DD's live telecast of RSS chief's speech sparks row

New Delhi, Oct 4: Like every year, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat made his customary Vijay Dashmi address in Nagpur. But this time, the hour-long address was telecast live on Doordarshan, sparking off a political row.

The Congress and the CPM accused theNarendra Modi government of misusing the public broadcaster. However, the government defended DD, saying it was a newsworthy event which was covered by several private television channels as well.

The RSS chief's annual address was never telecast live during the Vajpayee regime when the BJP was dependent on allies. Congress spokesman Sandeep Dikshit said it is a "dangerous tradition" as the RSS was a "controversial religious and political organisation."

Within minutes of the speech, the CPM politburo issued a statement. "The public broadcaster has no business to live-telecast the speech of the chief of an organisation like the RSS. It shows how the broadcaster is being misused by the Modi government," it said.

Historian and commentator Ramchandra Guha said this "naked state majoritarianism" must be resisted. "This (showing it live) is a dangerous misuse of the state machinery. The RSS is a sectarian Hindu body. Next, imams in mosques and priests in churches may ask that DD covers their speeches live," he said in his tweets.

I&B minister Prakash Javadekar dismissed the criticism saying "Prasar Bharati took its own decisions and I don't know why they were not showing it earlier. It's a newsworthy event which other private news channels are showing, so why not DD?"

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Mangaluru: Youth arrested for misleading Instagram post targeting police

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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