Several petrol pumps have been asked to display the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in retail outlets, ahead of the 2019 General Assembly elections; and those who refused to put up the hoarding at their petrol stations received threats of blocking of fuel supplies.
The suggested displays includes one on the scheme to provide LPG connections to Below Poverty Line families.
As reported by a national tabloid earlier this week, dealers operating petrol pumps have mentioned the names of Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), who have asked the dealers to arrange the display.
“They are asking us to display the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in retail outlets and those who refuse are threatened with blocking of supplies,” said S.S. Gogi, the president of Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD).
The CIPD official further told that the instruction were being conveyed by area officers of the companies. “There was no written communication, and instructions were coming from the territory manager and sales officers of the companies,” added Gogi.
