Indian news channels, following the recent unprovoked missile strikes on Pakistan, have once again come under fire for their sensationalist reporting and blatant misinformation — a pattern long associated with ‘Godi Media’. The fabricated coverage, riddled with exaggerated claims such as the destruction of Karachi Port and the levelling of Islamabad, has not only mocked journalism but also triggered a major credibility crisis for the Indian media.
Public frustration reached a boiling point as Bollywood celebrities and social media influencers publicly denounced the mainstream media’s theatrics. Actress Sonakshi Sinha took to Instagram to slam news channels for prioritizing drama over truth. “Just do your job, report facts as they are. Stop sensationalising WAR and creating panic among people… for gods sake,” she posted, calling the coverage a “joke.” She further advised viewers to avoid such “garbage” and stick to trustworthy news outlets.
Television star Tejasswi Prakash echoed Sinha’s sentiments. In a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), she exposed a manipulative news segment where a reporter’s fact-based statement about no Pakistani air intrusion was instantly overridden by an anchor’s false narrative. “This is exactly why I don’t trust this Godi Media anymore. It’s not journalism — it’s scripted propaganda,” she wrote, urging citizens to question blind nationalism.
Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who commands a massive following of nearly 29 million, urged viewers to block deceptive anchors and stop supporting what he labeled “fake news channels.” “Share this with your family too,” he emphasized.
Another digital voice, Nitish Rajput, sarcastically summed up the media’s deteriorating credibility by stating, “If the news media tells me it is raining, I will look for my sunglasses.”
The backlash arrives amid a dangerous escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. On May 7, an Indian cross-border attack resulted in at least 31 civilian casualties in Pakistan. In retaliation, Islamabad claimed to have downed five Indian Air Force jets, including Rafales, and dozens of UAVs, even as India reportedly continues drone incursions using Israeli-made Heron drones.
As tensions rise, public figures pushing back against Godi Media’s distortion highlight a growing demand for accountability and journalistic integrity in India.
Read more: India-Pakistan Tensions Explode After Operation Sindoor Missile Strikes Kill Civilians
