India Today is facing widespread condemnation for hiding the name and religious identity of a Muslim billionaire, who spent Rs. 85 lakh to supply oxygen to government hospitals in Maharashtra. ‘Shame on you’ for the media group became a dominating theme on Twitter as netizens accused it of following the divisive ideology of Hindutva in the garb of journalism.
While sharing the story on Twitter, India Today wrote from its official handle, “A transporter from Nagpur, has spent Rs 85 lakh to make sure 400 metric tonnes of oxygen reaches government hospitals in and around the city for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.” Even the photo used by India Today merely said in this in the caption, “Billionaire spends Rs. 85 lakh to provide oxygen.”
The story was share on Twitter by India Today at 4.24 PM on Monday.
As expected, netizens began to target the media group of its mischief.
This “transporter” is a Muslim named Pyare Khan. Muslims who do good deeds cannot be named. Only Muslims who commit crimes. This is new India https://t.co/SMIfz4XsZX
— Ajay Kamath (@ajay43) April 27, 2021
Let the world know that @IndiaToday has a religion and it’s Hindutva. That’s why they prefer not to write the name of PYARE KHAN because of his religion.
SHAME ON YOU @IndiaToday !
— Sanghamitra (@AudaciousQuest_) April 27, 2021
Pyare khan, a MUSLIM, spent Rs 85 lakhs to make sure 400 metric tonnes of oxygen reaches govt hospitals!!!
Say it clearly! https://t.co/1IttdOb0FO— Sayema (@_sayema) April 27, 2021
#PyareKhan ….that’s his name. https://t.co/zhnt5XectB
— AD the lll (@medusaflower) April 27, 2021
India Today doesn’t have the spine to name this transporter. The name is Pyare Khan a self made billionaire from Nagpur. Thank you for your kindness Pyare Khan ji. https://t.co/LwnjoN6sAY
— Sneha (@sneha2986) April 27, 2021
Faced with criticism, India Today reshared the same story at 1.00 AM on Tuesday. This time, the tweet read, “Pyare Khan, a transporter from Nagpur, has spent Rs 85 lakh to make sure 400 metric tonnes of oxygen reaches government hospitals in and around the city for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.”
India Today has often been accused of pushing the pro-Hindutva narrative in the guise of journalism. Last year, activist Kavita Krishnan had lashed out at India Today’s Rahul Kanwal for his alleged hate speech amidst a global pandemic staring Indians in their face. She had also tagged veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai requesting him to take a stand what she felt was an attempt by India Today to demonise India’s Muslims. This was after India Today had chosen to hound poor madrasa students staying in different religious boarding schools of Delhi, by falsely accusing them of violating protocols for the pandemic.