Seeking to play down the controversy over Prasar Bharati banning Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar's recorded message to the people of Tripura on I-Day, Doordarshan on Wednesday "vehemently" refuted charges that it had blocked coverage and even claimed it had aired the CM's speech at 7pm on August 15.

On August 16, TOI had front-paged a story of a clash between Tripura's Left Front government and Prasar Bharati over refusal by Doordarshan and All India Radio to air the CM's customary Independence Day address, advising him to "reshape" the speech after it was recorded. The public broadcasters had written to the Tripura CM asking him to "reshape" the content of his speech "keeping in view the sanctity and solemnity attached with the occasion the broadcast is meant for." The official communique from Prasar Bharati to Akashbani Agartala had also said, "The CEO, Prasar Bharati was also consulted and the collective decision taken at Delhi advises that the broadcast may not go with its existing content."

When the Tripura CM refused to change his speech and lodged his protest, the speech that was recorded by DD and AIR on August 12— to be aired at 6 am on August 15— was not broadcast.