Congress and Shiv Sena fume over Aamir Khan’s ‘change, transparency’ ad

Mumbai: The Congress and Shiv Sena have taken strong objection to advertisements printed on Tuesday by a private non-governmental organisation in prominent newspapers that has actor Aamir Khan urging people to vote for “change” and “transparency”.

The Congress objected that the two words ‘change’ and ‘transparency’ were used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its campaign for the BMC polls. Also, the website by the NGO has mentioned that it had been associated with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The state election commission (SEC) said that it would look into the matter.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that he has spoken to the state election commissioner who has given him appointment on Wednesday. “It was a clear cut violation of the code of conduct. The NGO has not only appealed the voters but also mentioned about transparency in bold letters. We all know that the BJP’s campaign revolved around the ‘transparency’ and ‘change’.

The same words have been highlighted in the advertisements which are nothing but another campaign for the BMC by the BJP,” Mr Sawant said.

Yuva Sena leader Dharmendra Mishra too has dashed off a letter to the SEC alleging that the advertisements were to influence voters. “I must highlight that CM Devendra Fadnavis with Advertising Agency named Madison and actor Aamir Khan is promoting feeling of hostility and defaming the Shiv Sena ruling party in BMC through the medium of newspaper on the day of BMC election 2017. I wish to bring to your knowledge that the images and words quoted in the newspaper clearly talks about change of government, which is nothing but an act of their corrupt practises. Such advertisement in newspaper amounts to violation of code of conduct,” he said.

When contacted, state election commissioner J.S. Saharia said that he would look into the matter. “We will have to look into the matter. The advertisement said that it was given by an NGO. We will check if there was any violation,” Mr Saharia said. However, the BJP has refuted the charges levelled by Congress and Shiv Sena. “They are free to lodge a complaint. It is clear that the Sena and Congress are losing the battle. Hence, they are making such false charges. They are crying foul because both the parties have no hope left in the BMC polls,” said BJP spokesperson Niranjan Shetty.