The prank pulled by newspaper Deccan Chronicle on its audience on April 1 where it claimed that former Minister and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao is likely to join the BJP after the Lok Sabha polls, hasn’t gone down well with him and he has sought an apology from the newspaper.
Deccan Chronicle in its report published on Monday, claimed that Harish Rao is joining the BJP after being sidelined by the TRS party. This is an old speculation which Rao has dismissed on numerous occasions. To further dispel the rumours, he even did photo-ops with his nephew KTR, the TRS working president.
In its report with headline, 'Harish may wait till LS results to change party', DC said that Harish Rao is likely to join the BJP after the Lok Sabha elections.
However, in the concluding line they said, “While that is so, readers are advised to remember this is April Fool's Day.”
Upset with the prank, taking to Twitter, Harish Rao wrote, “My sincere appeal to the media outlets to not resort to such pranks. I demand the outlet which carried the #Fakenews item to carry an apology tomorrow on the same page.” (sic)
My sincere appeal to the media outlets to not resort to such pranks.
— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@trsharish) April 1, 2019
I demand the outlet which carried the #Fakenews item to carry an apology tomorrow on the same page.
Rao claimed that it was insensitive to play such a prank when the country is facing the threat of fake news. “The news carried out by a reputed media outlet is a classic example of #FakeNews. It’s insensitive to spread disinformation, even as a prank, specially at a time when the whole country has been fighting against fake news.” (sic)
Several had shared the news report without realising that it was a prank.
Harish Rao is the nephew of TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Rao who was mentored by KCR is a key leader in the party with his own following. In the recent Assembly elections, he had won from Siddipet with a record margin of more than 1 lakh votes.
Earlier, it was widely reported that KCR is insecure about Rao’s growth who has overshadowed him and may take over the reins of the party, thereby disrupting KCR’s plans of making KTR the chief of TRS. However, these speculations were put to rest after Rao campaigned for KCR in Gajwel. Rao even personally congratulated KTR after he was made the TRS working president shortly after the elections in December.
Presently Rao is busy campaigning for TRS party's victory in Medak.