Pune: Controversy Erupts Over Use of Missing Person’s Photo in Maharashtra Government Scheme Advertisement

Pune, 21st July 2024: The grand coalition (Mahayuti) government has come under fire after an advertisement for the ‘Mukhya Mantri Tirtha Darshan Yojana’ featured a photograph of a senior citizen who has been missing for three years.

The family of Dnyaneshwar Vishnu Tambe, who went missing from Varude village in Shirur taluka, Pune district, expressed outrage over the use of his image in the advertisement, which they discovered circulating on social media.

The Mahayuti government, in the run-up to the upcoming assembly elections, announced several voter-wooing schemes, including the ‘Ladki Bahin, Ladka Bhau’ programs. However, it is the ‘Mukhya Mantri Tirtha Darshan Yojana’ that has drawn significant attention due to this controversy. The scheme aims to provide senior citizens above 60 years old with a subsidy of up to Rs 30,000 for visiting 66 pilgrimage sites across India.

The Mahayuti government clarified that the advertisement in question was not officially released by the Information and Public Relations Office of the Maharashtra State Government. They distanced themselves from the controversial social media post, stating that it was unauthorized.

Dnyaneshwar Vishnu Tambe, who has been missing since December 2021, was featured in the advertisement promoting the pilgrimage scheme. His family, who has been searching for him since his disappearance, was shocked and angered by the unauthorized use of his photo. His son, Bharat Tambe, voiced his distress on social media, urging the government to help locate his father.

The incident has sparked a wave of criticism from the opposition. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, accused the government of exploiting the family’s grief for political gain. Wadettiwar expressed his anger on social media, condemning the insensitivity shown by the Mahayuti government.

In response to the controversy, the Pune Rural Police launched an investigation. Officers from the Shikrapur police station, which covers Varude village, met with the Tambe family to gather information. It was revealed that no official missing person complaint had been filed by the family following Dnyaneshwar Tambe’s disappearance. Sub Divisional Police Officer Prashant Dhole confirmed that a formal complaint has now been registered, and further action is being taken.

Bharat Tambe’s emotional appeal to the government and the public highlights the family’s ongoing distress. “My father has been missing for the past three years. We searched for him but could not find him. Now his picture has appeared in the Chief Minister’s advertisement. We request the government to help us find him,” said Bharat Tambe in his social media video.

As the investigation continues, the controversy surrounding the ‘Mukhya Mantri Tirtha Darshan Yojana’ advertisement raises important questions about the ethical use of personal images and the responsibilities of those in power to protect the dignity of all citizens.