All section Close
Fact Check: Unknown Virus Affecting Tomato Misreported With Coronavirus Link
Writer: Aditi Chattopadhyay
Aditi, part of the fact checking team of The Logical Indian likes to read, write, cook and laugh, in short live life as it is supposed to be. What makes her fascinated is to discover the truth behind a story and more often than not, it is either fact or myth at the end.
India, 19 May 2020 8:28 AM GMT | Updated 19 May 2020 8:31 AM GMT
Editor : Bharat Nayak |
As the founding editor, Bharat had been heading the newsroom during the formation years of the organization and worked towards editorial policies, conceptualizing and designing campaign strategies and collaborations. He believes that through the use of digital media, one could engage the millennial's in rational conversations about pertinent social issues, provoking them to think and bring a behavioral change accordingly.
Creatives : Abhishek M
" An engineer by profession, Abhishek is the creative producer of the team, graphic designing is his passion and travelling his get away. In more ways than one, he makes the content visually appealing."
During the broadcast, a TV9 Bharatvarsh anchor can be heard saying that there is a new virus, a more dangerous version of Coronavirus.
TV9 Bharatvarsh, a Hindi news broadcasting channel on May 13th claimed that an unknown virus has been detected in tomatoes grown in Maharashtra and that this virus is a more dangerous version of Coronavirus.
In the broadcast which has since been taken down, it was also claimed that this new virus is transmitted to humans on the consumption of the infected tomatoes, therefore 'people would have to give up eating tomatoes for a year.'
Our readers sent us the video of the broadcast, seeking verification.
During the broadcast, the anchor can be heard saying that there is a new virus. "It is being claimed that this is a new version of coronavirus (Translated from Hindi)". She adds that this new version can be found in vegetables and that the "Tiranga virus" has taken over Maharashtra.
"Deadly Tiranga Virus in everyone's kitchen (Translated from Hindi)," a voice-over artist says in the video.
Further, Dr Ajit Nawale, General Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha has been quoted as saying that the tomato crops are under attack from a new virus across Maharashtra. However, his name was erroneously labelled as Prashant Shende.
Netizens expressed confusion and outrage over the report.
An erroneous news item in @TV9Bharatvarsh claims that a virus worse than #Corona has affected #Tomato crops in parts of #Maharashtra and that it's deadly. There is no truth in such obnoxious claims. We urge the channel not to run such bizarre stories. @drsujayvikhe pic.twitter.com/FzX67XRuwT
— IndiAgri (@Indiagri) May 16, 2020
Such a low level of journalism by @TV9Bharatvarsh.
— Abhishek Bhowmick (@connectabhishek) May 16, 2020
Senseless #sensationalism.
Only such C grade, TRP hungry news channel can spread such fear mongering news stories.
If reports are awaited what makes you say that the infection is going to be more dangerous than #COVID__19 pic.twitter.com/5qaL4lzafWVirus #attacks on tomato in Ahmed nagar - maharastra
— naveenDaga (@MutualFundShop) May 16, 2020
New breed of #Covid_19india#समय_रहते_पहचान_लो #SaturdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/xrpBLPBFhc
Claim:
An unknown virus infecting tomatoes is linked to the coronavirus and can be transmitted to humans upon consumption.
Fact Check:
The claim is misleading.
According to a report by Indian Express, farmers cultivating tomato in Maharashtra have complained of an unidentified disease that is causing early ripening and loss of yield of their crops.
Reportedly, the samples of affected tomato plants were sent to Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Horticulture Research on May 14, to identify an "unknown" virus wreaking havoc in the crop.
"The damage to the crop has been extensive. The plant leaves are drying up and the ripened tomatoes are developing irregular shapes and losing their sap. The crop ready for harvesting has been lost to the viral outbreak," Hindu Businessline quoted Dr Navale as saying.
None of the reports mentioned any link to the contagious Coronavirus.
A keyword search led to a video uploaded by Zee 24Taas, a Marathi news channel where Dr Navale rubbishes all connections between the virus affecting tomatoes and the novel Coronavirus.
A website called Agri News Network published a report that said that Dr BNS Murthy, Horticulture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) has written a letter to the channel TV9 Bharatvarsh, asking them to retract the 'the baseless and scary capsule.'
"...the second part of the story that eating such fruits would cause much more complications than that of Corona virus is absurd. As of date no plant virus affecting plants has affected human beings as they lack the receptors for such an infection," the letter reads.
It is noteworthy to mention that TV9 Bharatvarsh in a report on May 15 said that people had connected a report by them to coronavirus and were spreading rumours.
According to the channel they had said no such thing in their report and the earlier report only spoke about the damage to the tomato crop faced by tomato farmers.
Appealing for legal action against the channel, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan called out TV9 Bharatvarsh on Twitter.
A report about "#Tiranga_virus in tomatoes" in Maharashtra was broadcasted by a Hindi News Channel on 13 May. Prices crashed immediately and tomato farmers have suffered huge losses. Such irresponsible reporting must be punished. Govt must compensate farmers. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/yeeLaL7J9L
— Prithviraj Chavan (@prithvrj) May 17, 2020
The State Govt must take legal action against the channel and also ask the @MIB_India to takedown the Channel for a month. Centre must issue an SOP & a Code for reportage. Any #CORONA related sensitive news must be put out only with prior approval from ICMR or Central Govt. (2/2)
— Prithviraj Chavan (@prithvrj) May 17, 2020
If you have any news that you believe needs to be fact-checked, please email us at factcheck@thelogicalindian.com or WhatsApp at 6364000343
Also Read: Fact Check: Doctored Crop Circle Image Shared With Claim Linking Bill Gates To COVID-19
Must Reads
We are an independent and public-spirited digital media platform for Indian millennials. We report news and issues that matter as well as give you the opportunity to take action.
