Trinamool faces action over morphed photo

Kolkata, April 23 (IANS) Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien on Saturday caused embarrassment to his party after it was revealed that he had showed a photoshopped picture in his bid to prove close links between CPI-M and BJP leaders. Both the BJP and the CPI-M threatened legal action.

Addressing a press conference, O'Brien played two videos of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's speeches and four pictures that included one that showed union Home Minister Rajnath Singh offering sweet to former CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat.

Pointing to this particular picture, O'Brien called it his "favourite".

But much to his dismay and the Trinamool's embarrassment, O'Brien's "favourite" picture turned out to be "photoshopped", as the BJP came up with the "real picture" -- that has Rajnath Singh offering sweets to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Trinamool subsequently admitted that the picture was photo-shopped and removed it from its website.

"Two videos & 6 pics were shown at our press conference. We removed one pic immediately when our research team learnt it was photoshopped," the Trinamool said in its official Twitter account which was retweeted by O'Brien.

Both the CPI-M and the BJP said they would initiate legal action.

"I have not got any opportunity of meeting Rajnath Singh ever. It is a patently false picture," said Karat.

"This is a serious crime under cyber law. Showing a morphed picture, that too in a press conference. The Trinamool continues to stoop as low as possible. While police should suo motu initiate a case, if that is not done, we will be filing a police complaint against O'Brien and the Trinamool," CPI-M Lok Sabha member Mohammad Salim told IANS.

Describing the act as a "desperate measure" by the Trinamool, BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said the party will be initiating legal action in the matter.