The reported closure of a city based English daily, Metro India assumes significance as rumors doing rounds in the media and political circles ask whether the closure is to pave way to the rise of Telangana Today, an English daily newspaper that the ruling TRS is trying to bring out with pan Telangana spirit and identity.
Hyderabad: Metro India, a city based pan Telangana English daily has learnt to have decided to shut down its operations. Entering into fourth year, with a tag line of ‘Spirit of Hyderabad’, the broad sheet daily earned a name for itself and made a mark in its journey so far among its league of newspapers in the city of pearls. But, rumors doing rounds about its closure assumes significance in media and political circles, as the move results in about 200 of its employees going out of jobs is an interesting one as it pointing fingers at the ruling TRS party.
Thought the same management had started two newspapers: ‘Namaste Telangana’ a Telugu vernacular daily and ‘Metro India’, an English daily from Hyderabad and Raipur in Chattisgarh. However, later the Telugu daily has been reportedly fell into the hands of those closely associated with the ruling party. Now, disappointed with the existing English dailies in the city and state, the ruling party wanted to bring out a pan Telangana English daily – Telangana Today.
The work of this has been reportedly being looked after by the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao’s son, and Panchayat Raj and IT Minister K Taraka Rama Rao.
Against this canvas of things happening and the management being closer to the ruling TRS party, it was reportedly asked to shut down its shop, as the title, ‘Metro India’ could not reflect the spirit of pan Telangana to inline with its Telugu colleague ‘ Namaste Telangana’, the ruling party wanted to bring out ‘Telangana Today’.
While briefing on the decision to close the Metro, the representatives of the management called its employees and told them, “Not to ask anything and give reasons for the closure .” However, the management has endeared its employees by playing a “Good Dad” role so far. So, the employees though were shocked could not say anything, as they were promised to be given a two months salary for a Golden Shake Hand.
