Navaratri celebrations are in full swing across India. Down south, it includes a golu, which is steps displaying dolls and figurines – the more creative, the better.
Yesterday, everyone’s favourite news agency tweeted about a display in Madurai that featured bommais, or dolls, of “leaders like PM Narendra Modi and former president APJ Abdul Kalam”.
Sadly for ANI, that wasn’t Modi but politician, iconoclast and activist EV Ramasamy, better known as Periyar.
ANI was alerted to this new information approximately 17 hours later.
The earlier tweet was deleted as one of the featured 'Bommai Golu' dolls was of EV Ramasamy 'Periyar' and not PM Modi as was reported earlier. Error regretted. pic.twitter.com/qdY7Ad30uy
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2022
Alert Twitter users also asked why ANI ignored the fact that “Modi” was perched alongside Ambedkar, Annadurai and Indira Gandhi, but that question probably answers itself.
ANI shared 'Bommai golu' dolls. But made sure to name only former President APJ Abdul Kalam & PM Modi (Mistaking him to Periyar).
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) October 3, 2022
Do you think they would have tweeted this if it wasn't for PM Modi's doll? Also why would you not name BR Ambedkar, Annadurai, Indira Gandhi & others? pic.twitter.com/taWgE6RHK8
Err dear @ANI that is Periyar , not Modi. You couldn’t be more wrong! https://t.co/1QSaMGzubE
— Mohan Kumaramangalam மோகன் குமாரமங்கலம் (@MKumaramangalam) October 3, 2022
But this is par for the course for ANI, which once interviewed its own employee for a “feel good” story about demonetisation, and which promptly took down a video of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath engaging in unparliamentary language. Read Newslaundry’s report on what happened.
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