Intensifying the controversy over Doordarshan's editing of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's interview to the national television channel, Modi said on Saturday on his twitter account that he felt "sad" to see the channel "struggling" to maintain its professional freedom.

He also extended greetings to journalists on May 3, which, incidentally is the World Press Freedom Day. Narendra Modi also reminded people of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975, calling it a "blot on our democracy."

The BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi joined the war over Prasar Bharti editing out certain portions of his interview from last Sunday and the subsequent raging controversy that it stoked by the "delayed" telecast.

We have witnessed the horrors of Emergency when freedom of press & freedom of expression were suppressed. It is a blot on our democracy. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2014

On days such as this, I feel very sad to see our National TV channel struggling to maintain its professional freedom. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2014

Greetings to journalist friends on World Press Freedom Day. Free press is a democracy's cornerstone & must be preserved in letter & spirit. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2014

A controversy erupted yesterday following news reports that Modi had said that Priyanka Gandhi was like his daughter, remarks that were neither appreciated by her nor by Congress leaders. However, it turned out that Modi had not made any such description.

The other issue related to his remarks claiming closeness with Ahmed Patel, close aide of Sonia Gandhi. Patel issued a strong rebuttal of these claims. Modi's remarks on these subjects in the interview were edited out but became public through the social media.

While Congress leader Rashid Alvi said a "big fuss" was being made of the issue which relates to editorial freedom while some other commentators have accused both the BJP and the Congress of misusing Doordarshan whenever opportunities came.