Unnao: A controversy has erupted in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, after some mattresses, distributed to couples after a mass wedding organised under a state government scheme, bore prints resembling the Trinamool Congress (TMC) flag.
An inquiry has been initiated and an official suspended. The supplier has also been blacklisted.
Instructions have been issued to initiate departmental proceedings against the assistant development officer and village development officer designated for the distribution of gift items to newly-wed couples at the event under the Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana, the Unnao district administration said, as reported by The Economic Times.
The District Magistrate has also directed that an explanation be sought from the district social welfare officer, Unnao, as per a statement issued by the Unnao district administration on Sunday.
“District Magistrate (of Unnao) Ghanshyam Meena has taken serious cognisance of the incident involving mattresses — bearing prints resembling the TMC flag — that were given as gifts to couples during the Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana organised by the District Social Welfare Officer’s office at the Dr Virendra Swarup Education Centre on July 24,” the statement said.
An immediate report be submitted following an inquiry by a committee headed by Chief Development Officer (CDO) Krati Raj and comprising the Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue), the Senior Treasury Officer, and the Deputy Commissioner (Industries), the District Magistrate has directed.
Marriages of 459 couples had been solemnised, with each couple receiving two mattresses, the
report submitted to the DM revealed.
“Among the 918 mattresses, the covers of one or two bore a design resembling the symbol of a political party. Based on this report, District Magistrate Ghanshyam Meena has taken strict action against those responsible. The supplier firm has been blacklisted, and an FIR has been lodged against it at the Kotwali police station,” the statement said.
“Complaints were received from the media that some of the mattresses which were given to the newly-wed couples were showing some resemblance to a particular political party and its election campaigning material. A probe committee led by me was formed on the directions of the DM,” Chief Development Officer of Unnao Krati Raj said.
Based on the findings of the probe committee, the firm which had supplied the mattresses was blacklisted and an FIR was lodged against it, she added.
The ‘patal sahayak’ (clerk) who received the material has also been suspended with immediate effect, Raj said.
Images of the mattresses showed TMC written on them and the party symbol — two flowers blooming on branches emerging from the grass — though the placement of the three colours — saffron, white and green– was different from the TMC flag.