Despite approximately 500,000 Indians dying from Covid-19, the Hindu nationalist leader has been the subject of a large advertising blitz boasting his government’s accomplishments in combatting the pandemic. The advertising runs counter to the harsh criticism directed at his government.
An Indian man went to court to express his displeasure with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promotion of himself as the face of the country’s Covid vaccination campaign, but was fined on Tuesday for wasting the judge’s time.
Covid-19 vaccination drive is run on public money, not at Narendra Modi's personal expense.
— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) December 14, 2021
But Justice PV Kunhikrishnan of Kerala HC wants people to be proud of their PM and keep looking at Narendra Modi's photograph on the vaccination certificate!https://t.co/FMWHpLKac8
Despite approximately 500,000 Indians dying from Covid-19, the Hindu nationalist leader has been the subject of a large advertising blitz boasting his government’s accomplishments in combatting the pandemic.
His image has appeared on billboards and even the sides of passenger planes, coupled with a triumphant statement commemorating India’s recent achievement of one billion vaccine doses administered.
The campaign contrasts with the harsh criticism leveled at his government since the outbreak began, with political opponents joking that his face should be placed on Covid victims’ death certificates as well.
Peter Myaliparampil of Kerala’s southern state objected to Modi’s face being placed on his vaccination certificate alongside a message urging people to battle the coronavirus.
He warned a judge that the inoculation effort in India may turn into a “media campaign” for Modi’s benefit.
Myaliparampil said in his petition that he had paid for his own immunisation and that the photo of Modi on his certificate “had no value or relevance.”
The lawsuit was dismissed by the Kerala High Court because it appeared to be politically motivated, and he was fined 100,000 rupees ($1,322) for wasting the court’s time.
“If the petitioner… feels embarrassed to see his Prime Minister’s picture, he can turn his gaze to the bottom side of the immunisation certificate,” the court noted in its ruling.
Myaliparampil’s lawyer told AFP that the verdict would be appealed.
Except for the United States and Brazil, India has reported more than 477,000 confirmed Covid deaths than any other country.
Modi’s use as the face of the media campaign has been justified by the government, with the junior health minister telling parliament in August that it raised awareness of coronavirus protection.
