Huge embarrassment for govt, ex-PAF chief's image in ad

Embarrassed by inclusion of former Pakistan Air Force chief's photograph in a government advertisement today along with Indian leaders and icons, the Prime Minister's Office apologised to the nation and ordered an inquiry into the lapse.

The photograph of former Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed in uniform appeared along with those of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in a full-page newspaper advertisement given by Ministry of Women and Child Development to mark the National Girl Child Day.

In a damage control exercise, the PMO issued a statement saying, "The Prime Minister's Office has noted with regret the inclusion of a foreign national's photograph in a Government of India advertisement. While an internal enquiry has been instituted, the PMO apologises to the public for this lapse."

This statement was in sharp contrast to the remarks by Minister for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath who saw nothing wrong in the advertisement, insisting that the message was more important than the photograph.

Tirath said the DAVP looks at advertisements "minutely" before releasing. At the same time, she said no name was mentioned with the photo of the former PAF chief.

"It was a photo of an officer in uniform and no name was mentioned," she said indicating that it was issued by mistake.

The mix-up, probably at the Ministry's end, made the IAF go livid, with senior officers saying that the use of the PAF officer's picture was a "big embarrassment".

"I do not know why they have used the former PAF chief's picture. If they had wanted to use the photo of the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, all they needed to do was ask for one from the Air Headquarters," a senior IAF officer told PTI.

"This is a big embarrassment not only for the WCD Ministry, but also to the IAF. Nowhere do such goof-ups happen," the IAF officer, who did not want to be named, said. Ahmed had retired from PAF on March 18, 2009.

Meanwhile, officials said that the publicity material for the National Girl Child Day was released by the WCD Ministry through the DAVP after the direct approval and clearance from Minister of State Tirath, whose staff had prepared the text and images for the advertisement.

Tirath said advertisements of the ministry also come to her for approval before being sent to the Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity (DAVP).

Referring to the advertisement, she also said, "We are any way for global peace."

The Media Department of the WCD Ministry had also cleared the advertisements, sources in the Ministry said.

The WCD Ministry had brought out several advertisements on the occasion of the International Girl Child Day on September 24.