23 Oct : The issue of disrespecting Mahatma Gandhi by using his name and statue on liquor and tobacco stands at the Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport has heated up and prominent Gandhians have vowed to intensify the protest if proper action is not taken by the police against the culprits who were responsible for advertising liquor by using Mahatma Gandhi’s name during the week following Gandhi Jayanti.
Social activist Hemant Goswami had earlier made a complaint to the commissioner of Delhi Police for registration of a criminal case against the Aviation Minister Praful Patel and others under the ‘Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950,’ ‘State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005,’ ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971’ and the ‘Indian Penal Code.’ He has also written to the Home Ministry for grant of prosecution sanction for moving a private complaint against the minister and others.
In his complaint Hemant had mentioned that on October 2 and 3 the picture, image and name of Mahatma Gandhi were used disrespectfully, for commercial purpose and on the stands where alcoholic beverages and tobacco was being sold. Mahatma’s statue too was put next to the liquor racks and special discounts were offered on the occasion of ‘Gandhi Jayanti.’ Gandhi’s name was not just used for commercial purpose but also used to promote liquor, against which he worked all his life.
The complaint mentions that alcoholic beverages shops/ stand had an electronic display on the back which displayed special discount schemes by using the name of Mahatma Gandhi and citing it to be his birth anniversary. The electronic displays on the liquor counters also read, “Buy Eternal Gandhi products worth 20$ and get a Gandhi Key Ring FREE!” Another slide on the alcoholic beverage counter read, “Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2nd October 1869 – 30 January 1948) Delhi Duty Free Celebrating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi: Father of The Nation.” A life size image and statue of Mahatma Gandhi was also put next to the alcoholic beverage stand for promoting products commercially and benefitting commercially by citing the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a reason for offering discounts, sale and for providing free gifts. Ten photographs clicked by Hemant were annexed along with the complaint as evidence.
Complaint by Goswami also highlighted that the necessary requirement of following the Government order of maintaining a dry-day and prohibition on sale of liquor on October 2 was also not observed at the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal 3 and therefore such disregard of a lawful government order was an offence under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
Many followers of Gandhi have protested against such derogatory representation of the father of the nation. Amit Gulati an ardent follower of Gandhi had vowed to sit on indefinite fast outside the Raj Ghat if an FIR was not registered immediately. Professor Vinod Nanda, an ardent Gandhian, said, “It is one of the most shameful act of the Government and deserves no pardon. The culprits for such negligent attitude should be severely punished.”
Advocate APS Shergill said that the use of Gandhi’ji name for any commercial product was a clear offence under the ‘Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950,’ as item 9A of the schedule clearly reads that the name of pictorial representation of Mahatma Gandhi, or the words “Gandhi” cannot be used for any commercial purpose. In this case since it has been used on the liquor and tobacco counters, it is not only illegal but also highly immoral and unethical too.