The BBC aired a two-part series attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat during the 2002 Gujarat riots. There was widespread outrage over this documentary, and it was removed from select platforms.
Washington:
The United States State Department termed India’s ban on a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Gujarat riots as a matter of freedom of the press, saying it was contrary to democratic principles such as freedom of expression. It is the right time to highlight the importance and make it an issue across the world including India.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price made it clear in a regular briefing on Wednesday that the US supports free press around the world and it is extremely important to mark democratic principles such as freedom of expression.
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Responding to a question from the media, Ned Price said, “We support the importance of a free press around the world… We recognize the importance of democratic principles such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief as human rights.” Will continue to do so, so that our democracies can continue to grow stronger… This is an issue that we emphasize in our relationships around the world… This is certainly an issue that we have raised in India as well …”
Earlier, during a press briefing on Monday local time, Ned Price had said that there are many elements that strengthen America’s global strategic partnership with India, including political, economic ties as well as extraordinary people-to-people relations. Deep relationships are involved.
On Monday, Ned Price said, “I don’t know about the BBC documentary you are referring to, however, I am well aware of the shared values that make America and India two prosperous and create a vibrant democracy… Whenever we have any concerns about what is happening in India, we have always raised our voices whenever we have had the opportunity…”
Just last week, United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also distanced himself from a BBC documentary defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he did not agree with the characterization of his Indian counterpart. Rishi Sunak made this comment when Pakistani-origin MP Imran Hussain spoke in the British Parliament regarding the controversial documentary.
The BBC aired a two-part series attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat during the 2002 Gujarat riots. There was widespread outrage over this documentary, and it was removed from select platforms.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while reacting to the BBC series, claimed that it was completely biased.
Addressing a weekly press conference in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said, “We think this is propaganda material… There is no objectivity in it… It is biased… Note that it is being published in India.” has not been displayed in … We do not want to say more on this, lest it acquires too much dignity…”
He also questioned the entire ‘basic purpose of the exercise and the hidden agenda behind it’.