Ahead of Business Summit, a Poster Controversy in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: The removal of posters showcasing Uttar Pradesh to NRIs who are gathering in Ahmedabad, has triggered a huge controversy.

The city is gearing up for two high profile events: the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which begins on Thursday and the Vibrant Gujarat Global business summit, which is to be held next week. Around 4,000 Non-Resident Indians are expected to attend and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is to address the business summit.

Accordingly, posters, detailing various business opportunities the state offers, were put up earlier this week. But over the last few days, 100-odd posters were removed by the municipal corporation.
The officials of the Uttar Pradesh government have made their displeasure felt.

They have already shot off a letter to the Anandiben Patel government, stating the event was a central government event and the Gujarat government should not have resorted to such tactics to "undermine" the publicity process of another state.

The event is to be inaugurated by the Prime minister, Narendra Modi on Thursday.

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"It is unfortunate that despite following all the rules and norms kiosks around 60 in numbers have been taken off from different parts probably couple of days before the Pravasi event," said advisor to the UP government, Madhukar Jetley.

The Ahmedabad municipal corporation claims the contractors were the ones responsible for the remkoval, since they had put up the posters at unauthorized locations.

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"We have given slots to private contractors. But we were told they out it up at places for which permission had not been given and they removed it as only they were authorized," said the civic body spokesperson, Mayur Dave.