Sisodia writes to PMO, seeks details of social media/ad campaigns

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra asking him to furnish details of the advertisements for various projects namely Make in India, Narendra Modi application, Startup -India and Digital India on social media.

Sisodia's move comes 10 days after CBI registered a preliminary enquiry against him and others in connection with alleged irregularities in AAP government's social media campaign 'Talk to AK' even as the AAP dispensation refuted the same saying that no consultant was hired especially for it.

According to the Delhi government, through proper tender, a public relations company was appointed by the government in June last year to publicise its works for a period of one year while 'Talk to AK" was held in July.

Seeking details on the advertisements on social media, Sisodia asked about the departments which are responsible to manage the social media campaign for the above-mentioned projects.

"The Indian government has been advertising on the social media about its projects. This is an important step considering the popularity of social media among the younger generation of the country. So, I want some information on the process of advertising on the social media," Sisodia said in the letter.

He questioned that whether any bidding process was undertaken for advertising on Google, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter and are these meant only for people in India.

"Are these advertisements meant only for the social media users of our country? If advertisements have been given for Internet users outside the country, then please name the countries and elucidate the projects for which it has been done?", Sisodia questioned in the letter.

He asked whether social media users in Pakistan are also getting these advertisements on the pet projects of the Modi government.

Seeking details on the Narendra Modi Application, he asked about the maker and owner of the app. He also asked about the cost and the copyright of the app.

Sisodia also asked the process of payments for these advertisements.

"The payments for these advertisements on social media is done through credit cards. Which department, agency (both government and private) is using their credit cards and how have they been selected?," he questioned.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party sources echoed Sisodia and alleged that they have gathered details about the Central government's advertisement policy being practiced both through Central agencies like DAVP and other private public relation and advertising agencies.

The party also alleged that the choice of these agencies have always been through non-transparent means and only a few favoured agencies are reaping the benefits of getting business of various PSUs.

A source in the AAP also said that the party has gathered information on how a particular ministry is favouring an agency and also about how the National Skill Development Corporation is paying huge amounts of money to one particular PR agency for promotion.

The party also said that various ministries have appointed firms for social media campaigns and are paying crores to them, many of which belong to individuals close to the Bharatiya Janata Party.