Tripura: CPI(M) CM's Independence Day speech censored by DD, AIR

In a response to DD and AIR's decision to censor Tripura CM Manik Sarkar's speech on Independence Day, CPI (M) has alleged the Centre of imposing ''undeclared emergency'' in the country. The party has shared the full text of the speech that the CM was banned from delivering.

Tripura CM Manik Sarkar /File Image PTI

New Delhi: Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) has alleged the Centre of preventing the broadcast of Tripura's CM Manika Sarkar's speech on the occasion of Independence Day. It has alleged that Doordarshan and All India radio had the ''audacity'' to filter out the Independence Day speech of a Chief Minister. The party has strongly condemned the ''censorship'' imposed by the Centre and compared it to the Emergency days. On its website , the CPI(M) released a press brief, in which it has strongly condemned the action of DD and AIR. Here is the text of the statement:

''Tuesday, August 15, 2017

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

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.''

The party took to Twitter to vent out its ire on the occasion. It also shared the text of the speech that Manik Sarkar was supposed to deliver.  

Text of Tripura CM's Speech which AIR & DD had the audacity to censor.This is an insult 2 People of Tripura &Constitutional Rights of States pic.twitter.com/bdYDd7JS99

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) August 15, 2017

The party also shared the response of the broadcasting unit that censored the speech of the Chief Minister, on Twitter. In the response it was clearly stated that the speech could not be broadcast because it had ''unsuitable''content and the CM was asked to reshape the speech making it suitable for the ''solemnity'' of the occasion.  

Official Letter Censoring Speech of Tripura CM. Who is this Delhi Collective which dares to censor a CMs Speech? pic.twitter.com/LxNNeK6IRw — CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) August 15, 2017

In a series of tweets, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury questioned the ''undeclared emergency'' by the NDA government.  

If this isn't authoritarianism & undeclared Emergency, what is? This will be fought back by the CPM, people of Tripura and all our citizens. — Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) August 15, 2017

BJP's model is to remote control Tripura from Delhi. CPI(M) will fight for Tripura's rights and honour against BJP's dictatorial centralism.

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) August 16, 2017