Rs 500, Rs 1,000 note ban: Gujarat-based dailys' April Fool prank comes true

[Kool_SRG]

Rajkot (Guj): A city-based evening newspaper, which published a news item as a prank on its readers on April Fools Day saying the government will scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, has been flooded with calls ever since the government demonetised them.

The daily — Akila — is at pains now explaining to one and all that it was just an April fool prank as the picture of the story published on 1 April, 2016, has gone viral on social media after the government's overnight decision on Tuesday.

"We had published the news on 1 April, as a prank on our readers that high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 will be discontinued. Its nothing but a coincidence that the news eventually turned out to be true after six months," owner and editor of the eveninger, Kirit Ganatra told PTI.

There is a tradition in Gujarat that every local language newspaper gives one prank news on April Fool Day. The next day it is clarified in the newspaper that the particular news was a prank, those close to the establishment said adding that this is generally enjoyed by the readers.

People might at that time forgot the story as a prank, but when it turned out to be true, the daily was flooded with calls and messages on how it got the news.

The story which was published at that time said that NDA government has decided to curb blackmoney and corruption by scrapping these high denomination notes.

In his speech on 8 November, announcing demonetisation of the currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made similar points.

The daily had to publish a clarification it its 10 November issue saying, "This news item was purely a prank for All Fools' Day. There is no substance in reports that it was based on information leaked by officials."

Akila further said demonetisation of high currency notes has been discussed for long in the country.

 

[Kool_SRG]

Local daily's April 1 joke turns news break of the year

AHMEDABAD: It was a prank that turned out to be prescient.On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modiannounced the demonetization plan, prepared in deadly serious secrecy. But an April 1 joke of an evening paper of Rajkot had anticipated, to the last paisa, every aspect of the plan.

 

 

 

As part of its All Fools' Day tradition, the paper -Akila -carried a report on the Modi government resolving to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to curb black money , corruption, and terrorism. The "news" was forgotten because most Gujarati newspapers publish such stories on April 1 without disclaimers. Seven months later, when Modi explained his rationale for demonetization, his speech had eerie echoes of the Akila report. In fact, curiously , his arguments followed the same order as those in the report.Unsurprisingly , the clipping of the story went viral. Akila's office and the pa per's editor Kirit Ganatra have been dealing with a surge of calls. Top government officials have been among the callers.Akila even published a clarification on November 10. "This news item was purely a prank for the All Fools' Day," Akila's clarification reads. "There is no substance in reports that it was based on information leaked by officials."

Top Comment

well even a stopped clock is right twice a day....not shockingVishal Thakur

 

 

Akila says the theme was not new as demonetization had been discussed for long in India.Akila's prediction was that the Centre would crack down on black money , demonetizing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by June 30. It said that people would have to convert their high-value currency into Rs 100. Ganatra, said, "It's always pleasant when journalists are proved right." He said it was a coincidence that the prank had the makings of a true story ."There has been a buzz that government officials leaked the news to us," he said. "That's not true."

[Kool_SRG]

Interesting something started cooking too early...

[princeofheaven]

5 hours ago, Kool_SRG said:

Rajkot (Guj): A city-based evening newspaper, which published a news item as a prank on its readers on April Fools Day saying the government will scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, has been flooded with calls ever since the government demonetised them.

The daily — Akila — is at pains now explaining to one and all that it was just an April fool prank as the picture of the story published on 1 April, 2016, has gone viral on social media after the government's overnight decision on Tuesday.

"We had published the news on 1 April, as a prank on our readers that high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 will be discontinued. Its nothing but a coincidence that the news eventually turned out to be true after six months," owner and editor of the eveninger, Kirit Ganatra told PTI.

There is a tradition in Gujarat that every local language newspaper gives one prank news on April Fool Day. The next day it is clarified in the newspaper that the particular news was a prank, those close to the establishment said adding that this is generally enjoyed by the readers.

People might at that time forgot the story as a prank, but when it turned out to be true, the daily was flooded with calls and messages on how it got the news.

The story which was published at that time said that NDA government has decided to curb blackmoney and corruption by scrapping these high denomination notes.

In his speech on 8 November, announcing demonetisation of the currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made similar points.

The daily had to publish a clarification it its 10 November issue saying, "This news item was purely a prank for All Fools' Day. There is no substance in reports that it was based on information leaked by officials."

Akila further said demonetisation of high currency notes has been discussed for long in the country.

 

telisina odu ayyi untadu Modi ki