New Delhi, 04 Oct 2014
The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI) has taken strong exception to live telecast by the Doordarshan (DD), national public broadcaster, of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s speech to propagate its Hindutwa ideology on the occasion of Dussehra. The party termed the telecast as a dangerous tradition, calling RSS a controversial religious and political organisation, which has camouflaged itself as a so-called social outfit.

SDPI national president A. Sayeed in a statement said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government’s green signal for the telecast is a serious threat to the diversity of the country and our secular values. It is a dangerous misuse of the state machinery. He said that the RSS does not have a positive outlook or agenda and can divide the nation into many parts in due course. It is state “majoritarianism” which must be resisted. If Hindutwa ideologues are permitted to misuse state media like Doordarshan and AIR, why not government be impartial to extend the facility to Muslim, Christian and other organizations.

Strongly condemning the promotion of RSS by the Union government using tax payer’s money, Sayeed demanded the government must stop promoting the Sangh ideology and understand its responsibility and prove itself to be unbiased government. The government, particularly the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, should give an explanation to the people for allowing DD to be the mouthpiece for the RSS, he added.

He said one must not expect anything better unless Doordarshan is made fully autonomous and headed not by any coward crony (of the Govt or PM) but by a person with ability and courage (to stand up against Govt or PM’s dictate). He hoped Doordarshan would give same opportunity to other religious and “social work” organizations supporting different religions like Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, etc. Will DD now also show atheists conventions; all religious conventions, communist conventions, etc. live?

He said that this clearly shows that the RSS is engaged in backseat driving of the BJP government. Modi, who was promoted by RSS to the coveted prime minister post sidelining veteran LK Advani, is repaying in equal measure to his masters. He pointed out that the address was telecast on Doordarshan, the official TV channel of the government, when RSS at one point of time was a banned organisation after Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.

Meanwhile, Sayeed said, India endorsed the strategy of US when Bhagwat called for an end to widespread purchases of Chinese products. Why the same call could not be given by him to end supremacy of MNCs of US in pharmaceuticals sectors controlling the pricing mechanism of essential drugs, which, with every passing day goes beyond the purchasing power of common people. The Doordarshan, the national channel, should not be allowed to fall prey to contentious issues raised by anybody whoever he may be, he cautioned.