The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has announced that it will no longer send its spokespersons to participate in discussions or debates on three television news channels—ABP Ananda, Republic, and TV9. The decision, announced in a social media post on Sunday, comes in response to what the Mamata Banerjee-led party describes as “persistent anti-Bengal agenda-driven propaganda.”
In its statement, the Trinamool Congress accused the channels of being biased against Bengal, claiming that their editorial lines were influenced by pressures from Delhi. The party’s post on X (formerly Twitter) stated, “AITC has, for now, decided not to send its spokespersons to media channels like ABP Ananda, Republic, and TV9 due to their persistent anti-Bengal agenda-driven propaganda.”
The party alleged that the channels were serving the interests of their owners who are embroiled in various investigations and enforcement cases. “These channels have to appease the ‘Zamindars of Delhi’ due to the ongoing investigations and cases involving their promoters,” the statement added.
Additionally, the Trinamool Congress warned the people of West Bengal not to be deceived by individuals on these platforms who might claim to represent the party. “We also clarify and request the people of West Bengal not to be misled by individuals portrayed as party supporters or sympathisers on these platforms during discussions or debates, as they are not authorized by the party and do not represent our official stance,” the statement emphasized.
The party further claimed that the people of Bengal have consistently rejected what it termed as the “unholy nexus” between these channels and outside interests. “The people of Bengal have consistently rejected this unholy BANGLA BIRODHI NEXUS and have always chosen TRUTH over PROPAGANDA!” the statement declared.
The decision has drawn sharp reactions from political opponents. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the move, accusing the Trinamool Congress of being authoritarian and intolerant of free speech. In a post on X, the BJP stated, “The TMC was always dictatorial and opposed to the idea of free speech. Their decision to boycott three popular news channels in West Bengal—TV9, Republic, and ABP Ananda—bears us out. But this decision is not a consequence of any principles, because Mamata Banerjee and her party have none, but out of growing frustration and inability to face the truth.”
The boycott announcement follows a recent controversy involving Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The MP faced backlash from the medical community over remarks made during a television debate, where she alleged that female medical students were obtaining qualifying marks by “sitting on the lap” of their instructors. Dastidar, an alumna of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, later apologized for her comments but continued to face demands for her suspension from various doctors’ associations.
