DD News logo row: 'This is homecoming', says Amit Malviya replying to Mamata Banerjee

Amit Malviya

Replying to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's allegation of  'saffronisation' of Doordarshan, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said  the change was tested years ago in 1982 calling the move ‘homecoming for the national broadcaster.’

“Thanks for not abusing. Your language off late has been crass and disgusting. The prospect of losing election is showing. On Doordarshan’s saffron colour – it was tested way back in 1982. So, don’t be shocked and find out who changed it to blue. This is nothing but home coming for the national broadcaster,” Malviya wrote.

A day after the launch of the new logo of government Doordarshan news channel DD News, a debate has erupted over it. The previous logo of DD News was in dark red color and the new logo is in orange color.

Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Anurag Thakur had a heated exchange with TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who called it 'saffronisation'.

“How could the Election Commission of India allow this crude, pro-Saffron violation of the Model Code of Conduct when the people are in the electoral mode?! ECI must immediately stop it and reverse the change to go back to the original blue colour of the logo of Doordarshan,” Mamata wrote.

Leaders of opposition parties questioned the timing of unveiling the new logo, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Leading the criticism of the broadcaster was All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar, who once served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharati between 2012 and 2014.

“It’s quite inappropriate to see the national broadcaster has chosen the colour saffron for its branding,” Sircar said in a video posted on social media site X.