Weeks after the controversy surrounding Prime Minsiter’s Narendra Modi’s ‘fitness challenge’ video, an official response on Monday said that not a single paisa was spent on making the video.
In a reply to an RTI application, the Prime Minister’s Office has reportedly said that no expenditure was incurred for making the video. The PMO’s reply was published by news site called ‘mynation.com’.
‘No expenditure has been incurred on (the) filming of the video posted by Shri Narendra Modi. The video was filmed at the Prime Minister’s Residence. The videography was done by the PMO cameraman. Nothing has been procured for the video,’ the PMO said.
This is however, not the first time that the government has talked about ‘zero cost’. Earlier, during a Twitter debate with senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore had said that ‘No money ws spent 4 PM’s fitness vid. It ws recorded by PMO videographer (sic).’
The 'Fitness Challenge' was started by Rathore on Twitter as part of the 'Hum Fit Toh India Fit' campaign on May 22.While taking up star cricketer Virat Kohli's 'Fitness Challenge', the Prime Minister on June 13 shared a video of him performing yoga on Twitter.
Later, some reports said that Rs 35 lakh were spent on making the video.
PM Modi's acceptance of a "fitness challenge" Kohli quickly turned into apolitical slugfest with host of opposition leaders daring him to tackle challenges of unemployment and security. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi led the charge by asking the Prime Minister to reduce oil prices or face a nationwide agitation.
One of the leaders went to the extent of taking a dig at PM Modi over his educational qualifications and dared him to post his degrees on Twitter. While Gandhi dared the prime minister to take the fuel challenge by reducing fuel prices, saying the Congress will otherwise launch a nationwide stir, the party's communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala asked him to tackle challenges pertaining to national security, jobs, corruption and MSP to farmers.
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