Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has filed an RTI application with the Information Cell of the Prime Minister’s Office, seeking details of the Centre’s policy for advertising initiatives like the ‘Narendra Modi app’ and ‘Make in India’ on social media.
CBI probe on
Mr. Sisodia said he filed the RTI application after the Modi government unleashed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the Delhi government. Last month, the CBI had registered a preliminary enquiry against him in connection with alleged irregularities in the AAP government’s social media campaign ‘Talk to AK’.
“I want to know what process the Centre follows in advertising its campaigns like Make in India, Narendra Modi app, Start Up India and Digital India on social media. Whose credit limit has been used in putting up these ads? Because, when we connect with people it is dubbed corruption, but when Modiji does Mann Ki Baat it is projected as patriotism,” Mr. Sisodia said.
‘Everyone is aware’
Asked whether he was hopeful of getting any response, he claimed that “everyone was aware” why information on Mr. Modi’s higher education degrees has not been shared yet.
“In the same way, if they have anything to hide in this case, they will do so. If Mr. Modi has the CBI, we have RTI. They use the CBI to take our files, while we will use RTI to do so. We will share all information that we get with the public,” the Deputy Chief Minister announced.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is undergoing naturopathy treatment in Bengaluru, tweeted, “Manish awarded contracts like the PMO did for digital campaign. Modi ji, if you’re getting Manish probed by the CBI, a CBI investigation should also be ordered into this issue [sic].”
Asks for details of Jan letter
Mr. Sisodia had earlier written to the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra on January 27, seeking details of the process of payments made for social media campaigns for various Centre-run schemes.
Through the RTI application, which has been addressed to the Central Public Information Officer of the PMO, Mr. Sisodia has sought information on action taken on his letter addressed to Mr. Mishra, besides copies of file notings, correspondence and other documents relating to the handling of the letter dated January 27.
