Supriya Sule Accuses Sansad TV of Censoring Non-Hindi Speeches in Parliament

Baramati MP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule has accused Sansad TV of discriminating against non-Hindi speakers in Parliament by replacing English or other regional language speeches with Hindi voiceovers. Sule raised this issue as the monsoon session of Parliament began, alleging that this practice began in the first session of the current Lok Sabha and continued through the Budget session.

Sansad TV has denied the allegations, stating that they continue to broadcast live proceedings in the floor language. The channel asserted that they offer options for viewers to listen in Hindi, English, or other Indian languages and that these interpretations are available to MPs inside the House. The controversy has sparked a debate about language representation and federalism, with Sule emphasizing that the move undermines India’s linguistic diversity and federal structure.

The issue is not the first instance of Sansad TV facing accusations of censorship. In 2023, Congress’ Jairam Ramesh criticized the channel for disproportionately focusing on the Lok Sabha speaker during Rahul Gandhi’s speech, showing Gandhi for only 15 out of his 37-minute address. Sule’s recent allegations have added fuel to ongoing concerns about the representation of non-Hindi languages in parliamentary proceedings.

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