Congress accuses Doordarshan of labelling Kharge a ‘traitor’, demands apology from I&B Minister

Congress accuses Doordarshan of labelling leaders as traitors, demands apology from Information and Broadcasting Minister for dangerous narrative.

The Congress on Thursday (May 8, 2025) accused public broadcaster Doordarshan of running a dangerous narrative against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha member Imran Masood by labelling them gaddar (traitor). The party demanded an apology from the Information and Broadcasting Minister.

“The kind of pathetic, insulting and dangerous narrative being run by Doordarshan is unacceptable. Labelling Kharge-ji and MP Imran Masood-ji as ‘gaddar’ is extremely divisive and completely out of place as we face a national crisis,” Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said.

Although Mr. Venugopal did not name the programme, prime time Doordarshan anchor Ashok Shrivastava, whilst promoting his discussion programme on social media platform X on May 6, put up photographs of Mr. Kharge and Mr. Masood with the message: ‘India is ready but how many traitors are in the House’.

In a post on X, Mr. Venugopal pointed out that the Congress chief had been with the armed forces and the government since the Pahalgam terror attack. “We are together with the government at this critical juncture, it should ensure no such scurrilous message is sent out from its official or unofficial channels, and Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw must extend an unconditional apology immediately,” Mr. Venugopal said.

Lok Sabha member from Tamil Nadu Manickam Tagore made a similar demand on X. “Calling leader of opposition @kharge ji and Lok Sabha colleague @ImranMasood “Gaddar” on Doordarshan is disgraceful & divisive. Congress stands with the nation in this crisis. Reel minister @AshwiniVaishnaw must apologise unconditionally,” Mr. Tagore said in his post.