BJP warned from using Abhinandan’s photo in campaign

Indian Election Commission has warned political parties and candidates from using photos of defence personnel or defence forces functions in their poll campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

A statement released by the commission reads, “The ministry of defence has brought to the notice of the Election Commission (EC) that photographs of the defence personnel are being used by political parties, their leaders and candidates in advertisements as part of their election propaganda.”

The commission recalled such instructions issued in December 2013.

In one of the recent rallies the Aam Aadmi Party referred Indian Air Force pilot Abhinanda Varthaman, who shot down Pakistan’s F-16 fighter plane in Indian air space on February 27 and landed down in Pakistan territory with the help of parachute following crash of his MiG-21 warplane. He was later released by Pakistan authorities.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party too has used a photo of Abhinandan in a banner besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah in Delhi. Photos of the poster were widely shared on social media.

Defence Ministry has raised the matter to poll body and the advisory reads, ““The Ministry of Defence has brought to the notice of the Commission that photographs of the Defence personnel are being used by the political parties, their leaders and candidates in advertisements as part of their election propaganda and requested the Commission to issue suitable instruction in this regard.”