DD official suspended for stalling live telecast of Modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Chennai: Indian public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has suspended R. Vasumathi, Assistant Director (Programme) of Doordarshan (DD) allegedly for not allowing live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the Singapore-India Hackathon 2019 on DD Podhigai on September 30. The Singapore-India Hackathon 2019 prize distribution function was held at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM) on Monday.

The broadcaster is contemplating disciplinary proceedings against Vasumathi of the Tamil channel. While the order dated October 1 issued by CEO Sashi Shekhar Vempati does not state the reason for Vasumathi's suspension, it is learnt that the disciplinary action is being taken against her for not giving instructions for live telecast of Modi's speech at the Singapore-India Hackathon event on DD Podhigai.

However, Doordarshan News, the national channel, had telecast the event live. According to sources the DD Kendra here has been running without Director (Programme) for a long time and the senior most Assistant Director in the division has been managing the show. Narendra Modi had attended three events on September 30. He had visited the IITM Research Park, Singapore-India Hackathon and the 56th Convocation function of IITm.

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