Photo of missing man appears on Maharashtra CM's advertisement
The government of Maharashtra has used a photograph of senior citizen, Dnyaneshwar Vishnu Tambe, who has been missing for the past three years, in a government advertisement promoting a new scheme by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The advertisement, part of the recently launched "Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana," which offers free pilgrimages for senior citizens to 139 religious sites, including 66 within Maharashtra, has thrust the Shinde government into a controversy.
The scheme was unveiled during the monsoon session, with the government launching a widespread promotional campaign. The initiative aims to facilitate visits to religious sites for senior citizens, a plan that has been heavily advertised to ensure maximum reach and awareness.
However, the inclusion of Tambe's photo on the advertisement has raised serious questions and concerns.
Dnyaneshwar Vishnu Tambe, hailing from Varude in Shirur taluka of Pune district, disappeared three years ago. Despite exhaustive searches by his family, he remained untraceable. The family's grief was compounded when they saw his image on the Chief Minister's advertisement board, sparking an emotional and urgent plea for clarity and action.
Bharat Tambe, Dnyaneshwar's son, expressed the family's anguish and confusion: "Our father has been missing for the last three years. We have searched for him everywhere, but to no avail. Seeing his photo on an advertisement board for the Chief Minister's scheme was a complete shock. Just as the Chief Minister is taking senior citizens to religious places, we request him to help us find our father," Bharat was quoted as saying by Maharashtra-based website Sarkarnama.
The family has formally appealed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to address their concerns and assist in locating Dnyaneshwar Tambe.
The Shinde government, now facing scrutiny over this mishap, has yet to issue an official response.
