India's national broadcaster DD News faces flak from opposition leaders over new logo

India'snational broadcasterDoordarshan(DD)Newsis facing flak over its newlogowhichis saffron in colour.The new logowas unveiledon Tuesday (April 16). In a post on X, DD News said,"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!"

"We have the courage toput:Accuracy over speed,Facts over claims,Truth over sensationalism.Because if it is on DD News, it is the truth!"the post added. The change in the logo came just days before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

'Change in logo will influencevoters'

The new logo was criticised by opposition leaders in the country.Taking to X, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP and former Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar 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’snot Prasar Bharati any more —it’sPrachar Bharati!"

In another post, Sircar said on Saturday that the change in the logo would influencevoters,"by overlaying the colour one religion and Sangh Parivar colour with a‘neutral’Public Broadcaster and a biassed Govt/Regime!"

Speaking to India Today, Congress leader Manish Tewari alleged the logo change was the centralgovernment'sattempt to capture government institutions.Tewari,the former information and broadcasting minister,told the network that the move clearly underminedthe "neutrality and credibility ofIndia'spublic broadcaster."

BJP defends change in logo

Defending the change in logo, Andhra Pradesh's BJPVice President Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said,"When Doordarshanwas launchedin 1959, it had a saffron logo. Now, as the government reintroduces the original logo, liberals and Congress are outraging over it.It'sblatantly obvious they harbour hate against'Bhagwa'and Hindus."

Meanwhile, PrasarBharati'scurrent CEOGauravDwiveditoldthe Indian Express that the new logo had a catchy orange colour."Using a bright, appealing colour is purely about thechannel’sbranding and visual aestheticandit is unfortunate for anyone to be reading anything else into that,”Dwivedi told the publication.

(With inputs from agencies)