'Modi govt spent Rs 1,000cr on anniversary ads'

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused the Modi government of having spent ‘more than Rs 1,000 crore’ on advertisements to mark two years in office, citing ‘sources’.

‘Modi govt spend on ads for jst ONE event 2 yr bash? Sources- more than Rs 1000cr (sic),’ he said in a tweet.

At the same time, Kejriwal said the expenditure of the Delhi government was less than Rs 150 crore for a full year.

‘All Del govt depts total spend less than 150cr for full yr (sic),’ he tweeted.

The Aam Aadmi Party government has been accused by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress of having a large advertisement budget.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and most of his ministerial colleague are expected to attend an event at India Gate to be hosted by mega star Amitabh Bachhan on May 28 to mark the second anniversary of the government.

The government is organising the event ‘Zara Muskura Do’ that will have several performances and programmes highlighting its ‘achievements’.

The show will be beamed across the country by Doordarshan.

Various schemes and programmes -- particularly Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Digital India and Rural Electrification -- will be highlighted during the show. 

Programmes to mark the completion of the Modi government’s second year in office will also be held in various other cities.

The Modi government on Thursday completed two years in office.

Image: A BJP worker rides past the party's billboard featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside their party headquarters in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters