PIL opposes TN govt ads using word "Amma"

Taking exception to use of words such "Amma" (mother) and "Puratchi Thalaivi" (revolutionary leader) in Tamil Nadu government advertisments, a PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court bench here.
Petitioner P Rathinam, an advocate and PIL activist, sought a direction to the state Chief Secretary to rationalise publication of such advertisements which "will have the potential of developing personality cult like Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi".
He also sought a direction to the Union Home Secretary and the Secretary of Law and Justice to give up the practice of using public money for promoting the image of the ruling party by focussing on the personality of the Chief Minister (Jayalalithaa) as if she was a revolutionary leader and 'amma.'

The petitioner submitted that recently the government issued an advertisement for "Amma Call Centre" and "Amma Micro loans Schemes" in several dailies spending crores of rupees.
"This is abuse of power by the chief secretary to propagate the head of the ruling party," he alleged. He contended that though the photograph of the Chief Minister was 'cleverly omitted" in order to comply with the Supreme Court directive, a grave violation was committed by praising the Chief Minister as "Puratchi Thalaivi" in the advertisement.
Similarly, schemes carrying the word "Amma" brainwash the people as if the so-called "Amma" was a supreme human being and having command over all aspects of lives and governance, he charged.

"Focussing on a leader as an unparalled personis more dangerous ahead of the forthcoming assembly election...," the petition claimed.