Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor Slams Major Newspaper Over Fake Quote, Newspaper Apologized (Image:www.instagram/milinddeora)

Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor slammed major newspaper report where he was wrongly quoted as saying, “Rahul Gandhi should not be projected as the prime ministerial candidate”.

Mr Tharoor was attending a press conference at Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, where his party, the Indian National Congress (INC), discussed its plans and latest developments. In it, he was asked whether Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi should be projected as the PM candidate in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

“A wholly fictitious statement”, taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Mr Tharoor replied to Times of India, on Saturday.

“I pointed to the INDIA communique and said that no individuals were mentioned and the alliance’s focus was on the issues. At no stage did I say that “Rahul Gandhi should not be declared the PM candidate”, as ToI falsely claims”, he declared through the X statement.

45 media persons were present at the press conference which was conducted at the INC Kerala headquarters in Kerala”s Thiruvananthapuram. Mr Tharoor challenged TOI to trace any such quote as they demands, as the entire meeting was recorded.

“Such tendentious reporting in an effort to whip up cheap controversy must stop. #FakeNews”, he added.

The @timesofindia hit a new low today by inventing a wholly fictitious statement and attributing it to me within quotation marks. There were over 45 media persons present at @INCKerala headquarters last night & no one else has reported any such statement. Asked about whether…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 2, 2023

On his demand, TOI later issued a correction and apology for dishonest reporting.

“His reply was: “after the election, we can sit and decide on who should lead the front. Rahul Gandhi himself has said that the focus should be on elections and everything else can be decided later”,” said TOI in the apology note posted on X, on Saturday.

“The TOI report had wrongly quoted Tharoor as saying, “Rahul Gandhi should not be declared the PM candidate”. We regret the error”, the note added.

“Important thread. Appreciate @toieditor”s willingness to acknowledge an error and correct it. Apology accepted. Let’s move on”, said Mr Tharoor in reply to TOI”s apology. 

Important thread. Appreciate @toieditor’s willingness to acknowledge an error and correct it. Apology accepted. Let’s move on. https://t.co/nbvgr372hT

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 2, 2023

At the same time he expressed his disagreement on publishing the error notification on the 18th page of TOI newspaper, which already reported the “fake comment” as a leading news. TOI “has regretted its error” of yesterday, but buried their correction on page 18 of the Delhi edition, where it is unlikely to get a fraction of the attention generated by their false headline of yesterday”, Mr Tharoor said through X.

“Still, a moral victory for truth. #FakeNews #SatyamevaJayate!”, he added.

The @timesofindia has “regretted its error” of yesterday, but buried their correction on page 18 of the Delhi edition, where it is unlikely to get a fraction of the attention generated by their false headline of yesterday. Still, a moral victory for truth. #FakeNews… pic.twitter.com/dsslB6Ew33

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 3, 2023

Mr Tharoor also criticised BJP”s National Information & Technology Department head Amit Malviya for manipulating the “fake quote” as Tharoor”s humiliation he was subjected in the recent Congress Presidential poll. Mr Tharoor was a candidate but failed to Mallikarjun Kharge, who was nominated by the Gandhi family.

Mr Tharoor also shared the New Indian Express” coverage on the same issue. “Interestingly enough the @NewIndianXpress reports my reply to the same question and does not have the fake quote the @timesofindia
invented!”

Shashi Tharoor still hasn’t forgotten the humiliation he was subjected to, in the bogus Congress presidential poll, which saw Gandhis’ nominee win hands down. His long winding explanation that he didn’t name Rahul Gandhi, doesn’t wash. At a time when Congress minions are… pic.twitter.com/UeZylysHt1

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 2, 2023