New Delhi: Delhi government's latest TV commercials have come under heavy fire from detractors, especially the likes Swaraj Abhiyaan leader Prashant Bhushan who termed it an example of "political corruption" and "highly regressive", while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) threatened to approach the apex court if the commercial was not withdrawn soon.
In a stinging attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, its ousted rebels-led Swaraj Abhiyaan on Friday termed the Delhi government's latest TV commercials as an example of "political corruption" and "highly regressive".
Swaraj Abhiyaan leader Prashant Bhushan in a series of tweets said the ad amounted to a "crass" projection of Kejriwal apart from being "crude abuse" of funds, which was "against" a Supreme Court order.
"Apart from being a crass and crude abuse of funds the Kejriwal ad on TV is sexist and projects women as servants of their husbands. Shocking," Bhushan, a senior Supreme Court lawyer tweeted.
Decrying "personality cult" as an anti-thesis of democracy, the Supreme Court has barred publication of photos of leaders in government advertisements except those of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India.
"The guideline of the order clearly states that any government advertisement should avoid the glorification of political personalities and and such glorification of an individual at the cost of public exchequer be stopped in a Delhi," the group said in a statement.
The group, of which Yogendra Yadav is also a member, also attacked the ad for being "misleading" as it came in the backdrop of "6 per cent rise in power tariffs."
"The heart of the problem however is that this TV commercial unashamedly abuses public funds to create a personality cult for Arvind Kejriwal. It sings paeans of the AAP leader and tries to project him as a messiah," added the statement.
BJP threatens to approach SC
In a statement issued here, BJP's national secretary R P Singh said even though Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's face is not seen, the way his name has been repeatedly taken as a 'messiah of poor' while leaders of other political parties, administrative officials and media have been projected as villains was a gross "violation" of apex court's order.
The AAP government's latest advertisement on TV channels highlights how it has improved governance in Delhi.
Decrying "personality cult" as an anti-thesis of democracy, the SC had recently barred publication of photos of leaders in government advertisements except those of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India.
Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is heard talking about school admissions in a radio advertisement.
"We all know that new school sessions start in April and for 11th class in June. The present Delhi Government came to power in February and slept over the issue but now when people have started agitating, the Delhi Government has brought this misleading advertisement," he said.
With PTI Inputs
