Times Now, on 24 April, took to Twitter to announce that PM Modi would address his first-ever press conference. The news was greeted with fanfare, since it would have been his only press conference in five years.
But it was not to be. The announcement was soon called out by several journalists for being "completely wrong".
Where Did This News First Emerge From?
The news of PM Modi holding his first-ever press conference stemmed from a circular doing the rounds on social media. The circular lists the agenda for PM Modi's two-day visit to Varanasi, where he is expected to file his nomination on 26 April.
According to the circular, the Prime Minister will hold a roadshow on 25 April at 3 pm in Varanasi, and take part in the Ganga Aarti at 7 pm at the Ashwamedh ghat in the city. Following this, he will head to Hotel de Paris to address 300 influential people as part of the "Sammilan" programme.
His agenda for 26 April begins at 9:30 am with an address to booth workers at Varanasi, the circular read. Following this, he will head to the Kalbhairav temple before filing his nomination.
At 12:30, he was to have addressed media personnel at Hotel Taj Ganges, the circular stated.
‘Notice is Fake’: BJP Leader
The Quint got in touch with Dr Sanjay Mayukh, the media head of the BJP, who rubbished the notice as false. "This is not true, the circular is fake. There will be no press conference," he clarified.
Dr Mayukh's statement was reiterated by several other journalists as well on social media.
Times Now tweeted a clarification about an hour later, saying there will be no press conference scheduled for 26 April.
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