Senior Manager Media relations, Ayushi Saraswat also sent on long leave
CHANDIGARH: The AAP leadership has finally shunted out Punjab CM's Media Advisor Adil Azmi, a former insurance company manager and Senior Manager Media Relations Ayushi Saraswat, both being inaccessible to media and mainly responsible for ruining the AAP government's relations with the journalists.
While Adil Azmi was asked to put in his papers, Ayushi has been sent on long leave. Both have given the reason for leaving office-family commitments. However, it is understood that wide spread corruption in CM's media office and negative publicity despite spending crores of public funds led to their ouster. Azmi reportedly indulged in pick and choose in issuing advertisements, ignoring the merit over personal bias.
A non-journalist, Azmi belonged to Uttar Pradesh and he was formally working for an insurance company in Delhi. He was considered close to former CM Arvind Kejriwal. His appointment as OSD (Media) to Punjab CM had irked many in media circles. After taking over the post, he remained inaccessible to media persons. Even the officials in the PR department were not happy with his arrogant and corporate style of working. His actions projected Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in a negative shade.
At least three senior former journalists who were part of the CM's media team and worked in PUNMEDIA were shown the door about nine months back. The impression in the public was that Delhi AAP leaders had taken over the CM's office and Mann has been pushed to margin in his own domain. Azmi was given a free hand and he even refused to entertain requests and advises by AAP leaders and Harjot Singh Bains, minister of Information and Public Relations.