The Jagatsinghpur district administration on Wednesday seized a campaign van of the Indian Oil Corporation limited (IOCl) named ‘Jan Amantran’ vehicle propagating various Central programmes.
“We have temporarily detained the van of the IOCl. We have make them understand about the Supreme Court guideline about the advertisement. If they continue with the advertisement process them it will amount contempt of court,” said Jagatsinghpur district Collector Bijay Ketan Upadhay.
Earlier the issue had sparked off a political war between BJP and BJD in the State. The State Information and Public Relations Department had asked the Jagatsinghpur district Collector to keep a watch on the vehicle.
The BJD alleged that putting the picture of Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the vehicles is a blatant violation of Supreme Court guidelines.
last week, Pradhan had flagged off 30 vans named ‘Jan Amantran’ vehicles with an aim to invite people to attend the February 7 dedication of the `35,000-crore oil refinery project of the IOCl at Paradip to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, the State BJP distanced himself from the issue and said the detention of the vehicle is an issue of the Jagatsinghpur district administration and the IOCl.