Delhi government did not violate SC guidelines on ads: Minister

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday clarified that the Delhi government has not violated guidelines of the Supreme Court on advertisements.

"I don't think we have violated guidelines of the Supreme Court on advertisements as the government has not given advertisement for glorification of its own image. Advertisements were meant for public welfare," Jain told reporters here.

He also asked why no body was questioning the civic bodies when they have put up hoardings bearing the pictures of mayors and councillors.

"BJP-ruled civic body hoardings carrying pictures of mayors and councillors can be seen across Delhi. They are spending money meant for taking preventive measures to stop the spread of dengue and chikungunya, on hoardings. Why doesn't anybody question them?" Jain asked.

Earlier, a panel appointed by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry ordered the Delhi government to "reimburse to the state exchequer" the entire amount that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had spent on its advertisements.

Its order said: "The Committee directs the Government of NCT of Delhi to get the entire expenditure so incurred on ... category ... reimbursed to the state exchequer from the Aam Aadmi Party."

It was also critical of the advertisements put out by AAP outside Delhi.

The Congress on Saturday demanded that an FIR be lodged by the CBI against persons in the AAP government responsible for "siphoning off" public funds for private purposes.

Congress Delhi Chief Ajay Maken said that the amount being used for advertising under the AAP government's tenure in Delhi has increased 14.5 times as compared to previous governments.

--IANS

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