R Vasumathi, the assistant director of the Chennai Doordarshan Kendra, has been reportedly suspended citing “disciplinary proceedings”, after Doordarshan’s Tamil language channel failed to live broadcast a speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Chennai on Monday, October 1.

On September 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech at the Singapore-India Hackathon 2019, conducted at IIT Madras’s research centre in Chennai.

While Doordarshan News Delhi and other channels telecasted the speech live, DD Podhigai, handled by Vasumathi, skipped the broadcast of the PM’s first speech at IIT-Madras.

“We carried his speech addressing a small gathering at the airport on his arrival (in Chennai) and his speech at the IIT-Madras Convocation ceremony but missed his speech at the India-Singapore Hackathon 2019 event,” a DD official told The Indian Express.

Doordarshan @DDNewsLive asst Director R Vasumathi is suspended for dereliction of her duty in blacking out @narendramodi @pmo live telecast in Chennai IIT at Hackathon. Best by CEO @PBNS_India.Bureaucracy taught a lesson. How can she @DDPodhigaiTV not telecast PM speech live? pic.twitter.com/l9zfZ11v8n

— R. RAJAGOPALAN (@RAJAGOPALAN1951) October 2, 2019

An order dated October 1, signed by the Prasar Bharati CEO, Shashi Shekhar Vempati, did not mention the reason for Vasumathi’s suspension, only said R Vasumathi, Assistant Director (Programme), Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, has been placed under suspension under relevant rules with “immediate effect”.

“She had a standing instruction to telecast both speeches live. But she chose to skip one event. The decision to suspend her came to Prasar Bharati from the top level,” A senior official said. However, another official quoted said, Vasumathi just made a mistake.

There has been so official comment by Prasar Bharti CEO so far.

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