Centre cautions govt on publicity
In a setback to the city Congress government just months ahead of the Assembly elections, acting on Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin’s recommendation, the Centre has issued an advisory to the Delhi government’s department of welfare for SC/ST/OBC and minority community “to be careful” while publicising its policies.
Justice Sarin had in May recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee to issue an advisory to CM Sheila Dikshit and PWD minister Raj Kumar Chauhan telling them to desist from putting their photographs on application forms offering loan at low rates to entrepreneurs from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities under the Dilli Swarojgar Yojana. Senior BJP MLA Harsh Vardhan had filed a complaint before the Lokayukta, saying the move was aimed at getting “undue political gain” from the intended beneficiaries. The government also charged `100 for each form.
In a letter to Lokayukta, the Union home ministry conveyed that the President has decided that there was no need to put photographs of the chief minister and minister-in-charge on the loan application forms. The President had referred the matter to Union home ministry for necessary action and issue an advisory.
The ministry also said that after careful examination of the Lokayukta’s report along with the comments of Delhi government, “it was found that department of welfare of SC/ST/OBC/minority and Delhi SC/ST/OBC/ minority finance and development corporation need not print photographs of the CM and the minister on loan application forms as the practise does not benefit the prospective loanee in any manner”.
Seeking “blocking” of photographs of Ms Dikshit and Mr Chauhan on the forms, the Lokayukta had recommended to the President that a direction be issued to the city government to frame appropriate guidelines for issuance of advertisements, hoardings etc., featuring photographs of public functionaries.
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