To
Shri Rajiv Kumar
Chief Election Commissioner
I understand that Doordarshan has decided to broadcast daily the “Aarti” (Morning prayers) at the Ram Temple at Ayodhya from now onwards .The said move on the part of Doordarshan, the official broadcaster, in my view, is aimed at giving an undue advantage to the ruling party in the ensuing elections, in addition to the fact that it amounts to promoting one religious event at public cost in violation of the idea of equality of all faiths guaranteed in the Constitution.
I feel that the Election Commission should invoke its authority under Article 324 of the Constitution to direct Doordarshan not to proceed with such a broadcast so as to ensure that there may be equality of opportunity for all faiths and to ensure that public funds are not allowed to be used for propagating religious activity to grant an undue advantage to the ruling party.
Regards,
Yours sincerely,
E A S Sarma
Former Secretary to the Government of India
Visakhapatnam
