The Bharatiya Janata Party’s MLA from Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria, Shalabh Mani Tripathi, has defended himself after being widely criticised for targeting Muslims journalists on X, formerly Twitter.

“If Rahul Gandhi can ask the caste of reporters, then why can’t I tell the religion of journalists?” Tripathi asked Newslaundry. 

Earlier today, Tripathi had tweeted the names of 13 Muslim journalists whom he claimed had been reporting on the communal violence in Bahraich district. He wrote that from their “names”, people would know how “unbiased” their reportage would be, and that the “whole system is engaged in saving the rioters and spreading lies”.

According to his list, these journalists work for PTI, India TV, Bharat 24, NDTV, Bharat Samachar, Bhaskar TV, News24, News1 India, ANI, ABP, Sahara TV and K News.

Hours later, Tripathi tweeted the same list again.

Violence had erupted in Bahraich on Sunday after locals allegedly asked a DJ to turn off his music while a Durga idol passed through a Muslim neighbourhood. As tensions escalated, gunshots were fired and one man, Ram Gopal Mishra, was killed. 

Video footage purportedly shows Mishra removing a green flag from a building and replacing it with a saffron flag. These videos, which Newslaundry could not verify, were reported in sections of the press, including some of the organisations named in the list. 

Tripathi told Newslaundry: “Bahraich shares a border with Nepal and reporters from a particular community are reporting on the incident for their TV channels. So how can we believe that they will be sending factual news? Why is the media not sharing videos of stone pelting on Maa Durga’s idol?”

Tripathi himself is a former journalist who worked with Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala and News18. He was previously media advisor to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

One of the journalists named in the list, Kavish Aziz, tweeted in Hindi that “many young people like us were impressed by you but ever since you became an MLA of the governing party, you have been cultivating hatred”.

Tripathi tweeted back that it was a matter of “shame” for him if people “drenched in hatred, fanaticism and frenzy” were his fans.

Newslaundry contacted some of the other journalists named in the list. 

Saleem Siddiqui, a stringer with NDTV, said, “Only inhumane people pass such comments. We have only broadcasted what happened that day. His allegations are baseless. In fact, he has exposed himself.”

He also showed Newslaundry the video aired by NDTV which allegedly shows Mishra pulling down the flag. “We have many such videos,” he said. “We have verified them. So we stand by our story.”

Another journalist, who did not want to be named, said, “Tripathiji himself has been a senior journalist. He knows what he is doing. What is left to question him?”

Azeem Mirza was named in the list as working for ANI, but he told Newslaundry the tweet is “fake” since he’s an independent journalist.

“I am definitely reporting on the incident but not for ANI. He could have verified from anyone if I work for ANI,” he said. “Spreading fake information does not suit a former journalist. I am an independent journalist who has been reporting for organisations like BBC and IndiaSpend, and I have always reported with utmost objectivity.”

Meanwhile, a journalist told Newslaundry he figured in the list but that he hadn’t been reporting on the violence at all. 

When Newslaundry asked Tripathi why he named this journalist in that case, he said, “But they are reporters for ANI and ABP.” It’s unclear what he meant.

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