Fake image of Rajiv Chowk used to ‘discredit’ Odd-Even Formula backfires as channel, journalists left red-faced

Social media frenzy on Monday about Delhi government’s Odd-Even formula has once again brought the credibility of Indian media under sharp scrutiny.

Monday was being described as the real test for the scheme as people expected significantly increased traffic on Delhi roads. That’s because more people were expected to hit the roads and take public transport after a long Christmas and New Year vacation.

However, social media was soon replete with photos from around the city showing how the Odd-Even formula had struck the chord with people, who were happy to abide by the rules.

But, people ideologically opposed to Delhi government began to post a photo from ‘Rajiv Chowk’ showing how the scheme to cut pollution had caused incredible chaos at the busiest metro station of the capital.

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Among those who tweeted this photo was the official twitter handle of India’s leading Hindi news channel, Aaj Tak.

Soon a rival media house, Hindustan Times, tweeted ‘chiding’ the news channel for using ‘its’ image, which had misled people.

Hindustan Times’ tweet said;

@aajtak HT has never tweeted or used this particular photo. Please tweet a correction.

— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) January 4, 2016

By this time, social media users had decided to go jugular mocking and criticising the channel, which has never been popular among Aam Aadmi Party. The party has, time and again, questioned its credibility in the past.

Not so long ago, the channel had earned social media users’ ire for deciding to dedicate a half-hour special programme on AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal’s chronic cough.

Hindustan Times’ public chiding coupled with public outrage prompted Aaj Tak to delete the tweet and issue a correction.

But it was too late for many prominent names in journalism, who had already gone ahead and posted tweets about the so-called chaos at Rajiv Chowk.

India Today’s consulting editor, Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted;

Reports from metro at Rajiv Chowk not encouraging.Overcrowding leading to some chaos.Public transport still not ready for odd/even it seems.

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 4, 2016

However, after it emerged that Aaj Tak had used ‘fake’ photo, Sardesai tweeted this;

Why are Twitter friends using 'fake' pics of metro crowds in Delhi? Thought twitter didn't do such things? ??

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 4, 2016

This prompted many other journalists to issue public clarification. AAP’s social media team’s Rahis Khan attempted to capture this in his tweet.

Great work by SM vol
मीडिया को पहली बार अपने दुवारा फैलाई झूठी न्यूज़ को वापिस लेना पड़ा #फर्जी_भक्त_फर्जी_फोटो pic.twitter.com/tbUkQn6Hsv

— Rahis Khan (@rahiskhan77) January 4, 2016

Another user @DaaruBaazMehta tweeted this;

Pic 1 : Travel Diary Blog (Metro Pic Sunday 3rd Jan)
Pic 2 : Propaganda by @_pallavighosh https://t.co/Zjqltxt9wG pic.twitter.com/a5SFHXzvsu

— AAP Ka Mehta (@DaaruBaazMehta) January 4, 2016

Anger on social media notwithstanding, not every journalist felt the need to issue clarification on this gaffe. Pallavi Ghosh, from CNN-IBN, was among those who didn’t appear to believe that the Rajiv Chow’s image used on twitter was an old image and not taken on Monday. She didn’t issue any clarification.

Those who tweeting away the success of odd-even claiming all cool: this is what rajiv chowk stn looking like pic.twitter.com/gkgQm6bK2K

— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) January 4, 2016

Aside from the Hindustan Times’ photo taken during Diwali rush, another photo taken by a travel blogger was also used on Monday to show the failure of public transport system in coping with the increased number of commuters.

The photo ( on top of this page) was taken on Sunday by a travel blogger, who posted this on his blog page.

After the controversy assumed monumental proportion, the blogger took to his instagram to issue clarification.

Here’s what he had to say, “HELLO GUYS. I AM THE OWNER OF THIS PICTURE @booklusteror @abbas_haider or anyone who has a problem. I posted this picture on SUNDAY (3rd January) and hence naming it is “ODD EVEN rule failure” is wrong. I haven’t mentioned odd even anywhere. You can check my profile, but the pages who are sharing this picture including this one has mentioned “Odd even” which was unintended and misleading. Secondly, the picture in the link you all are posting ( https://twitter.com/httweets/status/683959399719682049) is entirely different. I request you guys to see that clearly again and then comment. Lastly, I am in favor of ODD EVEN RULE started by Delhi Govt. and I find it as a great initiative. Thank you 🙂 (sic)”

A former BBC journalist, Vivek Raj, told jantakareporter.com that he saw a similar tweet being post by a senior NDTV correspondent, Rahul Shrivastava. But when he asked him to name the photographer, Shrivastava ‘blocked’ him on twitter

This is what the NDTV journalist had posted;

Delhi government’s transport minister Gopal Rai held an important news conference in the evening with the Delhi Metro Chief Mangu Singh, who said that the metro was functioning normally.

Monday’s development will further dent the credibility of Indian media, particularly Indian channels. It also illustrates why journalists in the newsrooms need to work on verifying facts before posting news primarily to create ‘sensationalism.’