image source, Getty Images
Advertisements have been put up to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi in BJP-ruled states.
The total cost incurred for these advertisements is Rs.18 crore 3 lakh 89 thousand 252 rupees.
Gujarat Government spent 2 crore 10 lakh 26 thousand 410 rupees.
Uttarakhand government spent 2 crore 42 lakh 84 thousand 198 rupees.
Karnataka government spent Rs.2 crore 19 lakhs.
Haryana Government spent Rs.1 Crore 37 Lakh 43 Thousand 490.
Experts believe that the purpose of these advertisements is to promote the image of the political personality. Along with this, the question arises as to whether this is a waste of public money.
Assembly elections in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5 and the results will be announced on December 8. At the same time, MCT (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) elections are going to be held in Delhi.
This time in Delhi, the BJP is trying hard to retain its 15-year rule in the MCTs, while the Aam Aadmi Party is gearing up to capture Delhi’s MCD seats along with Gujarat.
Ahead of the MCT elections, the BJP has put up advertisements at several places in Delhi, one of which reads, “Service is the only purpose, not empty propaganda.” That is, BJP says that it is a party that believes in service and not a party that spreads false propaganda.
But if we look at the campaigns being done in some BJP-ruled states during and after the corona pandemic, this claim is the opposite.
BJP-ruled state governments including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Karnataka have spent a total of Rs 183,252 crore to ‘thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ for implementing various schemes, BBC Gujarati Service has found using the Right to Information.
However, it is noted that in the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court for government advertisements, it is clearly stated that ‘no political personality should be praised’.
Legal experts termed this as ‘strange’ and wondered why state governments should ‘thank’ the Prime Minister for ‘fulfilling his constitutional responsibility’.
The BJP has said that the party has nothing to do with the release of these advertisements. All BJP-ruled state governments are keeping silent on the advertisement issue.
What do the ads say?
image source, ARJUN PARMAR
A perusal of documents and responses to an RTI (Right to Information) application filed by the BBC Gujarati Service revealed that the BJP-ruled governments of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Karnataka are thanking the Prime Minister for promoting the corona vaccine and for the Prime Minister’s housing scheme, piped water scheme etc. Ads are out.
It has also been revealed that the state governments of Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Karnataka have spent crores of rupees during the corona epidemic to publish advertisements saying ‘Vaccine for all, thank you Modiji for free vaccination’.
According to the information received through RTI, Gujarat government has spent around Rs.2 crore 10 lakh, Uttarakhand government Rs.2 crore 42 lakh, Haryana government Rs.1 crore 37 lakh and Karnataka government has spent Rs.2 crore 19 lakh.
BBC has sought information on this from RTI. From June 21, 2021, an ad titled ‘Vaccination for All, Thanks to Motiji for Free Vaccination Scheme’ was published in various media asking how much it cost the governments.
Similarly, the BBC also sought information on the amount spent on advertising in different languages. Along with this, copies of approved scripts and messages for these advertisements and advertising campaigns were also sought.
The information was sought from the state governments of Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Karnataka.
Through an RTI application, the BBC had asked how much was spent on billboards, hoardings and media in public places for these advertisements and promotional campaigns.
In Delhi too, posters were released thanking the Prime Minister for the ‘Jaljeevan Project’ and housing scheme.
The BBC requested information on the amount spent under these campaigns since March 1, 2022.
Last year, there were reports that the Center had asked the state governments to advertise ‘Thank you PM Modi for the Corona vaccine’.
According to the New Indian Express, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that state officials were being pressured by the Center to release media advertisements thanking the Prime Minister for providing free vaccinations to all.
BBC Gujarati filed an RTI to find out if similar notification has been issued in some non-BJP states as well.
In response to the petition, Delhi and Maharashtra (which had a non-BJP government in June 2021) said “no such notification has been issued by the governments of these states”.
Also, the Madhya Pradesh government recently disclosed that it has spent Rs 9,94,35,154 on advertisements for the ‘piped water’ scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to ‘thank Prime Minister Modi’.
‘Misuse of public money’
Siddharth Kalhans, political analyst and political editor of Business Standard, describes the ads as a ‘waste of public money’.
“Over the past few years, there has been a trend in the BJP regime to promote the Prime Minister’s image in front of the people by promoting some scheme or initiative. This is unfortunate. People’s money is spent on this. No more waiting for elections to advertise the work of the government or the prime minister. In other states, including Uttar Pradesh, a separate fund has been arranged for advertising,” says Siddharth Kalhans.
Dilip Patel, a political analyst and senior journalist, gave his opinion on the matter and said, “If such announcements are made simultaneously in so many states, it also means that they must have been instructed to do so from the top. The motive behind such advertisements is to project the Prime Minister as ‘omnipotent’.” He says.
Commenting on the futility of such advertisements, he explains, “Such advertisements aim only at building the image of a political figure, and in reality the advertisement does not address the problems of the common man. It does not seem to have any intention of planning or promoting public welfare.”
image source, ARJUN PARMAR
Haryana Govt’s response to question on ‘Thank you Modi Ji’ advertisement expenditure
BBC Gujarati contacted the party’s national spokesperson to get the BJP’s stand on the matter. He responded via email that he ‘doesn’t know’ the full details and that it ‘doesn’t appear to be party related’.
Apart from this, no response has been received from the Chief Secretaries of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Karnataka for clarification.
In the eyes of the law
image source, PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF MP
Nandita Patra, legal expert and assistant professor at National Law School, India’s leading legal institute, called the ‘Thank you Modi’ ads ‘amazing’.
He pointed out that the ‘Thank you Modiji’ ads are an extension of the personal politics running in the political backdrop of the country.
“It seems strange that the government should be thanking its own prime minister for fulfilling its constitutional duty! It is natural to question the law’s view of such a campaign at public expense.”
Regarding the legal aspect of advertisements, Nandita Patra adds, “The Supreme Court in Common Cause v. Union of India (2015) held that the achievements of the government should not be the subject of advertisement and their functioning should be perceptible to the public, but since such advertisements also serve to inform the public about the activities of the government. It has also said that these may be allowed.” said.
“The Court has prohibited the publication of photographs of constitutional office-bearers in such advertisements, but allowed it on grounds of public interest. Therefore, such advertisements are considered to be a matter of public interest.”
He further said, “I think all these ads should be analyzed individually. If the purpose of the Corona vaccine ad is to tell people about the vaccine, then it is right, but the message ‘Thank you Modi ji’ is unnecessary. That’s why these types of mixed ads can be called half-fair.” He says.
And he added, “Another thing is whether all these advertising campaigns are executed in an economical manner. But judging by the amount of money spent on these ads, it doesn’t seem that way. It shows a complete misuse of public money.” said.
Explaining the legal aspect of this advertisement, Nandita Patra said, “These types of advertisements are meant to promote political interest rather than public interest. The only way to get clear guidelines on this matter is to file a Public Interest Litigation in the High Courts or the Supreme Court.” He says.
Supreme Court Guidelines on Government Advertisements
image source, Getty Images
A petition was filed in the Supreme Court of India by Common Cause and Center for Public. It sought guidelines for fair and proper use of public money for promotion and campaigning of government schemes and guidelines for its monitoring. The court constituted a committee for this purpose.
It is clearly stated in the guidelines prepared by this committee that political neutrality should be observed in government advertisements. Advertisements praising any politician should also be avoided.
It is prohibited to spend public money on advertisements to project a positive image of the ruling party and to project a negative image of the opposition party.
Additionally, advertisements are released by state and central governments on the occasion of completion of certain days or years of their rule.
However, as per the guidelines given by the court, the purpose of such advertisements should not be propaganda but rather an attempt to inform the public about the benefits of government activities.
The Supreme Court held that the purpose of government advertisements should be to inform the public about the schemes and policies of the government.
Therefore, the guidance does not permit eulogizing a politician, even if the intention is to inform the public.
However, the extent to which these guidelines are followed remains a matter of debate.
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