Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Aug 27: The central government led by Prime Minister (PM) Modi is now facing wrath from oil company owners after the central government forced them to display Modi's photos at their outlets.

According to a report in The Hindu, the state-owned oil companies have asked dealers operating petrol pumps to display PM Narendra Modi’s photos at their outlets following Lok Sabha polls in 2019.

S S Gogi, president of Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers was quoted saying, “They are asking us to display the picture of PM Modi in retail outlets and those who refuse are threatened with blocking of supplies. The government has also suggested displaying one on the scheme to provide LPG connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families too,"

"The consortium has decided to approach the courts since the government has asked 10 lac employees at petrol pumps across the country for personal details like their caste, religion and which constituency they are from. Such data collection by the government is a breach of privacy. We are going to court," Gogoi added.

A verbal advisory has been already given to dealers by Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

Hindustan Petroleum, Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum reportedly wrote to 59,000 petroleum dealers across the country in June, asking them to send the details of their employees for the Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme under the Prime Minister’s Skill Development Programme.

According to the dealers, government-run oil firms threatened to block supplies if the details are not provided.