AIR refused to broadcast Tripura CM Manik Sarkar's I-Day speech for criticising cow politics

All India Radio (AIR) refused to air Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's Independence Day speech on Tuesday, August 15 On Monday, August 14, the Chief Minister's office was informed through a letter at 7 pm that his speech would not be broadcast unless he reshaped it "This is thoroughly undemocratic, authoritarian and curtailment of freedom of speech. This happened during the Emergency," Sarkar said

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has alleged that state-run Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) refused to air his Independence Day speech on Tuesday, August 15. AIR asked the four-time chief minister to ‘reshape’ the speech.

A Tripura government press statement alleged that Doordarshan and AIR had recorded Sarkar's speech on August 12. On Monday, August 14, the Chief Minister's office was informed through a letter at 7 pm that his speech would not be broadcast unless he reshaped it.

The speech stated how India’s secularism is under attack and that religious politics is being played in the name of protecting the cow. Sarkar’s letter also said that several minorities and Dalits are under severe attack and their sense of security is shattered.

The AIR's demand did not go down well with Sarkar. "This is thoroughly undemocratic, authoritarian and curtailment of freedom of speech. This happened during the Emergency," Sarkar told NDTV.

The letter purportedly said, "The message of the Chief Minister was closely examined by a competent authority. In view of the sanctity of the occasion, the broadcast code and responsibility of the public broadcaster, it is not possible to telecast it in the present format. However, Doordarshan/Prasar Bharati will be happy if the chief minister agrees to reshape the content making it suitable to the solemnity of the occasion and sentiment of the people."

The CMO statement said, "The chief minister clearly stated that he would not change a single word and described it as unprecedented, undemocratic, autocratic and intolerant step."

In a strongly-worded statement, the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemned the censorship and said it was a "gross infringement on the right of a Chief Minister to address the people of his state on Independence Day."

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said Doordarshan is not the private property of the BJP or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "instructing his cronies to black out voices" of the opposition, including that of an elected chief minister.