[Marxistindia] (no subject)

[news from the cpi(m)]

August 15, 2017

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:

Condemn Censorship of Tripura CM

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the refusal by the
Doordarshan and All India Radio to broadcast the customary Independence
Day address of Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura.

The Doordarshan and All India Radio had recorded his speech for the
occasion. However, they subsequently informed him that the speech cannot
be carried as it is and asked him to “reshape” it.

This is a gross infringement on the right of a Chief Minister to address
the people of his state on Independence Day. This act is reminiscent of
the Emergency days and goes beyond as it seeks to gag the elected Chief
Minister of a state. The Central Government is trampling upon the autonomy
of Doordarshan/AIR and Prasar Bharati by such acts of censorship.

The Polit Bureau demands action against those responsible for prohibiting
the broadcast. The Modi Government should stop treating the Prasar Bharati
as a department of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.