Ahead of the general elections, the Indian government has announced a rebranding of the state-owned public news television channel DD News, which is the flagship channel of the national broadcaster Doordarshan.
The new logo features a saffron color, replacing the previous red one, and came into effect on April 16. For far right wing Hindutva parties, Saffron represents fire or flames.
In a social media post, DD News emphasized that its values remain unchanged despite the visual makeover. The channel pledged to prioritize accuracy over speed, facts over claims, and truth over sensationalism in its news coverage.
Doordarshan, in the past, has faced allegations of bias towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Instances include accusations of censorship during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and preferential treatment towards BJP events over those of other political parties.
The move to telecast the film ‘The Kerala Story’ on Doordarshan in April 2024 also drew criticism, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemning it as an attempt to promote a communal agenda.
Additionally, the decision to air the Ram Temple Inauguration, which is not a government event, on the network in January raised eyebrows.
This rebranding follows other instances of saffronization in government initiatives, such as the announcement of saffron-colored Vande Bharat Express trains in July 2023.