Admirable Move

Admirable Move

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Published on

July 21, 2022

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi should be admired for her initiative with Union Highways Minister to direct National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for not using her photographs on billboards to be placed on National Highways. It may be recalled that even Dr Manmohan Singh, on assuming charge first time as Prime minister, had expressed desire against publishing his photos in government-advertisements.

It seems that the decision to put photos of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh on billboards at National Highways was taken to please these two dignitaries at some junior level without their knowledge. Glorification and publicity of political rulers and other living personalities through photo-publicity, statues, etc. at public expense or through public-projects should be altogether banned to prevent misuse of public resources. Instead of waiting verdict on the long-pending writ at Supreme Court, the Union Government should make it a rule for not allowing photo-publicity of living personalities including those in legislature at public expense both at the Centre and in states.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Delhi