Paper sorry for Mamata ad

Jun 30, 2010 - Age Correspondents |

New Delhi/Kolkata

No action has yet been taken on the complaint lodged by the Railways against a company which published an advertisement, showing railway minister Mamata Banerjee modelling for its brand of hawai chappal. The ad was published in a Kolkata-based newspaper, which belongs to a Trinamul Rajya Sabha MP.

The railway ministry has suddenly gone quiet over the issue. While the Delhi police claimed that the complaint has been sent to the Kolkata police, the Bengal administration denied receiving it. There is also a confusion on whether it was a mere complaint or an FIR, as being claimed by the railways’ media department. The Delhi police made it clear that “no FIR has been lodged but a mere complaint was filed by the railways.” Questions are now being raised on the “seriousness” of the ministry to pursue the matter. Ms Banerjee wanted the issue be tackled with seriousness, sources said. The Left is set to make this an issue in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The railways, which claimed that the advertisement was published without “consent and permission” of the railways minister, seems to have no clue about the progress of the case. When contacted, the additional director general (public relations), railways, Mr Anil Saxena, claimed he has “no information about the status of the case”. He said: “Mujhe to pata nahin hain, ke case kahan hain. Police se pata kijiye (I have no idea of the status of the case. The police would know).
Meanwhile, a late evening agency report said the Bengali daily which had carried the ad has tendered an unconditional apology to Ms Banerjee after an “FIR” was lodged against it. Agency reports stated that the Sangbad Pratidin newspaper also claimed that the ad was carried out with no financial gains in mind but to “celebrate political achievements” of Ms Banerjee. An apology letter has also been written by shoe manufacturer Ajanta to the Railways, the report added. It was mentioned that both the letters have been sent to the Parliament Street police station where the “FIR” was lodged.

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