New Delhi, March 29: Days after photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on railway tickets and Air India boarding passes created a furore, it was found that tea was being served in 'Main bhi Chowkidar' cups in Shatabdi train. According to a tweet by ANI, an image of tea being served in 'Main bhi Chowkidar' cups had gone viral on social media. However, the Ministry of Railways confirmed the incident and said the tea glasses were immediately withdrawn. Reports inform that penal action is being taken against the contractor and the supervisor. After Railway Tickets, Boarding Passes of Air India Have Narendra Modi's Pics.
On Friday, Twitter user Payal Mehta tweeted that Train No. 12040, Kathgodam Shatabdi has tea served twice in 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' cups. Tagging the Election Commission Spokesperson and the Ministry of Railways, she asked, "Is this not violation of MCC?". To this, Indian Railways Seva replied asking IRCTC North Zone to look into the matter. Train Tickets Carrying Pictures Of PM Narendra Modi to be Withdrawn by Indian Railways as Model Code of Conduct Comes Into Effect.
Here's the tweet:
Now it's being confirmed by @RailMinIndia that the glasses were used today. Action will be taken against the contractors & also this was a paid advert... pic.twitter.com/QLpbPLMK0v
— Payal Mehta/પાયલ મેહતા/ पायल मेहता/ পাযেল মেহতা (@payalmehta100) March 29, 2019
The IRCTC issued a statement in this regard saying the incident has been served in cups labelled as "Main bhi Chowkidar" have been investigated. It added saying that only few of these cups were in circulation and that this was without any prior approval of IRCTC. It added saying that the cups have been withdrawn with immediate effect. “Explanation has been called from Supervisor/Pantry Incharges. 1 lakh fine has been imposed on service provider. Show cause notice has been served for this misconduct”, the IRCTC was quoted by Times Now. Lemon Juice Banned At All Railway Stations on Central Line After Footage of Kurla Railway Station Nimbu Paani Vendor Goes Viral; Watch Video.
On Wednesday, the Election Commission had written to the Ministry of Railways & Ministry of Civil Aviation, asking them why have the pictures of PM Modi not been removed from rail tickets and Air India boarding passes even after Model Code of Conduct has come into effect.
Amid criticism over alleged Model Code of Conduct violation, Air India decided to do the same after the issue ignited controversy on social media. Its boarding passes were also from the Vibrant Gujarat summit with photographs of the two leaders. An Air India spokesperson said on Monday that the boarding passes were printed during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit held in January this year and the photographs were part of the advertisement from 'third parties'.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 29, 2019 02:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).