Advertisement
New Delhi: The Gujarat Assembly on Friday passed a resolution requesting the Center to take strict action against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for tarnishing the image and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by making a documentary on the 2002 riots in the state.
The BBC has been accused of working with a hidden agenda against India. When the Gujarat Assembly passed the resolution, opposition Congress MLAs were expelled from the House.”The documentary was not just against PM Modi but against 135 crore citizens of the country,” said minister Harsh Sanghavi.
“PM Modi dedicated his entire life to the service of the nation, weaponised the instrument of development and gave a befitting reply to anti-national elements. He worked hard to put India on the global stage,” he said. The BBC documentary India: The Modi Question, which was released last month, set off a massive row in the country. The broadcaster claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when PM Modi was the chief minister of the state.
The film caused controversy for alluding to the leadership of Modi as chief minister during the riots while disregarding the clean chit given by the Supreme Court. However, the Ministry of External Affairs trashed the documentary as a “propaganda piece” that lacks objectivity and reflects a colonial mindset.
During a visit to India, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that the issue of searches on BBC offices in India was raised with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar during a bilateral meeting. The two-part documentary features the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was the chief minister of the state during the 2002 riots.
Speaking to media, Cleverly said that BBC is an independent organisation and is separate from the UK Government. “I didn’t see the documentary but I’ve seen reactions in UK and India. BBC is an independent organisation and separate from the government. I enjoy a strong personal relationship with Dr Jaishankar…relationship between UK-India growing stronger by the day,” said Cleverly when asked about the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In February this year, Income Tax authorities conducted searches at the offices of the British broadcaster in New Delhi and Mumbai.On January 21, the government had issued directions to block multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary. Several opposition parties slammed the government’s action and said they would oppose any censorship.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea seeking the imposition of a complete ban on the BBC in India in the wake of the controversial documentary, terming the petition “entirely misconceived” and “absolutely meritless”.
