One day before the State goes for voting for the Lok Sabha elections, miscreants today tried to confuse voters by creating a screenshot of Northeast Live TV with fake news that VPP would join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance after the Lok Sabha elections.
The fake news has drawn strong condemnation from both Northeast Live TV and VPP with both deciding to file complaints to authorities to trace and punish the culprits.
The screen shot carried a fake headline that read, “VPP leaders seeking appointment with BJP top leadership. VPP likely to join NDA after 4 June”.
In a statement issued today, the Guwahati-based news channel said that the content was doctored and Northeast Live has never broadcast or published any such news. The channel also said that circulation of this fake content just ahead of the election seems to have been done with malicious intent.
“It has come to the notice of Northeast Live TV that a screenshot is in wide circulation in Shillong and other parts of East Khasi Hills showing a picture of a fake clipping attributed to our channel that says that Meghalaya-based regional party, VPP is likely to join the NDA after June 4. We would like to put it on record that the text in the content is doctored and Northeast Live has never broadcast or published any such news”.
The channel also emphasised that the screenshot does not align with Northeast Live TV standard practices of watermark placement and font usage.
“Our watermark is consistently positioned on the left corner of our visuals, whereas the screenshot displays a watermark on the right of the screen. Additionally, the font size used in the lower ticker and the half plate of the screenshot differs from our standard style, further indicating discrepancies,” it said.
“The circulation of this fake content just ahead of polls is shocking and unfortunate and seems to have been done with malicious intent. Northeast Live, the region’s only English and a Hindi satellite channel, believes in objectivity and putting truth first at all times. We strongly condemn the circulation of this fake content, done to malign the image of the channel. We further urge authorities to take appropriate action in the matter,” the channel said.
VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said the party condemns the creation and circulation of the fake and doctored image implicating the Party to have an association with the BJP.
“The party strongly condemns the criminals responsible for such an illegal activity and stern action will be initiated against them,” he said, adding, the party is filing a police complaint in this matter.
