DD anchor uses separatists’ lingo, gets pulled off air

NEW DELHI: Doordarshan is embroiled in a major controversy after one of its anchors recently referred to places in Kashmir by names used by separatists, calling “Anantnag’’ as “Islamabad’’ and “Shankracharya Hill’’ as “Koh-e-Suleman’’ in reports on the J&K deluge. The repeated reference in the reportage spanning over at least two days went on air despite the fact that the coverage was not live.
Sources said it was only after angry reactions started pouring in on social media that Doordarshan swung into action and replaced the anchor-reporter. The DD anchor, a regular newsreader, has been given “off-camera’’ assignments following the fracas.
DD director general (news) Archana Dutta confirmed the incident but refused to divulge any further details.

Army personnel build a bridge in the flood affected area of Kotranka Tehsil in Rajouri in Jammu. (PTI photo)
According to sources, the anchor spoke about angry residents marching to “Islamabad’’ setting off a flurry of reactions at the DD kendras in Jammu and Delhi. “This is the language used by secessionists and its use in the state broadcaster made it a politically sensitive situation. It was misconstrued as an endorsement by the government,’’ a source said. There was speculation in some local newspapers that this was a move by the public broadcaster to “appease’’ radical elements while viewers took to twitter to demand action against the anchor for “distorting’’ names of towns and landmark sites. Reports said both AIR and DD offices received angry calls and messages.
Sources said the anchor may have been compelled to use the names because there were large crowds and the situation on the ground could turn volatile. However, they questioned how the “errors’’ passed through the editorial team in Delhi which was tasked with editing and airing the broadcast. An inquiry was subsequently ordered and the DD anchor been pulled off air.
The embarrassment comes days after it became public that another DD anchor had mispronounced Chinese President Xi Jinping as “Eleven Jinping’’. Officials said she had been “disengaged’’ since.
READ ALSO: DD anchor sacked for calling Chinese President ‘Eleven Jinping’