Mumbai/Nagpur: Reliance may have thought they hit upon a brilliant idea when they used Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph in their full-page advertisements in leading dailies today to announce the launch of Jio, and to ostensibly promote Digital India, but the move has drawn criticism and quips galore on social media.
How can Jio, a private company, treat the prime minister as virtually their brand ambassador, asked many outraged voiced.
Comedian Sorabh Pant weighed in in his typical style with the tweet: Narendra Modi is endorsing Reliance Jio. Makes sense for the PM to endorse a brand. Especially for him: since Roaming is free.
Shabnam Hasmi even tweeted to the President of India asking him to advise the PM ‘to maintain the dignity of his position’.
Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan tweeted: Ambani&Modi:A mutual admiration society. As RIL runs full pg ads with PMs face, forget recovery of 11kCr of stolen gas.
AAP’s Ashutosh saw a pattern there: Reliance JIO launched. Modi endorses RJIO. Modi gives interviews to Reliance NEWS CHANNEL same time. Can it be more blatant?
Manvendra Rana Singh tweeted: The day 18 Crore strong workforce goes on nationwide strike, Modi launches Reliance Jio in today’s news papers!!! Priorities are clear 🙂
While Thinking Indian tweeted: Is it right for PM MODI to appear in full page advt for Reliance JIO after all every telecom Co is promoting digital india.