Letters: Publicity stunt

With reference to the Chinese Whispers item “Anniversary bash” (April 18), it goes without saying that the proposed move of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government to reach all corners of the country through an exhaustive media plan involving the holding of nationwide press conferences and television spots among other things as part of a big bash on its third anniversary would be aimed solely at self-glorification. Interestingly, the Modi government wishes to do so by riding on the shoulders of various pro-poor initiatives (read: self-proclaimed) taken by it, particularly those targeted at the SCs, STs and minorities which, according to it, have changed the lives of people.
 

While the Opposition members say that the entire exercise is planned with an eye on the 2019 general elections, the moot question is: What is the rationale behind carrying out such an extensive mid-term exercise? Why is the government so keen on hard-selling its three-year 'achievements' through the national audio-visual media? Who will bear the cost of such publicity? Would the BJP-led government not step into the shoes of Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party government which has come under cloud for spending a substantial part of its annual budget on showering self-praise —by widely publicising the success story of its various pro-people schemes in the visual and print media? 

S Kumar  New Delhi

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