AAP defends expenses on ads, says it's for informing people

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government which is facing flaks from the opposition for spending nearly Rs.60 crores in 11 months, on Saturday defended the move saying it has been done for informing the people.

"The people of Delhi know that money that has been spent on advertisement by the government is for informing the people," AAP leader Ashutosh told ANI.

"This issue has been deliberately turned into propaganda by the people of BJP," he added.

Ashutosh further said that the government needs to inform people about its policies and that why there is a publicity budget for communicating people.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP have spent Rs. 60 crore in 11 months on advertisements which includes campaigns across print, television, radio and outdoor publicity by all the departments of the state.

The AAP Government's decision to spend a whopping Rs 526 crore for information and publicity in the current financial year drew sharp rebuke from the Opposition parties.

The Delhi Government, however, strongly defended the allocation arguing that a separate head has been created for publicity and advertisement for the first time and that the figure may be less than the amount spent in previous years by various departments.