{"id":88780,"date":"2021-03-22T20:38:29","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T15:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/?p=88780"},"modified":"2021-03-23T12:56:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T07:26:37","slug":"ndtv-targeted-over-reporting-on-the-record-statement-of-us-defense-secretary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/ndtv-targeted-over-reporting-on-the-record-statement-of-us-defense-secretary\/","title":{"rendered":"NDTV targeted over reporting on the record statement of US Defense Secretary"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States Secretary of Defence General (Retd.) Lloyd J. Austin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his three-day visit to India. This was the first outreach by the US administration since Joe Biden was elected President less than two months ago. NDTV’s report that the US Defence Secretary said that he discussed human rights issue with Indian ministers is receiving substantial backlash on social media. One Avinash Srivastava<\/a> juxtaposed NDTV’s report with an ANI tweet where ‘sources’ in India state the opposite.<\/p>\n

\n

#NDTV<\/a> means “Lies”, “Fake News”, & “Propaganda”. #ShutDownNDTV<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WUEVGX91IG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Avinash Srivastava (@go4avinash) March 21, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another user Atul Ahuja<\/a> termed NDTV ‘Pakistan media house’ while claiming that the outlet falsely reported that Austin had a discussion on human rights issue with Indian ministers when ANI says that he did not. Both Ahuja and Srivastava are followed by BJP leaders on Twitter.<\/p>\n

\n

Nothing just one more propaganda from alleged Pakistani Media house. pic.twitter.com\/FseVicqDHg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Atul Ahuja (@atulahuja_) March 21, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are several other posts<\/a> where NDTV has been accused of spreading false news.<\/p>\n

Fact-check<\/h4>\n

NDTV was not the only media outlet that reported the news. Initial reports said that human rights were discussed in a meeting with the US Secretary of Defence. In fact, while social media users shared a tweet by ANI that cites ‘high-level sources’ claiming no discussions took place, ANI had earlier quoted ‘reliable’ sources in a report stating<\/a>, “In an hour-long meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, apart from geostrategic affairs, the issue of Human Rights also figured<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

ANI had also tweeted about the discussion.<\/p>\n

\n

Defence Secretary said that as the two largest democracies in the world, human rights and values are important to us and we will lead with these values: Sources on meeting between EAM Dr S Jaishankar & US Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III.<\/p>\n

\u2014 ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Two days after the above report, ANI claimed ‘high-level Indian sources’ confirm that there was no discussion on human rights in India with US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin.<\/p>\n

\n

High-level Indian sources confirm that there was no discussion of human rights in India with US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III. In fact, human rights & values were mentioned as shared attributes. The only mention of minorities was by the EAM in the context of Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

\u2014 ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Was human rights in India discussed with the US Secretary of Defence?<\/h4>\n

The US Department of Defence has uploaded the full transcript<\/a> of the conference held in New Delhi attended by Lloyd J Austin. The US Secretary of Defence was asked whether he raised the topic of violations of human rights in India, especially against Muslim minorities, during his interaction with PM Modi.<\/p>\n

Austin answered that he did not have an opportunity to discuss the issue with the Prime Minister but he did have a conversation with other members of the cabinet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A video of his reply can also be watched below.<\/p>\n