Rajdeep Sardesai gets trolled after tweeting condolence on Pranab Mukherjee’s death

Team Udayavani, Aug 13, 2020, 11:12 AM IST

Noted TV anchor Rajdeep Sardesai got trolled on social media after having tweeted condolence on the demise of former president Pranab Mukherjee.

“Breaking: Former president Pranab Mukherjee has passed away.. farewell Pranab da.. Many many fond memories of a dyed in the wool true Indira generation politician who lived and breathed politics.. RIP,” Sardesai said in a tweet on Thursday morning.

Refuting the news of his death, the former president’s son said that the speculations and fake news being circulated by reputed journalists on social media clearly reflects that Media in India has become a factory of fake news.

My Father Shri Pranab Mukherjee is still alive & haemodynamically stable !
Speculations & fake news being circulated by reputed Journalists on social media clearly reflects that Media in India has become a factory of Fake News .

— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) August 13, 2020

Having fallen for a piece of fake news, Sardesai at around 9.30 am this morning, tweeted apologies for not confirming the news before posting it on social media.

“My deep deep apologies for falling for fake news being circulated on Pranab Mukherjee passing away. I am deeply distraught for falling for this fake news.. it was unprofessional of me to not reconfirm it before tweeting. Apologies to all.. and prayers with the family..,” he tweeted.

My deep deep apologies for falling for fake news being circulated on Pranab Mukherjee passing away. I am deeply distraught for falling for this fake news.. it was unprofessional of me to not reconfirm it before tweeting. Apologies to all.. and prayers with the family.. ???

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) August 13, 2020

Note friends: reports of the passing away of former President Pranab Mukherjee have been denied.. Pranab da remains critical but is fighting on. He has always fought through good times and bad and we hope he wins this battle too.. our thoughts with his family.. ??

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) August 13, 2020

Mukherjee who underwent brain surgery on Monday is critical and continues to be on a ventilator.

A twitter user named Meena pointed out at the unnecessary huge competition among journalists and media to break the breaking news!

That’s a good gesture Rajdeep but sadly there is unnecessary huge competition among journalists and media to break the breaking news!

— Meena (@meenabg) August 13, 2020

Yet another user said that Sardesai today has become certified unprofessional.

U r unprofessional… ? ?… And today you have become certified unprofessional… ? ?

— Dharmapal ????????? (@davedharmpal) August 13, 2020

Meanwhile, both Rajdeep and fake news began trending on Twitter.

Here is how Twitteratis reacted to the fake news:

One of the leading journalist working with leading News channel in India on Prime time falls prey to Fake News that too regarding Former President of India. Fake information is leading India. This reflects how strong this pillar of Democracy is…

— Atif (@Twitte_Atif) August 13, 2020

Bana li breaking news, karwali beijjatii.

— Manpu (@ipunamchoudhary) August 13, 2020

I remember watching a programme after the Taj terrorist attacks where you moderated. The BBC newsman who was in the show said that being right was far more important than being first. You nodded vigorously. That lesson seems to have been forgotten

— Ajay Kamath (@ajay43) August 13, 2020

What was the need to announce something which is not true and not really official. This is because of the mad competition about ” I want to announce the news first” and ” our channel has broken the news first”…Absolutely disgusting…@Suhelseth @sambitswaraj

— prashanth (@prashanthtv) August 13, 2020

Just because former president Pranab Mukherjee had put down a pesky journalist in an interview, he chose to announce his demise prematurely. How fair and ethical is that?

Biggest Shame on Rajdeep for Fake News ? #PranabMukherjee #ripPranabMukherjee pic.twitter.com/aENOaAVG4N

— Pushpendra Kulshreshtha (@iArmySupporter) August 13, 2020