New Delh: The CPI-M, condemning the “censorship” of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar’s Independence Day speech broadcast, today said this was not only reminiscent of the Emergency days but had gone beyond it. Addressing a press conference here, party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “This is censorship of media by the government and gross interference on the rights of the states which is non-permissible”. Mr Yechury said this was a brazen attack on the federal equation between the Centre and states and the Prime Minster and his allies cannot order state Chief Ministers on speaking to the citizens. He said Doordarshan and the All India Radio had recorded Mr Sarkar’s speech but they subsequently informed him that the speech could not be carried as it was and asked him to “reshape” it. Mr Yechury also appealed to all Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruled states to join together to resist such a move. “This is happening for the first time and it is not in the interest of India, people and the Constitution,” Mr Yechury said. Targeting the RSS, the senior Left leader said on Vijayadasami last year, the speech of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was shown on Doordarshan despite the fact that he holds no public office and also not a representative of the people. “The RSS Chief’s annual address merits a live telecast but a CM of 19 years experience has to be blacked out.” He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetization reference in his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. “The CPM wants to know how much black money had come to the banks,” he said. According to reports, Doordarshan and Akashvani separately recorded a six-minute speech of Mr Sarkar on August 12, which was scheduled to be broadcast and telecast on August 14 evening. At the eleventh hour both the institutions sent advisory to the Chief Minister to reshape his speech otherwise, it will not be aired but Mr Sarkar refused.
