Ban Sonia photos from government advertisements, says PIL in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: Congress president Sonia Gandhi's photos should not feature in government advertisements because she does not hold any constitutional position, argues a Public Interest Litigation or PIL filed in the Gujarat High Court.

Dhaval Shah, a resident of Ahmedabad, wants the court to direct the Ministry of Information and  Broadcasting to stop using advertisements that feature Mrs Gandhi ahead of the state elections in which chief minister Narendra Modi is looking for a third consecutive term in office.

Mr Shah has claimed that a president or chairman of any national or regional party has no constitutional position.

The petition has been filed in court by a lawyer named Vijay Patel who is also a former BJP MP.

"In every publication of the Central Government, the photographs of Sonia Gandhi are prominently projected. These photographs are advertised from the funds of Central Government," reads the petition which is likely to be heard soon by the court.

The petition also challenges the advertisements because he says it diminishes the contributions and achievements of Mr Modi's government.