DD panel censors CPI leader's speech

A script vetting committee of Prasar Bharti has "censored" some portions of the election speech by senior CPI leader Binoy Vishwam referring to the RSS to be aired on Doordarshan, prompting the party to refuse to record it and approach the Election Commission.

Doordarshan, as well as All India Radio, provide airtime for parties to broadcast their appeal under the guidelines set by the Election Commission.

While Vishwam pointed fingers at Doordarshan, Prasar Bharti CEO Shashi Shekhar said, "Script vetting committee comprises of independent citizens of eminence like the former Secretary General of Lok Sabha. Prasar Bharati has no role in the script vetting process."

The committee includes former secretary general of Lok Sabha Subhash Kashyap, former Doordarshan Director General M P Lele, Ajay Chaturvedi and Adarsh K Azad.

Vishwas was to record his speech but the committee objected to certain portions of the speech, whose script was given, saying it violated the Model Code of Conduct that prohibits criticism of other parties or their workers based on "unverified allegations or distortions".

In the speech, Vishwam had mentioned that the NDA government was led by the ideology of "racial supremacy" preached by the RSS and that they "borrowed it (the concept) from the school of Mussolini and Hitler". The speech also referred to the "casteist communal forces" and that the Hindutva philosophy was based on "Brahminical hierarchy".

In a letter to Vishwam, the committee objected to this as well as the usage of "guided by fascist ideology" and wanted the speech to be revised.

However, the CPI leader refused to go by the committee and record it. "We will raise the issue with the Election Commission. We will ask the Election Commission whether it endorsed the autocratic and authoritarian way of doing things by Doordarshan," Vishwam told reporters.