Arvind Kejriwal, others slam Reliance Jio’s ad featuring Narendra Modi

Reliance Jio's advertisement featuring Narendra Modi raised many eyebrows today.

Relaince Jio ad featuring Narendra Modi. This is what many Indian readers woke up to, today.

Reliance Industries Limited chairman Mukesh Ambani announced everything about the much hyped Reliance Jio 4G during the annual general meeting on September 1 in Mumbai. As part of its blitzkrieg, the company put out full page advertisements of Reliance Jio in many national dailies. But what caught people’s attention was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo in the advertisements.

“Dedicated to India and 1.2 billion Indians,” read the ad.

During his address, Ambani announced what he called the cheapest data rates in the world at Rs 50 for 1 GB. He said it’s his contribution to Modi’s Digital India dream. “In the journey of time, there come a few life changing moments. Our honourable Prime Minister’s inspiring vision of a Digital India is one such movement. Jio is dedicated to realising our Prime Minister’s Digital India vision for 1.2 billion Indians. Jio Digital Life will give the power of data to each Indian, to fulfill every dream and collectively take India to the global digital leadership,” he said.

As the ad appeared the very next day of the Reliance AGM, it raised many eyebrows. Reacting to this, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter and called Modi “PM as Mr Reliance”. In a series of tweets and retweets on the ad that followed, he also said, “Modi ji, you keep advertising for Reliance. People of this country will teach you a lesson in 2019,” referring to next general elections.

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Not just Kejriwal, many questioned the legality of using Modi’s picture in the advertisement run by an Indian conglomerate.

PM as Mr Reliance https://t.co/0nv2DZBws2

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 2, 2016

मोदी जी। आप रिलायंस के ऐड में मॉडलिंग करते रहना। देश की सारी लेबर मिलके आपको 2019 में सबक़ सिखाएगी

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 2, 2016

Any more proof reqd to prove that – मोदी जी अम्बानी की जेब में। pic.twitter.com/YyBOUQn9Xt

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 2, 2016

PM of India openly endorses Reliance product pic.twitter.com/rHPAdwvjsR

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 2, 2016

I wonder what the Indian government’s position is on a private firm using the prime minister’s photograph in an ad. pic.twitter.com/soBZIFI2Ib

— sukumar ranganathan (@mint_ed) September 2, 2016

However, as expected, Twitterati mercilessly mocked the ad .

Well, you do know that “I’m Jio’d” is an anagram of Modi-ji. pic.twitter.com/jKfcLbLpob

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) September 2, 2016

Narendra Modi’s Pic in Reliance Jio Ad is Tricky debate. Companies can’t use PM’s Pic for Promotion – but they can use their employee’s pic

— Joy (@Joydas) September 2, 2016

Reliance Jio shows smart business thinking. By riding piggyback on Brand Modi, it is saving on the cost of hiring a Sachin, Dhoni or SRK

— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) September 2, 2016

Modi-ji, Amit-ji, Jaitley-ji, Rajnath-ji.
Presenting Jio 4G.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) September 2, 2016

Narendra Modi is endorsing Reliance Jio.
Makes sense for the PM to endorse a brand.
Especially for him: since Roaming is free.

— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) September 2, 2016

As Reliance has got Modi ji to promote Jio, I am now having doubts on whether they’d be able to fulfil the huge promises they made earlier.

— Gabru Tippler (@MrTippler) September 2, 2016

Well, the ad has gone viral and Reliance has ‘Modi ji’ to thank for it!