Mumbai: The state government has taken serious note of the negative news reports appearing in the mainstream media about its functioning and work. State chief secretary, Sumit Mullick has written a letter to all government departments asking them to send explanations or clarifications to media houses on the day the adverse news reports appear or are telecasted.
The Director General Institution Public Relation (DGIPR) will coordinate the explanation to be sent to media houses from the concerned department.
With just two years left for the Devendra Fadnavis government to complete its tenure, the state seems to be taking steps to avoid negative publicity, said a government source.
After attacks on the BJP government on social media, news items, which could damage the ‘feel good image’ of the state government, have started appearing in the mainstream media too. The government’s ‘media strategists’ are now working to prevent bad press.
Mr Mullick’s letter to all departments was very definite that the issue needs to be cleared, with an explanation, if it is against the government’s stand.
The said explanation should be sent on the same day the report appears or is telecasted, said the letter. It further said that it would be taken as irregularity of the department if it fails to send explanation on priority basis.
The Fadnavis government is all set to complete three years in office by October 31. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has already gone into election mode for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. According to the buzz, the party is also preparing to go in for assembly polls in the state around the same time. If that is true, with only a year and a half to go for polls, it is critical for the state government to keep the public discourse in its favour. It makes good political sense.
