchecked.
Former Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao was quoted in the report, saying that in the absence of a clear official stance from the Indian government, television channels filled the vacuum with triumphant narratives. A retired Indian Navy Admiral also acknowledged that the country had “lost the information war” by falling prey to disinformation.
Despite the strong claims made in the report, Indian government officials and major TV networks have so far chosen not to respond publicly. The silence has raised questions about media accountability in the world’s largest democracy and the role of state influence in shaping public discourse.
