Thiruvananthapuram: CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam has boycotted a scheduled election speech recording on Doordarshan, alleging political censorship by the public broadcaster. The controversy erupted when Doordarshan authorities reportedly asked Viswam to remove specific paragraphs from his speech that were critical of the BJP government.
Key Highlights:
- The Contentious Portions: The “Vetting Committee” of Doordarshan requested the removal of sections discussing communal violence under the BJP regime and the lack of protection for victims in BJP-ruled states.
- The Allegation: Binoy Viswam stated that the broadcaster demanded he delete a segment highlighting how Kerala’s social climate differs from the rest of the country.
- The Stand: Refusing to alter his political stance to suit the ruling party, Viswam walked out of the recording session. He accused the central government of turning public broadcasters like Akashvani and Doordarshan into “mouthpieces of the BJP.”
- The Aftermath: The CPI leader held a press conference to condemn the move, calling it an attack on democratic values and the freedom of political expression during election cycles.
