News Analysis India

Tag: BBC documentary

  • After Gujarat, MP House resolution against BBC documentary

    Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  Three days after PM Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat passed a resolution against the BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots, another BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh on Monday cleared a censure motion on the same issue.

    The MP Vidhan Sabha, which resumed its Budget session on Monday, after a 10-day festive break, passed the censure motion against the BBC documentary for allegedly tarnishing PM Modi’s image. The motion, which was passed by voice vote, was moved as a private member resolution by three-time BJP legislator Shailendra Jain and seconded by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra.

    Moving the resolution, the BJP legislator accused the BBC of telecasting an objectionable documentary by misinterpreting the 2002 riots and ultimately presenting the then Gujarat CM and present PM in a bad light. He also alleged that the BBC documentary had even cast aspersions on the judiciary, which amounted to contempt of court. Jain demanded strict action against BBC.

    Subsequently, the resolution was put to test by the Assembly Speaker, followed by its passage with a voice vote in the 230-strong House, where the BJP enjoys a majority with 120-plus members.

    CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The Vidhan Sabha accepted and passed with a voice vote the BJP MLA Shailendra Jain’s private member resolution, demanding strict action against the broadcaster, which while wearing the mask of investigative journalism, has actually attacked India’s sovereignty through the documentary. The broadcaster has tried to weaken India’s constitution…” 

    “It’s to condemn BBC’s act and demand action against the broadcasters that the censure motion has been passed by MP Vidhan Sabha today.”

    BHOPAL:  Three days after PM Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat passed a resolution against the BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots, another BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh on Monday cleared a censure motion on the same issue.

    The MP Vidhan Sabha, which resumed its Budget session on Monday, after a 10-day festive break, passed the censure motion against the BBC documentary for allegedly tarnishing PM Modi’s image. The motion, which was passed by voice vote, was moved as a private member resolution by three-time BJP legislator Shailendra Jain and seconded by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra.

    Moving the resolution, the BJP legislator accused the BBC of telecasting an objectionable documentary by misinterpreting the 2002 riots and ultimately presenting the then Gujarat CM and present PM in a bad light. He also alleged that the BBC documentary had even cast aspersions on the judiciary, which amounted to contempt of court. Jain demanded strict action against BBC.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Subsequently, the resolution was put to test by the Assembly Speaker, followed by its passage with a voice vote in the 230-strong House, where the BJP enjoys a majority with 120-plus members.

    CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The Vidhan Sabha accepted and passed with a voice vote the BJP MLA Shailendra Jain’s private member resolution, demanding strict action against the broadcaster, which while wearing the mask of investigative journalism, has actually attacked India’s sovereignty through the documentary. The broadcaster has tried to weaken India’s constitution…” 

    “It’s to condemn BBC’s act and demand action against the broadcasters that the censure motion has been passed by MP Vidhan Sabha today.”

  • BJP to propose resolution against BBC’s 2002 riots documentary in Gujarat Assembly

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vipul Patel will on Friday move a resolution in the Assembly seeking “strong action” against the “concocted” findings shown in a BBC documentary, which he alleged “once again attempts to blame the then-state government” for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

    The proposed resolution will likely say the BBC documentary was a “low-level attempt” to tarnish India’s global image.

    “India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean that a news media can abuse such freedom,” according to a summary of the proposed resolution shared by the Assembly secretariat on Tuesday.

    The two-part BBC documentary, titled “India: The Modi Question”, claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

    “If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then he cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central Government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary,” said a note on the resolution to be moved by Patel.

    The controversial documentary again “attempts to blame the then-state government for the 2002 Godhra riots and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat,” said the note.

    The BBC documentary misrepresents the events of 2002 and is a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India’s global image, it said.

    Through the documentary, deliberate attempts have been made to tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Modi with an agenda to affect India’s goal to be in a top place in the world, said the note.

    This, despite the fact that the Nanavati-Shah inquiry commission concluded after a thorough investigation that burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and the riots that followed were spontaneous, it said.

    The commission found no evidence that the state government or any religious organization or political party played any role in the riots, stated the note.

    The Assembly, which is having its Budget session, will meet on Friday after a two-day break.

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vipul Patel will on Friday move a resolution in the Assembly seeking “strong action” against the “concocted” findings shown in a BBC documentary, which he alleged “once again attempts to blame the then-state government” for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

    The proposed resolution will likely say the BBC documentary was a “low-level attempt” to tarnish India’s global image.

    “India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean that a news media can abuse such freedom,” according to a summary of the proposed resolution shared by the Assembly secretariat on Tuesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The two-part BBC documentary, titled “India: The Modi Question”, claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

    “If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then he cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central Government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary,” said a note on the resolution to be moved by Patel.

    The controversial documentary again “attempts to blame the then-state government for the 2002 Godhra riots and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat,” said the note.

    The BBC documentary misrepresents the events of 2002 and is a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India’s global image, it said.

    Through the documentary, deliberate attempts have been made to tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Modi with an agenda to affect India’s goal to be in a top place in the world, said the note.

    This, despite the fact that the Nanavati-Shah inquiry commission concluded after a thorough investigation that burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and the riots that followed were spontaneous, it said.

    The commission found no evidence that the state government or any religious organization or political party played any role in the riots, stated the note.

    The Assembly, which is having its Budget session, will meet on Friday after a two-day break.

  • Editors Guild ‘deeply concerned’ about I-T survey at BBC offices

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Editors Guild of India on Tuesday said it was “deeply concerned” about the Income Tax surveys at the offices of BBC India and termed it as a continuation of a “trend” of using government agencies to “intimidate and harass” media outlets critical of the ruling establishment.

    In a statement, the Guild also demanded that great care and sensitivity be shown in all such investigations so as to not undermine the rights of journalists and media organisations.

    The statement came after Income Tax authorities conducted a survey operation at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion.

    The action, it is learnt, is being carried out to investigate some international taxation and transfer pricing issues.

    The broadcaster said it was “fully cooperating” with the tax authorities.

    “The survey by the I-T department is in continuation of a trend of using government agencies to intimidate and harass press organisations that are critical of government policies or the ruling establishment,” the Guild said in a statement here.

    The Guild noted that the IT survey came soon after the release of two documentaries by the BBC on the 2002 violence in Gujarat and the current status of the minorities in India.

    The documentaries stirred political waters, with the government criticising the BBC for wrong and prejudiced reportage on the Gujarat violence and attempting to ban online access and viewing of the films in India, it said.

    It recalled that IT surveys were conducted in 2021 at the offices of NewsClick, Newslaundry, Dainik Bhaskar and Bharat Samachar.

    “In each case, the raids and surveys were against the backdrop of critical coverage of the government establishment by the news organisations,” the Guild said.

    “This is a trend that undermines constitutional democracy,” it said.

    The Guild reiterated its earlier demand that governments ensure that such investigations are conducted within the prescribed rules and that they don’t degenerate into instruments of harassment to intimidate independent media.

    NEW DELHI: The Editors Guild of India on Tuesday said it was “deeply concerned” about the Income Tax surveys at the offices of BBC India and termed it as a continuation of a “trend” of using government agencies to “intimidate and harass” media outlets critical of the ruling establishment.

    In a statement, the Guild also demanded that great care and sensitivity be shown in all such investigations so as to not undermine the rights of journalists and media organisations.

    The statement came after Income Tax authorities conducted a survey operation at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion.

    The action, it is learnt, is being carried out to investigate some international taxation and transfer pricing issues.

    The broadcaster said it was “fully cooperating” with the tax authorities.

    “The survey by the I-T department is in continuation of a trend of using government agencies to intimidate and harass press organisations that are critical of government policies or the ruling establishment,” the Guild said in a statement here.

    The Guild noted that the IT survey came soon after the release of two documentaries by the BBC on the 2002 violence in Gujarat and the current status of the minorities in India.

    The documentaries stirred political waters, with the government criticising the BBC for wrong and prejudiced reportage on the Gujarat violence and attempting to ban online access and viewing of the films in India, it said.

    It recalled that IT surveys were conducted in 2021 at the offices of NewsClick, Newslaundry, Dainik Bhaskar and Bharat Samachar.

    “In each case, the raids and surveys were against the backdrop of critical coverage of the government establishment by the news organisations,” the Guild said.

    “This is a trend that undermines constitutional democracy,” it said.

    The Guild reiterated its earlier demand that governments ensure that such investigations are conducted within the prescribed rules and that they don’t degenerate into instruments of harassment to intimidate independent media.

  • BBC’s reporting ‘venomous’, allow I-T dept to do its job: BJP on Tax ‘survey’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing “venomous” reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress’ agenda go together.

    The remarks came soon after Income Tax officials ‘surveyed’ the British broadcaster’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi.

    Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia rejected the Congress’ criticism of the Income Tax (I-T) action and said the government agency should be allowed to do its job.

    Hitting out at the London-headquartered public broadcaster, he said BBC is the “most corrupt” organisation in the world, adding that the Congress should remember that the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also banned the broadcaster. The BJP leader further claimed that BBC has a “tainted and black history of working with malice against India.”

    He cited its past reports, including the one which described a terrorist as a “charismatic young militant” and allegedly called Holi a “filthy” festival. It works in India, but has little regard for its constitution, he said.

    At a time when India is marching ahead globally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, there are many powers which do not like it, Bhatia said, claiming that the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties also feel the “pain” at the country’s rise.

    Accusing the opposition Congress of supporting “anti-national” forces, he said, “Your hate for Modi is so much that you politicise even a probe agency’s work. You always question constitutional authorities like the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.”

    The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.

    The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices, saying while they were demanding a JPC on the Adani issue, the Centre is after the BBC.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (when doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).

    A recent BBC series on the 2002 Gujarat riots has come in for criticism from the ruling BJP in India, with the government blocking access to it on social media platforms.

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing “venomous” reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress’ agenda go together.

    The remarks came soon after Income Tax officials ‘surveyed’ the British broadcaster’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi.

    Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia rejected the Congress’ criticism of the Income Tax (I-T) action and said the government agency should be allowed to do its job.

    Hitting out at the London-headquartered public broadcaster, he said BBC is the “most corrupt” organisation in the world, adding that the Congress should remember that the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also banned the broadcaster. The BJP leader further claimed that BBC has a “tainted and black history of working with malice against India.”

    He cited its past reports, including the one which described a terrorist as a “charismatic young militant” and allegedly called Holi a “filthy” festival. It works in India, but has little regard for its constitution, he said.

    At a time when India is marching ahead globally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, there are many powers which do not like it, Bhatia said, claiming that the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties also feel the “pain” at the country’s rise.

    Accusing the opposition Congress of supporting “anti-national” forces, he said, “Your hate for Modi is so much that you politicise even a probe agency’s work. You always question constitutional authorities like the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.”

    The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.

    The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices, saying while they were demanding a JPC on the Adani issue, the Centre is after the BBC.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (when doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).

    A recent BBC series on the 2002 Gujarat riots has come in for criticism from the ruling BJP in India, with the government blocking access to it on social media platforms.

  • Congress attacks Centre over Income Tax ‘survey operation’ at BBC offices

    By Agencies

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices, saying while they are demanding a JPC on the Adani issue it is after the BBC.

    The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.

    The Congress termed the I-T department’s ‘survey operations’ at the BBC offices as an ‘act of intimidation’ and said the government was scared of criticism.

    Party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said, “The I-T raid at BBC’s offices reeks of desperation and shows that the Modi government is scared of criticism.”

    “We condemn these intimidation tactics in the harshest terms. This undemocratic and dictatorial attitude cannot go on any longer,” he added.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (When doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).

    “Here we are demanding JPC on the Adani issue but the government is after the BBC. Vinash Kale Viprit Buddhi,” Ramesh said.

    As part of a survey, the Income Tax Department only covers the business premises of a company and does not raid residences and other locations of its promoters or directors.

    (With Inputs from PTI, IANS)

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices, saying while they are demanding a JPC on the Adani issue it is after the BBC.

    The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.

    The Congress termed the I-T department’s ‘survey operations’ at the BBC offices as an ‘act of intimidation’ and said the government was scared of criticism.

    Party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said, “The I-T raid at BBC’s offices reeks of desperation and shows that the Modi government is scared of criticism.”

    “We condemn these intimidation tactics in the harshest terms. This undemocratic and dictatorial attitude cannot go on any longer,” he added.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (When doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).

    “Here we are demanding JPC on the Adani issue but the government is after the BBC. Vinash Kale Viprit Buddhi,” Ramesh said.

    As part of a survey, the Income Tax Department only covers the business premises of a company and does not raid residences and other locations of its promoters or directors.

    (With Inputs from PTI, IANS)

  • Mumbai: Tension in Tata Institute of Social Sciences as students screen BBC documentary on Modi

    By Online Desk

    CHENNAI: A group of students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai, reportedly defied advisories issued by the administration and watched the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on laptops and mobile phones on Saturday.

    The screening of the documentary was reportedly organised by Progressive Students’ Forum.

    The activists of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, staged a protest outside the university campus against the screening. BJP MLA Ashish Shelar sought police action against the students who screened the documentary.

    The TISS administration had earlier cautioned the students against “any activities leading to disturbance of peace and harmony.”

    It may be recalled that the Centre had invoked the IT Rules, 2021 to direct YouTube and Twitter to take down links to the two-part documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’. The documentary is about the role of Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

    Delhi Police on Friday detained 24 students from the Delhi University’s Arts Faculty for planning to screen the documentary. The university has formed a seven-member panel to investigate the incidents with regard to the screening.

    The documentary is being screened on various campuses across the country, despite a police crackdown on the organisers.

    The student wing of the CPI (M), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) had announced that the documentary will be screened on campuses across the country. 

    CHENNAI: A group of students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai, reportedly defied advisories issued by the administration and watched the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on laptops and mobile phones on Saturday.

    The screening of the documentary was reportedly organised by Progressive Students’ Forum.

    The activists of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, staged a protest outside the university campus against the screening. BJP MLA Ashish Shelar sought police action against the students who screened the documentary.

    The TISS administration had earlier cautioned the students against “any activities leading to disturbance of peace and harmony.”

    It may be recalled that the Centre had invoked the IT Rules, 2021 to direct YouTube and Twitter to take down links to the two-part documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’. The documentary is about the role of Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

    Delhi Police on Friday detained 24 students from the Delhi University’s Arts Faculty for planning to screen the documentary. The university has formed a seven-member panel to investigate the incidents with regard to the screening.

    The documentary is being screened on various campuses across the country, despite a police crackdown on the organisers.

    The student wing of the CPI (M), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) had announced that the documentary will be screened on campuses across the country.
     

  • For some people, whites are still their masters: Rijiju on BBC row 

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: In a scornful attack on opposition leaders, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday while slamming their support for BBC’s recent documentary on PM Modi said that for some people, whites are still their masters whose decision on the nation is final. 

    Taking to Twitter, the Law Minister said, “For some people, the white rulers are still the masters whose decision on India is final and not the decision of the Supreme Court of India or the will of the people of India.”

    On Sunday, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju while taking on the malicious campaigns said that some people consider BBC above Supreme Court. Rijiju while levelling allegations on these people for lowering the country’s dignity and image to the extent of “pleasing their moral masters” also tweeted, “Minorities, or for that matter, every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM Modi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.”

    Minorities, or for that matter every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM @narendramodi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.https://t.co/taaF1nvD6F
    — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) January 21, 2023
    In his tweet, he also said, “Some people in India have still not moved away from the colonial influence. They consider BBC to be above India’s highest court and pull down the country’s prestige and image to any extent to please their ideological masters (naitik aaka).” 

    While denouncing the controversial documentary, India last week had described the same as a propaganda speech which was designed for pushing a discredited narrative. Even the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts that had shared the links of the documentary’s first part.

    NEW DELHI: In a scornful attack on opposition leaders, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday while slamming their support for BBC’s recent documentary on PM Modi said that for some people, whites are still their masters whose decision on the nation is final. 

    Taking to Twitter, the Law Minister said, “For some people, the white rulers are still the masters whose decision on India is final and not the decision of the Supreme Court of India or the will of the people of India.”

    On Sunday, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju while taking on the malicious campaigns said that some people consider BBC above Supreme Court. Rijiju while levelling allegations on these people for lowering the country’s dignity and image to the extent of “pleasing their moral masters” also tweeted, “Minorities, or for that matter, every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM Modi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.”

    Minorities, or for that matter every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM @narendramodi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.https://t.co/taaF1nvD6F
    — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) January 21, 2023
    In his tweet, he also said, “Some people in India have still not moved away from the colonial influence. They consider BBC to be above India’s highest court and pull down the country’s prestige and image to any extent to please their ideological masters (naitik aaka).” 

    While denouncing the controversial documentary, India last week had described the same as a propaganda speech which was designed for pushing a discredited narrative. Even the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts that had shared the links of the documentary’s first part.

  • Top Indian university bans screening of BBC series on PM Modi

    By AFP

    NEW DELHI: A top Indian university has banned the screening of a BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role during the deadly 2002 sectarian riots after his government attempted to block its spread online.

    The broadcaster’s programme alleges that the Hindu nationalist Modi, premier of Gujarat state at the time, ordered police to turn a blind eye to an orgy of violence there that left at least 1,000 people dead, most of them minority Muslims.

    Students at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi had planned to screen the documentary on Tuesday, defying efforts by Indian authorities to restrict its showing.

    But a memo from the university’s registrar late on Monday ordered students to cancel the event and warned it would take “strict disciplinary action” if its edict was disobeyed. “Such an unauthorised activity may disturb peace and harmony of the university campus,” it said.

    Modi’s government has been accused of stifling dissent by free-speech activists and opposition leaders for years.

    On Saturday it used emergency powers under India’s controversial information technology laws to block the documentary from being shared on social media.

    Government adviser Kanchan Gupta slammed the series as “hostile propaganda and anti-India garbage” disguised as a documentary.

    India’s order to social media platforms to block links to the documentary “flagrantly contradicts the country’s stated commitment to democratic ideals”, Beh Lih Yi of the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement on Monday.

    The 2002 riots in Gujarat began after 59 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a fire on a train. Thirty-one Muslims were convicted of criminal conspiracy and murder over that incident.

    The two-part BBC documentary cited a previously classified British foreign ministry report quoting unnamed sources saying that Modi met senior police officers and “ordered them not to intervene” in the attacks on Muslims that followed. It also said the violence was “politically motivated” and the aim “was to purge Muslims from Hindu areas.”

    The riots were impossible “without the climate of impunity created by the State Government… Narendra Modi is directly responsible,” it concluded.

    Modi ran Gujarat from 2001 until his election as prime minister in 2014 and briefly faced a travel ban by the United States over the violence.

    An investigation team appointed by the Indian Supreme Court to probe the role of Modi and others in the violence said in 2012 it did not find any evidence to prosecute him.

    NEW DELHI: A top Indian university has banned the screening of a BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role during the deadly 2002 sectarian riots after his government attempted to block its spread online.

    The broadcaster’s programme alleges that the Hindu nationalist Modi, premier of Gujarat state at the time, ordered police to turn a blind eye to an orgy of violence there that left at least 1,000 people dead, most of them minority Muslims.

    Students at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi had planned to screen the documentary on Tuesday, defying efforts by Indian authorities to restrict its showing.

    But a memo from the university’s registrar late on Monday ordered students to cancel the event and warned it would take “strict disciplinary action” if its edict was disobeyed. “Such an unauthorised activity may disturb peace and harmony of the university campus,” it said.

    Modi’s government has been accused of stifling dissent by free-speech activists and opposition leaders for years.

    On Saturday it used emergency powers under India’s controversial information technology laws to block the documentary from being shared on social media.

    Government adviser Kanchan Gupta slammed the series as “hostile propaganda and anti-India garbage” disguised as a documentary.

    India’s order to social media platforms to block links to the documentary “flagrantly contradicts the country’s stated commitment to democratic ideals”, Beh Lih Yi of the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement on Monday.

    The 2002 riots in Gujarat began after 59 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a fire on a train. Thirty-one Muslims were convicted of criminal conspiracy and murder over that incident.

    The two-part BBC documentary cited a previously classified British foreign ministry report quoting unnamed sources saying that Modi met senior police officers and “ordered them not to intervene” in the attacks on Muslims that followed. It also said the violence was “politically motivated” and the aim “was to purge Muslims from Hindu areas.”

    The riots were impossible “without the climate of impunity created by the State Government… Narendra Modi is directly responsible,” it concluded.

    Modi ran Gujarat from 2001 until his election as prime minister in 2014 and briefly faced a travel ban by the United States over the violence.

    An investigation team appointed by the Indian Supreme Court to probe the role of Modi and others in the violence said in 2012 it did not find any evidence to prosecute him.

  • Bar Association writes to Amit Shah for probe into ‘international conspiracy’ angle in BBC documentary 

    Express News Service

    DELHI: All India Bar Association Chairman and Senior Advocate Dr Adish C Aggarwala has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting him to order 360 degree probe into an international conspiracy angle in BBC’s recent documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

    AIBA’s chairman while wholeheartedly welcoming government’s move to block YouTube channels and Twitter handles spreading this documentary in the letter has sought for constitution of an investigation team comprising of retired SC judge, jurists and investigators. 

    Aggarwala in his letter has said that the invisible hands behind this documentary and the minds that have got together to stitch an imaginary tale with discredited and rejected evidence should be identified and brought to the book.

    “This so-called documentary has nothing new to show or speak of. Much of its contents had been thoroughly circulated and discussed in public, considered and rejected by various courts, including the Supreme Court of India. The 20-year-old Gujarat riot has several layers to it, but this BBC tries to have a linear narrative, and quite maliciously tries to pin down our Prime Minister and the nation itself on the mat,” the letter to the Home Minister states. 

    Along with a probe, AIBA in the letter has also prayed for writing to the UK govt to identify people behind this production, probe their background and further cooperate with the Government of India in accessing the so-called documents in possession of the BBC and hold inquiry with persons who had conceived, produced and spread it across the world.

    On Sunday, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju while taking on the malicious campaigns had said that some people consider BBC above SC. Taking to twitter, Rijiju while levelling allegations on these people for lowering country’s dignity and image to the extent of “pleasing their moral masters” had said, “Minorities, or for that matter every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM Modi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.”

    In his tweet he had also said, “Some people in India have still not moved away from the colonial influence. They consider BBC to be above India’s highest court and pull down the country’s prestige and image to any extent to please their ideological masters (naitik aaka).” 

    DELHI: All India Bar Association Chairman and Senior Advocate Dr Adish C Aggarwala has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting him to order 360 degree probe into an international conspiracy angle in BBC’s recent documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

    AIBA’s chairman while wholeheartedly welcoming government’s move to block YouTube channels and Twitter handles spreading this documentary in the letter has sought for constitution of an investigation team comprising of retired SC judge, jurists and investigators. 

    Aggarwala in his letter has said that the invisible hands behind this documentary and the minds that have got together to stitch an imaginary tale with discredited and rejected evidence should be identified and brought to the book.

    “This so-called documentary has nothing new to show or speak of. Much of its contents had been thoroughly circulated and discussed in public, considered and rejected by various courts, including the Supreme Court of India. The 20-year-old Gujarat riot has several layers to it, but this BBC tries to have a linear narrative, and quite maliciously tries to pin down our Prime Minister and the nation itself on the mat,” the letter to the Home Minister states. 

    Along with a probe, AIBA in the letter has also prayed for writing to the UK govt to identify people behind this production, probe their background and further cooperate with the Government of India in accessing the so-called documents in possession of the BBC and hold inquiry with persons who had conceived, produced and spread it across the world.

    On Sunday, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju while taking on the malicious campaigns had said that some people consider BBC above SC. Taking to twitter, Rijiju while levelling allegations on these people for lowering country’s dignity and image to the extent of “pleasing their moral masters” had said, “Minorities, or for that matter every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM Modi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.”

    In his tweet he had also said, “Some people in India have still not moved away from the colonial influence. They consider BBC to be above India’s highest court and pull down the country’s prestige and image to any extent to please their ideological masters (naitik aaka).”