GOI hits back at media for distorted and irresponsible reporting on Moody’s Analysis

The Indian media were all gaga over the issue that the Moody’s Analytics, a division of the New York-headquartered credit rating agency Moody’s, pointed to the Prime Minister’s silence on “ethnic tensions” associated with the lynching of a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh on the suspicion of cow slaughter and a spate of murder of rationalists. The MSM said that the rating agency Moody’s warned Modi to rein in his leaders or risk losing credibility.

A section of media rejoiced over this report and started propagating their narrative of growing intolerance in India. The Congress, although the report called the Opposition obstructionist, latched on to the unflattering remarks against Modi to taunt him for promoting the rating agency’s views during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. (HT report).

But today Ministry of Information & Broadcasting released the statement condemning the media for irresponsible reporting. It said that the report was the personal opinion of a Junior Associate Economist employed with Moody’s Analytics and had nothing to do with  Moody’s Investor Services, which provides Ratings services.

Here is the full statement,

It is with regret the Government of India notes the irresponsible and distorted reporting by certain sections of the Indian media on what was the personal opinion of a Junior Associate Economist employed with Moody’s Analytics.