Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph seen at DRM meeting hall in Mysuru
Mysuru: It has come to light that the model code of conduct (MCC) was violated during a Permanent Negotiation Machinery (PNM) meeting held at the Divisional Railway Manager meeting hall in Mysuru. Even though the election commission (EC) had given directions to remove photographs of all political leaders, the authorities failed to remove a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that was kept in the meeting hall. The meeting was held on April 10 and 11 to address the various issues of the railway employees.
The Election Commission had issued a letter on March 26, to the Secretary of the Ministry of Railways regarding the enforcement of the MCC. The dos and don’ts stated that all references, messages and photographs of the Prime Minister, Minister or political functionaries should be removed from government buildings, premises and/or websites immediately.
However, during the two-day PNM meeting between leaders of the SWRM union and railway officials headed by A K Sinha, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru division, South Western Railway, the Prime Minister’s photo was visible in the hall.
When this was brought to the notice of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhiram Sankar, who is also the District Election Officer, he said, “If there was a photograph of the Prime Minister during the meeting, it is a violation of the poll code.”
Speaking to Newskarnataka, Vijaya, CPRO, South Western Railway, Hubli said, “Photographs of the Prime Minister have been removed from all public places, station buildings, websites etc., consequent to the model code of conduct coming into effect. However, it appears that in the meeting halls of government offices, the photographs of statuary figures of the President and Prime Minister have remained in certain places. Extant guidelines will be verified and suitable action will be taken regarding these photographs too.”
