Nagpur: Defending the live telecast by Doordarshan of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s address on Dussehra, Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javdekar on Sunday said that the Government wants to instill professionalism.
The hour-long broadcast on October 3 by DD for the first time of an RSS function had stoked a row with Congress and CPM attacking the government for “misuse” of the state broadcaster while BJP defended it saying RSS genuinely contributed to patriotism and always patronised ‘justice to all’ philosophy.
Read: Protests in front of Doordarshan over RSS chief speech
“Doordarshan is an autonomous organisation and we want to instill professionalism. Therefore, there is nothing wrong and no interference in its functioning,” Mr Javdekar said in reply to a question.
Dismissing criticism by the Congress and Left parties over the issue, he said, “We have lifted ban on DD.”
Mr Javadekar asked as to why it was not telecast live all these years. “When other private channels are also showing live the annual speech of RSS Sarsanghchalak Mr Bhagwat, what is wrong in DD also showing it,” he said.
Mr Bhagwat had at a customary function on Dussehra described Hindutva as the country’s “national identity” and the “thread of unity” running through its diversities. He had also patted the Centre for initiatives on national security, economy and international relations.
