Censorship – News Media / Documentaries

CPI-M, Assam has filed a complaint with Assam’s Chief Electoral Officer, stating that All India Radio and Doordarshan censored substantial portions of its election broadcast speech that criticised the BJP-led state government.

#CPIM #Assam State Committee secretary Suprakash Talukdar described the edits as “brazen censorship” carried out in the name of vetting. He said the party submitted its speech to the Guwahati centres of AIR and Doordarshan on March 29 in full compliance with Election Commission guidelines.

The CPI(M) stated that the speech contained no prohibited content—such as references to foreign countries, remarks on the President or judiciary, or any divisive or objectionable language. It focused on criticising the state government’s policies, exposing the corporate-communal nexus, and highlighting failures in addressing people’s basic issues along with what it termed anti-democratic governance.

The party said entire sentences and paragraphs were removed, distorting its intended message to voters. It termed the move an attempt to silence dissent and shield those in power from criticism.

Condemning the action, the CPI(M) said such interference during elections undermines democratic principles and reflects an authoritarian trend, with public broadcasting platforms being reduced to instruments of control.