The matter came to light after a passenger noted that the ticket he was issued had the photo of PM Modi endorsing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
(Photo: Twitter/@SudipPan100)
The DRM (Divisional Railway Manager), Lucknow, suspended four Railway officials after railway ticket with PM Modi photo was issued to a passenger.
According to reports the matter came to light after a passenger noted that the ticket he was issued had the photo of PM Modi endorsing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The ticket was issued at Barabanki and was to facilitate travel of a relative of the passenger to Varanasi on 16 April.
Nothing that an advertisement of a government scheme on public money might be a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the passenger complained at the ticket counter. He was, however, shooed away.
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As the photos of the ticket went viral on social media, opposition party leaders including Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of poll-code violation.
Responding to the incident, the ADM said that the old roll of ticket was used mistakenly.
“On 13 April, when the shift changed, an old roll was used by mistake. A total of four people have been suspended. Besides two reservation clerks, one Chief Reservation Supervisor and a Commercial Inspector have also been suspended,” the ADM was quoted as saying by ANI.
A probe has also been ordered.
The PMAY is a scheme of the Urban Development Ministry. The back of the reservation railway tickets book at the counter are often used for government advertisements.
Under the MCC, no political leader can advertise their photo, name, party symbols and achievements using public money on government buildings or government platforms.
At the same time, no new scheme can be announced by the ruling party while the MCC is in force. The MCC came into effect on 10 March immediately after the announcement of poll dates.
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