Panaji, Aug 24 (IANS): The Goa unit of the Congress Sunday accused a local English daily of indulging in "paid news", and said a front page story on the sacking of state party president John Fernandes was "totally baseless".

A statement issued by the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) asked the media and people at large to ignore the news report which the party said was "planted by some anti-party activists".

"Kindly ignore the paid news which has appeared as a headline in one of the English local dailies with regards to sacking of Pradesh Congress Committee president (John Fernandes).

"The news is totally baseless. We would be initiating legal action against this reporter of the daily," the statement said.

The exclusive story published across five columns claimed Fernandes was sacked by Congress president Sonia Gandhi late Saturday and that Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Luizinho Faleiro, a former chief minister, replaced him.

The story also accused Fernandes of triggering infighting within the party by initiating disciplinary action against several bigwigs.