The Prime Ministers Office in response to an RTI query filed has made it clear that not a single rupee of the Indian taxpayers was spent on the making of the video which PM Modi had posted in relation to the fitness challenge. “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 reply of the RTI inquiry read. PM Modi had been asked to take the fitness challenge after being asked by Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, accepting the challenge PM Modi had posted a video showing him walking, doing yoga and light exercises. His attempt at the fitness challenge had been commendable indeed as it had motivated people to add physical exercises to their routine.
Congress leader and favourite of the intellectuals Shashi Tharoor had instead chosen to attack the attempt of PM Modi. Terming it as a waste of taxpayers’ money and misuse of public funds, Shashi Tharoor had gone on to allege that more than 35 lakh rupees were spent in the making of the video. Shashi Tharoor had further gone on to add that 20 crore rupees were spent by the government for the advertisements of Yoga Day. He got an excellent reply from Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Rajyavardhan Rathore who had rubbished the tall accusations levied by the Congress leader.
Delighted to hear no lambs were sacrificed. But the people of India have been fleeced nonetheless, by the Govt's 20 crore expenditure of taxpayer money on publicity as a substitute for achievement. https://t.co/td20IfStLj
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 2, 2018
Not surprised Mr @ShashiTharoor, falsehoods is ur substitute 4 facts
No money ws spent 4 PM’s fitness vid. It ws recorded by PMO videographer. This article is based on 'solid proof' of hearsay
And I assure you sir,not a single 'lamb' was sacrificed for the vid, let alone 35! 😃 https://t.co/xiC52ak7iw
— Col Rajyavardhan Rathore (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Ra_THORe) July 2, 2018
The fitness challenge had in fact been an initiative of MP Rajyavardhan Rathore himself who had started it to make Indians start caring for their health and well being. The RTI query in this regard had been filed weeks ago to know exactly the cost incurred in making the short video. The response to it came earlier in the day and it has clarified once and for all the fact that no costs were involved in making the video. The video was recorded by PMO cameraman and the location was the official residence of PM Modi meaning not even a single extra rupee was spent for this video.
The whole troupe of Congress leaders had jumped up at the opportunity and had asked PM Modi to take up the fight against rising prices and to fight unemployment. Rahul Gandhi and other leaders like Randeep Surjewala apart from terming it as a waste of money had raised these issues. The myths spread by Shashi Tharoor have been laid to rest by the response to this RTI query. The biggest loser in this incident will turn out to be Congress itself, first for opposing and making fun of a genuinely heartfelt attempt at making the people of India fit , and secondly for blaming PM Modi without any hard basis.
This response to the RTI should serve as a lesson to the blind haters of PM Modi who lose no chance to raise a hue and cry. They should instead criticise in a constructive manner and choose to do such type of politics which could benefit the country and its people.
