AAP govt’s third anniversary advertisement stuck on a sentence officials won’t clear

A video advertisement featuring chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, highlighting the Delhi government’s achievements in the last three years, is awaiting clearance as senior officials are in a fix about a particular line used by the CM in the ad.

On Monday, Arvind Kejriwal called a meeting at his residence with senior government officials over the matter.(Sonu Mehta/HT File)

The 60-second video in Hindi contains a line that says: “Jab aap sacchai aur imandari ke raste par chalte hai to brahmand ki saari drishya evam adrishya shaktiyan aapki madad karti hai( When you walk on the path of truth and honesty, all visible and invisible powers of the universe help you)”.

Government officials privy to the developments said the heads of the departments have “refused to certify” the line as it does not refer to any particular sector or scheme.

The Supreme Court’s guidelines on government ads state that all facts have to be checked and cleared by all the departments mentioned in the advertisement before they are published or aired.

The CM’s advertisement was to be aired on television channels ahead of the AAP government’s third anniversary on February 14.

In the ad, Kejriwal talks about the government’s progress in health, education, infrastructure and other sectors.

The advertisement was sent for clearance to the departments concerned, said an official on the condition of anonymity, citing sensitivity of the matter.

“But the department heads refused to endorse this particular line citing the Supreme Court’s guidelines,” he said.

The official said Kejriwal on Monday called a meeting at his residence in which chief secretary Anshu Prakash and other IAS officials concerned were present. But the officials were still “not ready” to clear the line.

Sources in the government said Kejriwal expressed his displeasure over the matter and reportedly told them that the court wanted the officers to apply their mind on development works but they were using it to “stall” projects.

Confirming the development, a Delhi government spokesperson said, “Such a meeting took place at the CM’s house where the issue pertaining to the advertisement was discussed.”

He, however, refused to comment on the delay.

Officials at the directorate of information and publicity (DIP), which has to give the final clearance to the advertisement for broadcasting, said they were yet to get approval from all departments.

“I have no idea about the delay as I was not in the meeting. The advertisement will be released for broadcast once it is cleared by the departments,” Jayadev Sarangi, secretary DIP, said.

The chief secretary did not comment despite several attempts.