A major conflict has come to light between popular folk singer Neha Singh Rathore and leading media organization ABP News over a controversial news. A huge controversy erupted after a news and video clip related to Neha Singh Rathore was aired on the digital platform of ABP Network. After finding the news to be completely misleading and factually incorrect, ABP News accepted its mistake and publicly expressed regret and apologized. However, rejecting this apology, the folk singer has clearly said that she wants not just an apology but justice and she will take the matter to court.
In fact, a video clip of the police raid was played on the digital handle of ABP Network, titled –‘S in the hostel of Neha Singh RathoreX racket? The police raided!’*. Investigation and investigation revealed that this video was old and had no connection with Neha Singh Rathore.
As soon as this news came out, sharp reactions started on social media. Neha Singh Rathore called it a deliberate attack on her social prestige, honor and mental peace. Registering a sharp protest on the social media platform Tagging the National Commission for Women (NCW), she also raised the question whether the institutions would take cognizance of playing with a woman’s honor in this way.
After huge outrage and protest on social media, ABP Network removed the controversial post and video from its platform and issued an official clarification and apologized:
“A news story related to folk singer Neha Singh Rathore was broadcast by our digital team, which was found to be incorrect based on facts. We deeply regret this erroneous broadcast and publicly apologize for the same.”
The network admitted that the news was published without proper verification and fact checking.
Neha Singh Rathore completely rejected the apology issued by ABP. He said that merely saying ‘sorry’ after throwing mud at someone’s respect and character earned over years cannot compensate for the loss.
Neha Singh Rathore said:
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Reference to mental torture: “First defame a girl’s character, spread fake news and when you are surrounded from all sides, then apologize formally? Who will hold me accountable for the damage this ‘fake news’ of yours has caused to my mental health and social respect?”
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Threat of digital footprint: He expressed concern that fake news spreads very fast on digital mediums and even after the apology, people will continue to use the old video against him in a malicious manner.
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Decision to go to court: She clarified that she will take the path of defamation and legal action against the media organization and the responsible people in this matter and now the matter will be taken up in the court.
After this episode, journalists and analysts also raised questions on the channel’s attitude regarding media accountability, digital sensational reporting and serious failure of fact-checking. Senior journalists said that this was not a simple linguistic mistake but a direct attack on the dignity of a person, in which the person concerned was not even taken into consideration before publishing the story. Many media experts have demanded that instead of just expressing regret, accountability should be fixed for the mechanism that allows such unverified content on digital desks.