Several Dalit organisations held a demonstration outside the Doordarshan (DD) office in Bangalore, in protest against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s speech being telecast live on the eve of Vijayadashami from Nagpur.

In a memorandum submitted to the Director General of DD (through the Director of the Kendra in Bangalore), they said that it amounted to allowing RSS to use the public service “to propagate Hindutva ideology.”

Drawing a contrast, they demanded to know why the gathering of Dalits at Deeksha Bhoomi (where B.R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism) at Nagpur, between October 2 and 14 every year, was never telecast.

Organisations including Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS), Samata Sainik Dal, Dalita Samraksha Samitiand, and Samajika Parivartana Janandolana participated.