Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan in the press conference
Shimla, April 20: A political war of words has erupted in Himachal Pradesh over alleged advertisement favoritism, with Chief Minister’s Chief Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan hitting back at the BJP for what he calls “misleading and baseless allegations” regarding advertisement payments to the National Herald newspaper.
Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Chauhan categorically denied the opposition’s claim that the current Congress-led government had issued advertisements worth Rs 2.34 crore to National Herald during its tenure. “The actual figure is around Rs 1 crore, not what the BJP is propagating,” he clarified.
BJP’s Turn Under Scanner
Chauhan turned the spotlight back on the previous BJP government, alleging that it had released over Rs 2.93 crore worth of advertisements to ideologically aligned publications, including Observer, Panchjanya, Matrivandana, Deepkamal Sandesh, and others affiliated with the Sangh Parivar.
“They should introspect before pointing fingers,” said Chauhan, adding that public funds should be used responsibly, not selectively.
National Herald Still Active, Not Shut Down
Chauhan also debunked the BJP’s claim that the National Herald is no longer operational, clarifying that the paper continues to publish weekly editions under ‘National Herald’ (English) and ‘Sunday Navjivan’ (Hindi), with editions from Delhi and Mumbai.
Freedom Struggle Legacy and Political Pressure
Taking a dig at the BJP, Chauhan highlighted the historical significance of National Herald, a paper founded by the Congress in 1938, which played a pivotal role in the freedom movement. He accused the BJP of targeting Congress and Rahul Gandhi by misusing central agencies and spreading propaganda ahead of elections.
Call for Constructive Opposition
In a strong message to the opposition, Chauhan urged BJP leaders to stop obstructing governance with politically motivated narratives. “Let’s work together for the development of Himachal. Vendetta politics and misinformation serve no one,” he concluded.
As the battle over numbers and narratives continues, the advertisement row reflects the broader political tension simmering between Himachal’s ruling Congress and the BJP, with the media caught in the crossfire.
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