Four PFI leaders in Mangaluru detained by NIA, post-raid
Surathkal: Four leaders of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Mangaluru on Thursday morning.
NIA personnel have detained PFI leaders Nawaz of Kavoor, A K Ashraf of Bajpe Jokatte, Moideen of Haleyangadi and Ashraf of Kankanady. While Nawaz, A K Ashraf and Moideen were detained on the spot, Ashraf of Kankanady, who had gone to New Delhi, was detained at the national capital, said the sources.
The detention followed a raid by the NIA on the homes and offices of the PFI leaders in Kankanady, Haleyangadi, Jokatte and Kavoor in Mangaluru and on the offices of the SDPI leaders. The NIA conducted the raids simultaneously at around 3:30 am on Thursday.
In addition, the offices of both PFI and SDPI leaders situated near Nellikai Road in the State Bank area of Mangaluru were raided by the NIA personnel.
The agency personnel also confiscated the mobile phones of all the residents of the houses for further investigation. The NIA raided and searched the house of Moideen’s mother also on the occasion, it is learned.
SDPI district president Abubakar Kulai, who spoke to reporters, said, “The NIA has given no clear reason for the raid on the SDPI offices. The personnel have conducted an unaccountable search at our offices. When asked for the grounds for the raid on the SDPI offices, the personnel have merely justified that it is a raid on a PFI office.”
The president expressed further dissatisfaction on the confiscation of materials. “The NIA personnel have taken away the SDPI office building rent agreement document, our laptops as well as some photographs related to our organization rather than confiscating any official record,” he added.
“In addition to an unauthorized raid on our offices, the NIA staff members have destroyed work materials here. We will fight it out in court,” Kulai stated.
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Doordarshan's Logo change to Saffron sparks controversy
New Delhi: Two days after unveiling its new logo with a shift from ruby red to saffron, DD News, the flagship channel of state-run Doordarshan, has come under criticism from Opposition parties for alleged "saffronisation."
While DD News described the change as a visual aesthetic update, Opposition leaders questioned the timing, just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
On Tuesday evening, DD News posted a video of its new logo on its official social media handle, stating, "While our values remain the same, we are now available in a new avatar. Get ready for a news journey like never before. Experience the all-new DD News!"
"We have the courage to put: Accuracy over speed, Facts over claims, Truth over sensationalism…Because if it is on DD News, it is the truth! DD News – Bharosa Sach Ka," it added.
Reacting to the logo change, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar, former CEO of Prasar Bharati, said, "National broadcaster Doordarshan colours its historic flagship logo in saffron! As its ex-CEO, I have been watching its saffronisation with alarm and feel — it’s not Prasar Bharati any more, it’s Prachar (publicity) Bharati!"
Sircar criticized the ruling party's programs receiving more airtime compared to those of the Opposition. He called it "visual entrapment" by the regime, citing the example of the Rajya Sabha hall in the new Parliament building turning saffron.
In response, Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi defended the change, calling the new logo's color "catchy orange."
"It's not only a new logo, the entire look and feel has been upgraded — we have a new set, new lighting, seating arrangement and equipment," Dwivedi said.
Doordarshan's current logo for DD National is blue and saffron. Officials noted that when Doordarshan was launched in 1959, it had a saffron logo. Over the years, other colors such as blue, yellow, and red were used for the logo, while its design remained consistent — two petals with a globe in the center.
