Kejriwal can’t dip into mocking Modi

DIP issued a circular last week stating that all departments and autonomous bodies have to adhere to Supreme Court guidelines before releasing advertisements.
An AAP hoarding taunting the Prime Minister
An AAP hoarding taunting the Prime Minister

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government’s Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) has issued directives to all departments and state bodies stating that all advertisements should adhere to Supreme Court’s directive in terms of content.

It is a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party as for the past one-and-a-half years, they have been “glorifying themselves” and targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over most of the issues through advertisements. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also targeted media houses through advertisements.

DIP issued a circular last week stating that all departments and autonomous bodies have to adhere to Supreme Court guidelines before releasing advertisements.
The DIP stated, “With reference to the letter dated September 29, 2016 received from the secretary of Lieutenant Governor regarding release of advertisements in media by Government of NCT of Delhi and with reference to Honourable Supreme Court’s  judgment dated May 15, 2015 and order dated March 3, 2016 in review petition, all principal secretaries, secretaries and head of departments have been asked to follow Supreme Court guidelines on content regulation of government advertising.”
The DIP added that all government department heads and agencies shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with the guidelines and shall follow a “procedure certificate of compliance” before advertisements are released in the media.

Two months ago, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report raised several questions about the AAP government’s publicity blitz. CAG accused the Delhi government of using public money on television advertisements that showed a person waving a broom, AAP’s election symbol, and said they referred to “AAP ki Sarkar”, which publicised the party not the government. The report also stated that of the Rs 526 crore that the AAP government spent on ads, it is unable to provide details of expenditure worth over Rs 100 crore.
It added that the government spent over Rs 70 lakh on advertisements attempting to discredit the Centre by blaming it for Delhi’s deteriorating law and order.

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