TMC MP Derek O'Brien sparks row over photoshopped image, withdraws

Derek O'Brien took to Facebook to defend the move saying it was a mistake of his research team and referred to the photoshopped picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that was released by the Press Information Bureau last year during the Chennai floods.

In the photoshopped  image, Union Home Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh is seen offering ‘laddu’ to CPI-M leader Prakash Karat.

However, the TMC also later clarified that the picture revealed by the party was photoshopped.

"Two videos & 6 pics were shown at our press conference. We removed one pic immediately when our research team learnt it was photoshopped," Trinamool Congress posted on its official Twitter page.

The BJP released the original photo where it was seen that Singh was offering the sweet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The CPI-M said it will take legal action against the TMC.

"Will surely take legal action. @quizderek should rename his handle as @morphderek. He is following lying & deceitful nature of his leader," senior CPI-M leader Md Salim tweeted.

O'Brien on FB later defended his action posting: "On 3 December, 2015, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), photoshopped images of the Prime Minister surveying flood hit Chennai from a helicopter. The photos were released on PIB’s official website and official twitter handle.

"The authenticity of this photo was questioned on social media, following which it was taken down by PIB almost immediately. PIB issued a statement regretting the error and the matter was put to rest.All in a day’s work," he said.

He said the picture he showed today was found by his research team from internet.

"The photoshopped picture used today was apparently on the Internet for the last two years. My research team found it there. Once we got to know, it was immediately removed.You may want to look at the other five pictures and the two videos," the Rajya Sabha MP wrote on his Facebook page.