The PSU denied reports that the emails had been sent only to members of the Sikh community.
The IRCTC sent almost 2 million million emails between December 8 and 12 to its clients with a list of 13 decisions made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support the Sikh community, amid the farmers’ protest. against the three agricultural laws of the Center.
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, (IRCTC), a railway PSU, emailed its customers the 47 page brochure – ‘PM Modi and your government’s special relationship with Sikh – as part of the’ public interest ‘scope government to make people aware of the bills and also to smash myths about them, authorities said.
The brochure “PM Modi and his government’s special relationship with Sikhs” was published by I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar and Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on the occasion of Guru Purab on November 30, 2020. Photo: Twitter / @ PrakashJavdekar
The brochures are in Hindi, English, and Punjabi.
The emails, which were suspended on December 12, were sent to the entire IRCTC database, where passengers enter their details when booking tickets, officials said.
The PSU denied reports that the emails had been sent only to members of the Sikh community.
“The emails have been sent to everyone, regardless of any particular community. This is not the first instance. Also previously, the IRCTC has carried out activities of this type to promote the government’s welfare plans in the public interest, according to an official IRCTC statement. “
“The IRCTC sent emails of Rs 1.9 crore in five days until October 12, said a source from the national carrier.”
Officials also said the decision to send the emails was a conscious choice as part of a public interest communication strategy.
“What professional or corporate company does not analyze the demographic profile of the audience to which the communication is going to be delivered? Why are some surprised that a government organization is capable of doing as much or even better than what companies do every day? One should be glad that the government in office is so good at disseminating information of public interest, ”said an official.
The brochure talks about the justice given to the victims of the 1984 riots, the FCRA registration granted to Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial, the absence of taxes on the langar, the Kartarpur corridor, among other things, under 13 heads.
The booklet was published by Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Hardeep Singh Puri on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti on December 1.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various border points in Delhi against the new agricultural laws.
The Center’s offer to amend the contentious laws has failed to cut the ice with protesting farmers who have adhered to its demand to repeal the laws.
.
