Photo ban denies states’ rights: M Karunanidhi

Chennai: DMK chief M. Karunanidhi on Thursday said the Supreme Court verdict banning photos of Chief Ministers in government advertisements amounts “to snatching away the rights of states” as the Constitution gives “equal status” to Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers. “The Supreme Court ban takes away the rights of states. The Prime Minister and Chief Ministers are of same status in a federal set up as per the Indian Constitution. Moreover, in states, people give more importance to CMs than PM,” Karunanidhi said in a statement.

Both Prime Minister and a Chief Minister were selected by the majority party, that is, one that had won elections, even as the President had the support of a political party,” he said. Therefore, all the basic reasons that justified carrying photos of President and Prime Ministers applied for state Chief Ministers also, he added. He also said that with fewer educated people in the country, an advertisement with a picture would convey the message easier than many words. “It is my opinion carrying photos of Chief Ministers in government advertisements is unavoidable,” he concluded.

The Supreme Court order banning photos of political leaders in government advertisements, except those of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India, has evoked a mixed response in the state. DMK president M. Karunanidhi slammed the ban saying it took away the rights of the States, while PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss and DMDK chief Vijayakanth welcomed the judgement.

Dr Ramadoss said advertisements given in the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu, were designed to flatter and promote ruling party leaders. These government advertisements had become vehicles for fawning ruling party leaders. This bad culture had been escalating in the last 50 years. That the Supreme Court had put the brakes  when the craze for this fictitious publicity is peaking, was welcome.  Releasing advertisements to the print and visual media spending huge sums had become an indirect way of cajoling the media to carry their political news in a bigger way. He also wanted to bring an end to the practice of naming schemes after political party leaders.

Leader of the Opposition and DMDK chief Vijayakanth urged the state government to immediately stop carrying photos of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa in government advertisements in newspapers, television and theatres. “When the Central Government sought the views of recognised political parties on regularising government advertisements, we had expressed the same views as mentioned in the Apex Court order,” he noted. TNCC president E.V.K.S. Elangovan, TMC president G. K. Vasan and CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan opposed the Supreme Court order.

‘Faces help public relate to schemes’
The Supreme Court order banning photographs of political leaders in government advertisements is seen as a setback to any state government. With several projects in Tamil Nadu nearing completion this order is likely to dampen the morale of the information department which is duty-bound to market and brand the states schemes and projects, it is pointed out.  “Advertisements are all about creativity and marketing. Any restriction on advertisements will dampen the campaign.

The Supreme Court order will not only snatch the state governments’ campaigning rights, but will also reduce the information and public relations (I and PR) department to a clerical records section,” explained a public relations officer, who designs state invitations and advertisements.

“If MGR and Kamarajar photos had not been used for advertisements, people would have forgotten the public friendly schemes like free noon-meal centres and free education,” the official said adding that, at times,  political leaders or policy makers added value to advertisements as they served as a brand ambassador. For instance Abdul Kalam, a former President is an icon among youngsters.

So  what is wrong in using his photo in government functions, the official asked. When contacted a senior official in the I and PR  department said the matter would be taken up with the govern-
ment. The government will respond.