#JhootaPatra : Was the ASHA worker's news he shared really fake?

'Social Media- Boon or Curse' is no longer a discussion as whatever be, it has become an evident part of human life! But the topic so to be discussed now-a-days remains 'Social Media- Contemplative or Deceptive'. Being an open platform, users sometimes be honest sharing genuine information and sometimes try goofing around the facts (these days termed as fake news). And then the follower's game starts! Such is the case trending on Twitter past two days where BJP's Sambit Patra is named as #JhootaPatra for sharing a piece of information. 'Fake' or 'wrong', you decide!

 

Patra a couple days ago shared an Indian Express news report that highlighted the attack on ASHA workers while they take surveys. Quoting the Indian Express news which showcased the incident that actually happened in Luhinga Kalan village, Patra tweeted, "In Faridabad, Jaan Mohammad and his people mercilessly beat up ASHA workers, who were collecting data on corona. They spread the news in the entire neighbourhood that the government was collecting data for the NRC. Police are looking for Jaan Mohammad and his associates to arrest them".

 

The Faridabad Police were quick to publicly rubbish Patra’s claims as they wrote, “Sir namaskar, the incident involving ASHA workers that you are stating is not from Faridabad.” After this, while tweetaratis have crossed the limit targeting Patra for attaching a wrong news link in one of the fact based news, it becomes very important to note that though the Indian Express news report was nothing to do with Faridabad, the news did have connection with ASHA workers being attacked, it definitely had link to those workers being put to threat in the state of Haryana.

Further, though not Indian Express, but one of the media reports retweeted by the official handle of Faridabad Police proves that ASHA workers were attacked in Faridabad too and that the police had arrested five persons in connection. Leena Dhankhar of Hindustan Times reported, "The Faridabad police arrested 5 for allegedly assaulting a 39-yr-old Accredited Social Health Activist while she was conducting the door to door survellience on COVID-19 on behalf the district administration".

 

 

According to the police, the incident took place at Ashiyana Apartment, an affordable housing colony in Sector 62 of Ballabhgarh. "The suspects have been identified as Ird Khan, Pappu, Shekhawat, Hafiz, Jalalu and Nafis. "Faridabad deputy commissioner Yashpal Yadav also said that the health department and ASHA workers are facing regular harrassment during these surveys. The police has been asked to act against anyone found abusing these workers or refusing to cooperate", it added. Now, does this news actually become fake? People need to understand the thin line difference between the fakeness and mistake.

 

 

The earlier mentioned Indian Express news report also did mention a line about ASHA workers being beaten up in Haryana's 'Faridabad'. "After an Asha worker was beaten up in Faridabad while conducting a door-to-door coronavirus-related survey, a similar incident was reported in Nuh. Police said the accused, Jaan Mohammad and his sons, are absconding. The alleged incident took place around 1 pm at Luhinga Kalan village", it read.

Mistake Patra did was interchanging the names of places in Haryana and the accused on his social media handle. No sooner did this haapen, Sambit Patra had to face criticism for spreading the fake news and inciting communal violence. About the fake news- After noting the facts and details above, it is clear that the news Patra shared was not fake but the way he shared was wrong. Shouldn't we term that as a mistake? Okay, even if we consider this that he peddled the co-called fake news, he immediately deleted the tweet after the Faridabad Police corrected him. Didn't he fulfil his part of soundness towards 4.3 mn followers?

 

About inciting communal violence- Well, this is not the first time that BJP's Sambit Patra has been criticised for inciting communal violence. But in this case, when the police itself (as mentioned by the Indian Express and the Hindustan Times) has named the accused as Jaan Mohammad (accused in case of Luhinga Kalan village incident) and Ird Khan, Pappu, Shekhawat, Hafiz, Jalalu and Nafis (Faridabad incident), it still remains a fact to wonder why corner Patra for inciting communal violence? Did Patra say anything wrong harming any community?

 

The readers, especially the social media strong arms need to use conscience in such cases to super go what's wrong and what's right. Instead of blindly believing on whatever these star account holders say, is it not reader's responsibility to cross check the facts and also differentiate in between fakeness and mistake before targeting anyone? Its a bit difficult, but try be stable, balanced and sound!