Publicity adviser gets marching orders

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

The state government has removed Rocky Mittal from the post of Publicity Adviser (Audio/Visual).Rajesh Khullar, principal secretary to the Chief Minister, confirmed the development.

Rocky Mittal had reportedly been at loggerheads with state bureaucracy, including an IAS officer associated with the Swaran Jayanti Celebrations Committee. Mittal had alleged irregularities in expenditure and claimed Rs 11 crore were splurged at the inaugural function in Gurugram on November 1, with a Bollywood singer pocketing Rs 25 lakh.

‘Narendra Modi Amritvani’ singer Rocky Mittal, who is credited with bringing out several video CDs eulogising the BJP, especially PM Narendra Modi in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha and Haryana Assembly elections, was first offered the post of chief adviser to the Haryana Kala Parishad. However, he declined the offer, calling it an ‘insult to his talent’, since he wanted a ‘state-level role’.

In September last year, Mittal was appointed Publicity Adviser (Audio/Visual) to assist the government in the Swaran Jayanti celebrations.

Allotment of a luxury car with red beacon and considerable money spent on the renovation of his office at the Haryana Civil Secretariat here also raised eyebrows.