Kerala: LDF Govt Won’t Display PM’s Photo, Banners, Selfie Points in Ration Shops, Says CM
Image Courtesy: PTI
New Delhi: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala has rejected the Centre’s directive to display posters, photos, selfie points and banners of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in front of all ration shops in the state, saying it was “difficult to implement’.
In reply to a question in the Assembly, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said: “Kerala will convey our dissent to the Centre. We will inform the central government that it is difficult for us to do so. Also, the government will examine whether the matter can be taken up with the Election Commission.”
The Chief Minister said this “unprecedented programme” mooted by the Centre was “part of the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections” by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
State Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, G R Anil, told the House that Centre had issued directions to display flex and banners featuring the Prime Minister’s photo across 14,000 shops in the state, according to a Mathrubhumi report.
The Centre had also given instructions to install selfie points at select 550 ration shops.
Earlier, too, Kerala had rejected the Centre’s directive to brand programmes at houses constructed under the Life Mission with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) logos at the houses, the New Indian Express reported.
That time, too, the Kerala government had held that housing was a basic right and should not be “used as an advertisement” for the Prime Minister.
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