“Unethical and Illegal…”, Mamata Banerjee objects to Doordarshan changing its logo to saffron, calls it violation of model code of conduct

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly objected to the change in colour of the logo of Doordarshan News, the national public broadcaster to saffron, calling it “illegal” and in violation of model code of conduct. Saffron is the party colour of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) which has been in power in India for the past 10 years. The change in colour of Doordarshan’s branding has come into effect just three days before the first phase of Lok Sabha Election that happened on Friday. 

“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”, Mamata Banerjee wrote on ‘X’ on Saturday. 

Doordarshan, the public broadcaster, has changed the colour of its logo from blue to orange and white. DD News, the English news channel of Doordarshan, has recently revealed the logo while calling it a part of rebranding exercise. “While our values remain the same, we are now available in a new avatar. Get ready for a news journey like never before.. Experience the all-new DD News”, DD news had posted on ‘X’ recently. 

Trinamool Congress supremo had previously criticised the attempt of the Central government to paint railway stations and metro stations in the same colour theme of orange in the name of renovation and beautification drive, calling it blatant saffronisation by BJP to assert dominance of one idea in a diverse country, often represented through it’s multi colour approach to culture and social fabric. Mamata Banerjee has called this change of branding a violation of model code of conduct since DD News is a national broadcaster and the rechristening has happened in middle of elections. She has urged the ECI to intervene and reverse the changes immediately. 

“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 Doordarshan”, she added. 

Previously showdown had happened between the state government of Bengal and the Central government after union education department had allegedly demanded that government aided and funded schools be painted in a certain colour theme that also included saffron, in order to qualify for central funds.