Some of India’s biggest publications on Friday featured Reliance Jio advertisements on their front page, not a surprise given the announcement made by Mukesh Ambani yesterday. What was a surprise though was that the advertisements featured Prime Minister Modi.
The advertisement said: “In the journey of time, there come a few life-changing movements. Our Honourable Prime Minister’s inspiring visiion 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”.
The advertisement obviously raised eyebrows and invited all kinds of reactions from people. The advertisements come after Ambani, in his speech to the company’s shareholders on Thursday, had openly declared that he is fulfilling Modi’s dream of a “Digital India”.
Many took to social media to bash Ambani-owned Reliance, calling it a political propaganda.
BJP’s known rivals AAP went all out in their attack against Modi
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to bash him.
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
PM Modi opens up about whom he truly serves! pic.twitter.com/PZNi4e6zY6
— Aam Aadmi Party- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) September 2, 2016
In market economy PM sud play fair.Modi endorsing Reliance. Modi sud tell how he helped Reliance/what was the deal ? https://t.co/36W7WSj0A5
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 2, 2016
Many trolled Reliance and Modi on Twitter
Modi: Jio is the best.
Rahul Gandhi: No. Idea. Modi: Idea. Seriously? Rahul: Nahi. I have no idea.— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) September 2, 2016
☝🏽 Narendra Modi Hired as Brand Ambassador for Reliance Jio
Congratulations to all bhakts pic.twitter.com/v5gkfQumme— ANKIT SINGH (@1985ANKIT) September 2, 2016
How can the Prime Minister endorse anything that promised unlimited voice but limited data… oh wait….
— Sahodaran Mustafa (@sidin) September 2, 2016
Many took a dig at Modi for his “association” with the ad.
RT Shehzad_Ind: Mr Modi may not be a Reliable PM but at least he is a #Reliance PM!! #Jio mere lal
PradhanSewak … pic.twitter.com/vfGW6gAWQx— Sir Hardik Pandya (@SirPandyaHardik) September 2, 2016
Hey Dude ! Isn’t he our PM @narendramodi ? Since when he started sales job? #Reliance #Ambani #Modi #Jio #shame pic.twitter.com/LNLv6gEQKc
— Himanshu Dwivedi (@HDsmile) September 2, 2016
Bhakts usually get “Modi-Fide”
But “Modi Ji” gets “I M Jio’d”Sabka apna apna Bhagwaan hai Mitron ☺ pic.twitter.com/ZkWt4AbQUI— Abhishek Singh (@Thakurr_) September 2, 2016
Yes, that’s really a clever #advertising strategy by #Jio to project private venture as common good thru PM #Modi https://t.co/3Jly0jZElq
— Mehroz Ali Pasha (@mehrozalipasha) September 2, 2016
Mr Modi may not be a Reliable PM but at least he is a #Reliance PM!! #Jio mere lal
PradhanSewak to ChiefSalesman pic.twitter.com/BUewwqKr41— Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) September 2, 2016
Will anti-Ambani and Modi people NOT use Jio? True test of political bias
— Ra Ch Na (@raggedtag) September 2, 2016
Attack on Modi is gonna increase a lot after this Jio launch- there is no correlation b/w the two but do watch out for attack from media!
— Alok Bhatt (@alok_bhatt) September 2, 2016
However, there were many who supported Modi and asked people to refrain from making judgments.
Modi and Ambani haters, AAP followers pls don’t buy Reliance Jio. As simple as that
— Amit A (@Amit_smiling) September 2, 2016
@ZeeNews @TimesNow PLZ say @AamAadmiParty & @INCIndia &all MODI haters nt 2 use JIO,as it will help Ambani. Km se km hume SIM to mil jayega.
— Abhishek singh (@coolldude) September 2, 2016
Even on the packets of crackers we see the pics of PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, etc.-then whats the big deal with MODI’s pic on JIO adv. ?
— प्रशांत राठी (@prashantrathi08) September 2, 2016
Left is okay but right isn’t. @ArvindKejriwal father of hypocrisy. Modi isn’t even endorsing Jio here while Kejru is pic.twitter.com/tEp4AB2Qxx
— Megh (@Sterrard8) September 2, 2016
The most epic reaction!
Everyone is looking at this and going “Why is Modi endorsing Jio” & I’m like why are you endorsing Times of India? pic.twitter.com/Duk37tqRju
— Pranav (@pranavsapra) September 2, 2016
(Feature image source: HT/TOI epaper)