Why there is a row over change in colour of Doordarshan logo?

Controversy has arisen due to the change of the color of the logo of public broadcaster Doordarshan. The logo now has orange color while earlier it was ruby red. The opposition has raised questions and accused Doordarshan of saffronisation. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed surprise and appealed to the Election Commission to stop it immediately. Doordarshan has recently changed its logo from red to orange.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on the social media platform 'X', I am shocked at the sudden saffronisation and change of color 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!

Banerjee wrote further, "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 color of the logo of Doordarshan!

Changing the color of Doordarshan's logo has also been criticized by former Prasar Bharati CEO and Rajya Sabha MP Jawahar Sarkar. He wrote on X, “National broadcaster Doordarshan has painted its historic flagship logo in saffron colour. As its former CEO, I have been watching its saffronisation with concern and feeling – it is no longer Prasar Bharati – it is Prachar Bharati.”

At the same time, Congress MP Manish Tiwari, who was the Information and Broadcasting Minister from 2012 to 2014, also alleged that changing the color of the logo is an attempt by the government to control government institutions. Speaking to media, Manish Tewari said that this move clearly undermines the neutrality and credibility of India's public broadcaster.

Doordarshan in new avatar

On the other hand, Doordarshan said that it was coming in a new avatar.

The channel wrote, "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 to put: Accuracy over speed, Facts over claims, Truth over sensationalism…Because if it is on DD News, it is the truth! DD News – Bharosa Sach Ka," it added.

DD officials said when Doordarshan was launched in 1959, it had a saffron logo. Later, its colours were changed to blue, yellow, and red. However, the two petals with a globe in the centre remained the same.

The channel's logo also included the words "Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ but that was done away with in due course.

Last month, the Centre made it mandatory for Doordarshan news anchors to wear Khadi outfits.