DD pulls up channels for stealing show

‘‘Can DD exercise the same freedom in future?’’ an official asked. DD has written to the private channels and also shot off a protest letter to the Indian Broadcasting Foundation which has all news channels on its rolls.

The issue, however, is not new to DD. Only recently, the public broadcaster helped itself to Ten Sports’ live feed of cricket matches in Pakistan, blacking out the channel’s logo, violating copyright rules. This time though, officials said while the usage of footage was understandable given DD’s access to Parliament, news channels were at least expected to credit Doordarshan. ‘‘It is a copyright violation,’’ an official said.

DD itself was blamed of playing partisan. The BJP was the most vociferous in its protest of the live telecast of the CPP meeting. Former I&B Minister Sushma Swaraj had accused the Prasar Bharati Corporation of turning into a sarkari channel for providing live coverage of the ‘‘Congress roadshow’’.