Read: Tripura CM’s I-Day Speech That DD, AIR Refused to Broadcast

BY THE WIRE STAFF ON 16/08/2017

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. Credit: PTI

New Delhi: Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar on Tuesday alleged that Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) refused to broadcast his Independence Day speech unless he made changes to it. The six-minute speech, which was scheduled to be aired at 6.30 am, was not broadcast after his government refused to make any changes to it.

According to a Times of India report, the letter that was sent by Prasar Bharati to Agartala AIR said, “Keeping in view the sanctity and solemnity attached with the occasion the broadcast is meant for, the CEO, Prasar Bharati was also consulted and the collective decision taken at Delhi advises that the broadcast may not go with its existing content. AIR/Prasar Bharati will however be more than happy if the Hon’ble Chief Minister agrees to reshape the content making it suitable to the solemnity of the occasion and sentiments of the people of India at large.”

“Before us on this year’s Independence Day are quite a few very relevant, important and contemporary issues. Unity in diversity is India’s traditional heritage. Great values of secularism have helped in keeping Indians together as a nation. But today, this spirit of secularism is under attack,” Sarkar said in his speech.

The chief minister’s went on to speak about cow vigilantism and said that conspiracies were underway to create divisions in society in the name of religion, caste and community.

Read the full text of his speech here:

 https://thewire.in/168429/tripura-cm-manik-sarkars-independence-dayspeech-dd-air-refused-broadcast/