Amidst controversy, Air India withdraws boarding passes with PM Modi's photo
National airline Air India has ‘rolled back’ a set of boarding passes which were issued by the company with photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after criticism in eth social media over allegedly violating the model code of conduct.
Air India spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar stated, “Air India has decided to roll back the boarding passes of Vibrant Gujarat which had photos of the prime minister and the Gujarat chief minister.”
The controversy erupted after senior police officer from Punjab tweeted the picture of a boarding pass of Air India which was issued at the New Delhi airport. Along side PM Modi, the pass also had a picture of Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani.
At New Delhi airport today March 25th, 2019.
— Shashi Kant IPS (@shashikantips54) March 25, 2019
My Air India Boarding Pass, prominently flashes Narendra Modi, "Vibrant Gujrat" & Vijay Rupani. Picture of boarding pass is below.
Wonder why we are wasting public money on this Election Commission, which doesn't see, hears or speak... pic.twitter.com/7t49cNIlAR
Shashi Kant, an IPS officer in Punjab Police tweeted, “At New Delhi airport today March 25th, 2019. My Air India Boarding Pass, prominently flashes Narendra Modi, "Vibrant Gujarat" & Vijay Rupani. Picture of boarding pass is below. Wonder why we are wasting public money on this Election Commission, which doesn't see, hears or speak...”
Although, the Air India had later on clarified that the ad was “third party advertisement” printed during the Vibrant Gujarat summit,held in January 2019.
As the election commission has announced the poll code, it might be a violating of the said guidelines.
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First published: 25 March 2019, 16:45 IST