AMN

DMK Chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Sunday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Central government’s decision to change the colour of the logo of national broadcaster Doordarshan from red to orange, claiming the BJP was conspiring to ‘saffronise’ everything.

He said the Lok Sabha elections’ results will show that the people have risen up against “such fascism”.

“These (steps like logo change) are a precursor to that. The 2024 Lok Sabha election outcome will show the public rising up against such fascism,” he added.

DD News new 'saffron' logo sparks controversy

MK Stalin claimed that Tamil saint poet Tiruvalluvar was “saffronised”.

“Saffron paint was poured on statues of great leaders of Tamil Nadu,” he wrote in the Tamil post.

Earlier, the Opposition called the logo change grossly illegal, saying it reflected a pro-BJP bias.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said that the change in the colour of the logo was unethical.

“I am shocked at the sudden saffronisation and change of colour of our Doordarshan logo when the national elections are taking place across the country! It is absolutely unethical, grossly illegal, and speaks loudly of the pro-BJP bias of the national public broadcaster,” the Trinamool Congress leader had said in a post on X.

The new logo of Doordarshan news channel, the flagship channel of the government, has also come under fire from the former Prasar Bharti Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and TMC MP Jawhar Sircar. On Tuesday, DD News unveiled its new official logo — changing its colour from ruby red to saffron.

“We have the courage to put: Accuracy over speed, Facts over claims, Truth over sensationalism…Because if it is on DD News, it is the truth! DD News – Bharosa Sach Ka,” it added.

Since the Centre-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is recognised with the “orange colour”, also known as the “Saffron party”, therefore TMC MP has slammed DD’s logo as it’s a state-run channel.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar, who was also the CEO of Prasar Bharati between 2012 and 2014 said, “National broadcaster Doordarshan colours its historic flagship logo in saffron! As its ex-CEO, I have been watching its saffronisation with alarm and feel — it’s not Prasar Bharati anymore, it’s Prachar (publicity) Bharati!”