Modi’s Gujarat speech ruffles Prasar Bharati

The July 19 televised address of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Doordarshan Kendra Ahmedabad has raised the hackles of Prasar Bhara...

The July 19 televised address of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Doordarshan Kendra Ahmedabad has raised the hackles of Prasar Bharati Board member B.G. Verghese, who raised the matter at yesterday’s board meeting. He said the fact that a Public Service Broadcaster’s platform had been used by the CM to lash out at his critics at a critical juncture was quite disturbing. Verghese said that some parts of the CM’s speech had troubled him.

Modi had addressed the people of Gujarat on July 19, one day after recommending the Gujarat Assembly’s dissolution. During his 15-minute speech, he had lashed out at the Lok Sabha, the press and ‘‘power hungry forces’’ out to portray Gujaratis as rapists to the rest of the world.

‘‘The Godhra carnage has become a disaster for Gujarat,’’ he had said in Gujarati, adding that ‘‘not a single hour passes in the LS without Gujarat being maligned. They even painted the issue of Gujarat on the presidential elections. Look at the poverty of their thoughts and the peak of their hatred towards Gujarat.’’

Story continues below this ad

President has touched our hearts, says CM

Ahmedabad: Gujarat CM Narendra Modi on Wednesday described President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s visit as “encouraging”, saying “it gave us a sense of feeling” for the victims of the killer quake and this year’s communal violence.

“The President’s two-day visit to the state was extremely encouraging and touched a chord in every heart,” Modi said in a statement. “Kalam combined a scientist’s mission and a statesman’s vision for the nation, which served as encouragement for every Gujarati.”

“The President reminded all of us to have a sense of feeling for the victims of the earthquake and communal violence,” he said. (PTI)

Modi added that attempts were being made to save the Godhra killers and that power hungry leaders had forgotten the respect one should pay to the dead while trying to save the guilty.

Story continues below this ad

Modi, however, made no mention of the riots and, in fact, patted his Cabinet for having discharged its duties with devotion. He also referred to ‘‘those delegations of all shapes and sizes which landed in Gujarat in those dreadful days, deriving pleasure from the pain Gujarat was going through’’.

Following the marathon Prasar Bharati meeting yesterday, which lasted for over six hours, an explanation was sought from DDK Ahmedabad. Officials there informed that no violation of the programme code had taken place.

One Board member found Modi’s speech provocative enough to see it as a fit case to formulate new guidelines for airing of news on DD and AIR.

Board members, who read the transcript, also felt the speech ought to have been tempered to allow for a more balanced opinion. Said one, off the record: ‘‘A chief minister’s speech cannot be avoided, but care should be taken to present a balanced speech. The Opposition’s view must be taken into account.’’

Story continues below this ad

Besides Verghese, Chairman U.R. Rao, CEO K.S. Sarma, Director General S.Y. Kureishi and board member M.V. Kamath were present at the meeting.

‘Double bonanza for poor, middle class’: PM’s swadeshi pitch ahead of new GST roll out

India5 hr ago

PM Modi announced the rollout of new GST rates, calling it a "GST bachat utsav" and promising cheaper prices for medicines, insurance, and daily essentials. He emphasized that these reforms would ease doing business, attract investment, and benefit the poor, middle class, MSMEs, farmers, women, traders, and youth. He urged citizens to promote swadeshi goods.

View all shorts

Live Blog