TDP objects to English daily’s April Fool’s Day news story

Vijayawada: The Telugu Desam Party here on Thursday took strong exception to a news item published by English daily ‘The Deccan Chronicle’ using the occasion of ‘April Fool’s Day’ stating that “the TDP merges in the BJP, Naidu finalises deal”.

TDP national general secretary Varla Ramaiah condemned the false news and complained to the Editor of Deccan Chronicle, President of Editors guild Seema Mustafa and Chairman of press council of India C K Prasad stating that Deccan Chronicle Resident Editor Sriram Karri used the occasion of April Fool’s Day to manufacture a fake story that reads “Telugu Desam party merges with the BJP; Naidu finalises deal”.

The TDP leader in the letter, which was released to the media, regretted that Resident Editor of Deccan Chronicle Sriram Karri turned the Deccan Chronicle’s reputation to dust by filing such a manufactured story. The TDP senior leader said in the letter that the party condemns the article and urged the Editor’s Guild of India to take stern action against the Resident Editor.

Meanwhile, TDP national general secretary and MLC Mr. Nara Lokesh accused Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy of using Deccan Chronicle owner Venkatram Reddy to publish baseless stories against the TDP.

In a statement here on Thursday, Mr Lokesh said that Mr. Venkatram Reddy was also facing cases just like the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and he has become bankrupt because of his wrong policies. If Karri Sriram was a truthful journalist, he should write about the non-payment of salaries and dues to the employees of Deccan Chronicle and Andhra Bhoomi, Mr Lokesh said. (UNI)