AAP questions neutrality of Ad panel members

Questioning the neutrality of the panel that indicted the Delhi government for "splurging" exchequer's money on advertisements, the AAP today alleged it was a "ploy to defame" the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation by the "beneficiaries" of Modi government and BJP.
AAP leader Ashutosh said the Central government-appointed Committee's remarks were an apt example of Congress and BJP coming together as the panel gave its report on the complaint filed by DPCC president Ajay Maken against the Delhi government.
The three-member committee, headed by former Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon, had been constituted by the I&B ministry on the directions of the Supreme Court to address issues related to Content Regulation in Government Advertising. The panel also comprised adman Piyush Pandey and journalist Rajat Sharma.

"This is nothing but a ploy to target and defame the Delhi government. The committee required people of impeccable neutrality and those who could do their job without showing any bias or partiality.
"But two members of the panel are either linked to the BJP or are beneficiaries of Modi ji. So, how can one expect a fair report," Ashutosh alleged even as he refrained from attacking Tandon.
He alleged that of the two panel members one is linked to BJP since his college days while the other chalked out a campaign for Modi during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

The senior AAP leader also said the Delhi government will explain its stand before the Supreme Court.
In its report, the committee came down heavily on the AAP government, saying it had splurged exchequer's money on advertisements projecting Kejriwal and his party in violation of the Supreme Court guidelines and asked the ruling party to reimburse.
The panel had been constituted by the I&B ministry on directions of Supreme Court to address issues related to Content Regulation in Government Advertising.