THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Complaints have been raised against Doordarshan Kendram (DDK), Thiruvananthapuram, for its alleged lapses in arranging full live coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting at Kozhikode on September 24.
BJP and Sangh Pariwar outfits alleged that DD officials loyal to CPM made attempts to avoid providing a full live coverage of the event, as they said the PM was attending a political function.
The outfits alleged that DDK only provided an ENG facility (two camera units), instead of an OB Van, to cover the public meeting at a time “when the entire world was waiting to hear the PM in the wake of the Uri attacks by Pakistan.”
They also alleged that DD News availed footage of a private agency assigned by BJP for coverage, as the DD cameramen could not have provided the ambiance using just one camera.
They complained that no senior officials supervised the coverage, whereas DD Additional Director General (ADG) South Zone, Mahesh Joshi himself came all the way from Bengaluru to give live coverage of the ‘swearing-in ceremony’ of the Chief Justice of Kerala. Moreover, the swearing-in was not only telecast live in Kerala but also in Karnataka due to the ADG’s special interest, they said.
BJP State Spokesperson J R Padmakumar told ‘Express’ that the party would bring the matter to the notice of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister. “What has been going on in Thiruvananthapuram DDK is not appreciable at all. They should have the responsibility to act in Centre’s interest,” he said.