Alleging bias, state TV artistes protest against Prasar Bharati

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 12

A large number of television artistes today launched a protest against Prasar Bharti, New Delhi, alleging discrimination against the film producers of Jammu and Kashmir.

They burnt an effigy of the Director General of Doordarshan and shouted slogans against the ‘discriminatory’ guidelines of Prasar Bharati for Kashir channel, which they alleged have been changed to suit some influential ‘big production houses’ in Delhi and Mumbai.

The protesters assembled at Gumat Chowk in the morning and marched towards the Press Club holding placards and shouting slogans. They alleged that Prasar Bharati after a long gap of nine years opened the commissioned telecasting of programmes for Kashir channel, but with a rider that the producers should have at least 25 hours of telecasting.

“Besides, our share has been cut to 50 per cent which was earlier 75 per cent without quoting any reason,” said Kamal Sharma, president, All Doordarshan Artists Federation, Jammu.

Veena Dogra, a senior film producer, said such attitude of Prasar Bharati clearly indicates that it does not want participation from Jammu and Kashmir. The new guidelines amply suggest that Prasar Bharati is in connivance with some big production houses in Delhi and Mumbai and wants to wind up the local activity in the state.

Many TV and Doordarshan federations from Kashmir also extended support to the artistes’ protest. The protesters said they would hold the next protest at the Doordarshan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the last date of submission of proposals for Kashir channel is June 27.