Washington Post Apologizes to TV9 Bharatvarsh for False Report, Corrects Article on Operation Sindoor Coverage

The Washington Post has issued a formal apology via email to TV9 Bharatvarsh for publishing misleading and baseless claims in an article about Indian media’s role during Operation Sindoor, India’s rapid military strike on Pakistan. The article has now been corrected after factual errors were brought to light.

What Was the Issue?

During Operation Sindoor, Indian news channels, including TV9 Bharatvarsh, provided live and responsible coverage, verifying all information before broadcasting. However, the Washington Post article falsely claimed that TV9 reported the surrender of Pakistan's Prime Minister and used unverified visuals, such as conflict footage from Sudan. These claims have now been retracted or corrected.

TV9’s Responsible Journalism

TV9 Bharatvarsh maintained editorial integrity, offering fact-checked news to its viewers throughout the conflict. The allegations made in the article were not only factually incorrect but also damaging to the channel’s credibility.

Washington Post’s Stand

The Washington Post had initially cited anonymous sources from Indian media who allegedly criticized the accuracy of national news coverage. However, many of the claims lacked attribution and were deemed speculative. Facing criticism and after internal review, the newspaper emailed an apology to TV9 Bharatvarsh and updated the article to reflect accurate information.

Response from Prasar Bharati

India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati also issued a statement asserting that it did not release any unverified information during the operation. It reaffirmed that all content was vetted through its in-house fact-check team.