BBC Documentary Archives - Lokmarg

Suppression Of Voice: Rahul On BBC Documentary

By LokMarg 5th March 2023

Attacking the centre in an interaction arranged by the Indian Journalists Association in London, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the recent raids conducted at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) offices across India a “suppression of voice”, alleging that BJP under its “new Idea of India” wants India to be “silent”.While speaking at the event, Rahul Gandhi was asked about the controversy regarding the BBC documentary, and centre’s allegations of a “colonial hangover”, to which Rahul Gandhi replied, “It’s sort of similar to Mr Adani, it’s also a colonial hangover.”

Addressing the event, Rahul Gandhi said, “You know every place there is Opposition, there is an excuse. You asked why we did the yatra, what was the idea behind the yatra. The idea behind the yatra was an expression of voice. And there is suppression of voice across the country. Example is the BBC, but BBC is just one element of it.”
“You found out, well, the BBC has found out now, but it’s been going on in India for the last nine years, non-stop, everybody knows about that. Journalists are intimidated, they (are) attacked, they are threatened. And you know the journalists who toed the line of the government, are rewarded. So it’s a part of a pattern, and I wouldn’t expect anything different,” he added.

The Congress leader said that BJP wants India to be “silent” under the “new Idea of India”.

“If the BBC stops writing against the government, everything will go back to normal, all the cases will disappear, everything (will) go back to normal. So this is the new Idea of India. BJP wants India to be silent. They want it to be quiet, the Dalits, the lower castes, the Adivasis, the media they want silence, and they want silence because they want to be able to take what is India’s and give it to their close friends,” he said.

He further added, “So that’s basically the idea right, distract the population, and then hand over India’s wealth to two, three, four, five big people. I mean we have seen this, we have seen this before also, but that’s not something.”

Responding to audience’s question regarding the BBC issue, Rahul Gandhi said, “The point I was making about the BBC was that anybody who supports the Prime Minister blindly is supported, and anybody who raises question on the Prime Minister is attacked, and that’s what happened with the BBC.

On being asked about the allegations of “defaming India on foreign soil” Rahul Gandhi said, “There’s nothing defaming India in my Cambridge lecture.”

He said, “Last time I recall the Prime Minister going abroad, and announcing that there’s nothing done in 60 years of Independence, 70 years of Independence. I remember him saying that, you know there is a lost decade of 10 years, there’s unlimited corruption in India. I remember him saying this abroad. These were not things he said in India, these were things he said abroad.”

Rahul Gandhi accused BJP of “twisting” his statements, and the media of “playing it up”.

“So, I have never defamed my country, I am not interested in it and I will never do it. Of course, the BJP likes to twist what I say, and that’s fine, and the media likes to sort of play it up. I mean, it gives TRPs and all, but the fact of the matter is the person who defames India is the Prime Minister of India.”

He further added, “You haven’t heard his speech? where he said nothing happened in 70 years, insulting every single Indian parents, Indian grandparents. The independence is washed away, if that is not insult, then what’s an insult? Or saying you know there was a lost decade, nothing happened in India for the last 10 years. So what about all those people who worked in India, who built India in those 10 years? He’s doing on foreign soil.”

On being asked about how the narratives gets built up, the Congress leader alleged that it happens because there is Mr Adani behind the narrative.

“Of course, it does (narrative gets built), because there’s money behind the narrative, there’s Mr Adani behind the narrative, there’s billions of dollars behind the narrative. And there’s a transfer taking place, and then India’s wealth is given to Mr Adani, so that’s the exchange, it’s a transfer. We don’t accept the transfer, we don’t do it, hence no narrative,” he further said.

The I-T officials surveyed the UK-based broadcaster’s offices over a charge of ‘deliberate non-compliance with Indian laws’, including ‘transfer pricing rules and the diversion of profits illegally.’

The BBC had in January this year released the documentary film titled ‘India: The Modi Question,” which features the Gujarat riots of 2002. 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. (ANI)

VP Dhankar Cautions On George Soros Agenda, BBC Documentary On Modi

By LokMarg 28th February 2023

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar urged Indians to be cautious of billionaire investor George Soros’ agenda and BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked them to be on guard from those “who are playing politics another way around.”

Addressing the inauguration of the Center for Innovation Facility at IIT Madras, Dhankhar said that the Supreme Court of India had given its judgement on PM Modi and his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots but “in the name of expression, can you run down the Supreme Court and the two decades of a thorough investigation.”
“For two decades. The issue was deliberated in judicial quarters. It was thoroughly investigated at all levels. The highest court of the land, the highest court of the largest democracy, pronounced on all fronts in 2022. Finally, we have a narrative being set up, float by a documentary. And some people say this is an expression, saying the name of the expression can you run down by Supreme Court? Can you run down two decades of thorough investigation? This is playing politics the other way around. When people choose to play politics the other way around, the young minds here and outside are intellectually equipped to challenge them.”

He further stated that there was one gentleman, who was using some money, and power. “He has some backers, he has some beneficiaries, he has some fiscal parasites. And they talk about our country’s democracy. I have been appalled, and pained. How can a sane mind compare us with a southern country without neighbours?” Vice President wondered.

Earlier, at the Munich Security Conference, Soros said, “Adani is accused of stock manipulation and his stock collapsed like a house of cards. Modi is silent on the subject, but he will have to answer questions from foreign investors and in Parliament.”

Terming Modi and Adani as “close allies,” whose “fate is intertwined”, the 92-year-old billionaire investor said, “This will significantly weaken Modi’s stranglehold on India’s federal government and open the door to push for much-needed institutional reforms.” “I may be naive, but I expect a democratic revival in India,” Soros said in his remarks delivered at the 2023 Munich Security Conference.

“I would therefore appeal to you if you have to take this country to 2047, vindicate the trust of the Founding Fathers, Please be on guard. Those who play politics, the other way around. They need to be combated and neutralized, and they must face your rational salvos,” Vice President added.

UK’s National broadcaster BBC aired a two-part series attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms. (ANI)

BBC Documentary Is Politics: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 21st February 2023

“Actual politics” is being conducted “ostensibly as media” by people who do not have the “courage to come into political field,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told ANI, alluding to the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Terming the furore as “politics by another means,” Jaishankar, in an interview with ANI, said, “Sometime politics of India doesn’t even originate in its borders, it comes from outside.”
“We are not debating just a documentary or a speech that somebody gave in a European city or a newspaper edits somewhere — we are debating, actually politics, which is being conducted ostensibly as media — there is a phrase ‘war by other means’ this is politics by another means — I mean you will do a hatchet job, you want to do a hatchet job and say this is just another quest for truth which we decided after 20 years to put at this time,” he said.

Coming a year just before the Lok Sabha polls of 2024, the external affairs minister questioned the timing of the documentary.

“I mean, come on, you think timing is accidental! Let me tell you one thing – I don’t know if the election season has started in India, Delhi or not, but, for sure it has started in London, New York,” he added.

The BBC, in January, released a documentary film titled ‘India: The Modi Question,” that features the Gujarat riots of 2002. The film caused a controversy for alluding to PM Modi’s role in the riots whereas disregarding the Supreme Court clean chit to Narendra Modi.

“I mean, do you doubt it? Look who the cheerleaders are. What is happening is, just like I told you — this drip, drip, drip — how do you shape a very extremist image of India, of the government, of the BJP, of the Prime Minister. I mean, this has been going on for a decade, ” said Jaishankar when asked about some western media’s bias against PM Modi in India.

The EAM said that the motive behind planting such stories abroad is to further the anti-India agenda.

“Let’s not have illusions about it…, there is an echo chamber, it will be picked outside and then they will say it is being said outside, it must be true. Then you will say it inside. There is a ding-dong going on, look this is a globalized world, people take that politics abroad,” said the EAM.

He further asked, “Why suddenly there is a surge of reports and attention and views? I mean, were some of these things not happening earlier. Many things happened in Delhi in 1984, why don’t we see a documentary on that? If that was your concern, you suddenly feel one day, “I am very humanistic, I must get justice for people who have been wronged, ” said Jaishankar.

He further advised to not get fooled by such agendas and challenged the propagator to come in the political field.

“This is politics at play by people who do not have the courage to come into the political field. They want to have that teflon cover saying that I am an NGO, media organisation etc. They are playing politics,” Jaishankar asserted.

The EAM in his various interactions on multiple platforms abroad has hailed India’s democracy as a guiding force not just for the country but for the world to emulate. In the interview with ANI, the minister said that the people’s verdict will quell all the misconceptions.

“Among other things in a democracy – don’t you trust the ballot box, people’s verdict to be the final opinion? I do. I know there are certain people who believe that their view supersedes elections. Look, I like you, you win election–great democracy. I don’t like you win election. What are you — ‘electoral autocracy’. That’s reserved for people whom you don’t like to win elections. This is politics,” said Jaishankar. (ANI)

‘BBC Documentary Has Helped Modi Consolidate His Following’

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

Ashutosh Kumar Pandey, an avid follower of BBC services, wonders if the documentary drama was scripted by Team Narendra Modi itself! His analysis:

My association as a BBC follower goes back to my childhood, when I would listen to their radio service with my grandfather. Traditional news followers of BBC Radio like me were deeply disappointed when the service was taken down in 2011. I would regularly wrote letters to BBC and in one year when I was in Ninth Standard, 48 of my letters found mention in a total of 52 episodes aired.

That is why I became curious when I heard that BBC will stream a two-part documentary on Narendra Modi. I found the streaming link on the Internet and started watching it with much expectations. Midway, it was blacked out but I managed to watch both the episodes with a little effort.

My first reaction was: What’s new about it? Every bit of information presented in the documentary was in public domain for a long time. There were far better and more damning documentaries available on various OTT platforms. Why this mishmash of old wine in a new bottle! People have high regard for BBC content in India; they take it as the final word. Thus, the documentary was an anticlimax, a disappointment.

Then a new controversy erupted. I found why the documentary had blacked out in the middle; the Government had ordered it to be taken off air. Soon, Modi supporters started calling it a deliberate attempt by western media to launch malign Modi and therefore, also, India. They called it a misinformation campaign against the ‘Visvaguru’ image of India. They even demanded a complete ban on all BBC services in India, even filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

ALSO READ: ‘BJP Wants To Dictate What To Wear, What To Watch’

Therein lies one of the biggest ironies. These same followers had lionized Modi for his action, or the lack of it, in 2002 Gujarat riots. However, they were aghast to see the same being aired on a foreign news channel. Why? The answer is that the Bhakt mandali cherishes Modi’s image as a majoritarian Hindu nationalist domestically, but wants India to be represented on global platforms by peace-loving Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. This paradox only exposes their guilt.

Practically speaking, the documentary has helped Modi consolidate his following domestically. His fan base, I witnessed it in my circle, has succeeded in conveying the message that ‘foreign hand’ is working against Narendra Modi to stall the growth and rising status of India.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly gave two contradictory statements on the subject. He defended the independence of BBC but also spoke about UK’s diplomatic closeness with India. British PM Rishi Sunak too defended PM Modi in the UK Parliament by expressing his disagreement over Modi’s characterisation in the film. The UK government’s stand over the BBC documentary only shows how undemocratic governments stand in support of one another.

That brings me to the question: was this documentary drama scripted by Team Narendra Modi itself? BBC could have made a documentary on price rise, unemployment, etc to bring disrepute to the government. There are many issues were the Modi regime could be pushed on the back-foot. Raking up a 20-year-old incident without any context is something that I could not understand.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

SC To Hear Plea Against Centre’s Decision To Ban BBC Documentary

By LokMarg 30th January 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list on February 6 a Public Interest Litigation against the Centre’s decision to ban a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots in the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said it would list the matter for hearing on next Monday.
Advocate ML Sharma, who has filed the PIL, mentioned the matter for an early hearing.

The PIL sought quashing of the January 21 order of the Centre, terming it “illegal, mala fide, arbitrary and unconstitutional”.

Meanwhile, senior advocate CU Singh also mentioned before the bench on how tweets by senior journalist N Ram and advocate Prashant Bhushan with links to the BBC documentary were deleted using “emergency powers” and how students from Ajmer were suspended for streaming the documentary.

The PIL filed by advocate Sharma also urged the apex court to call and examine the BBC documentary – both parts I and II – and sought action against persons who were responsible and were involved directly and indirectly with the 2002 Gujarat riots.

PIL has raised a constitutional question and the apex court has to decide whether citizens have the right under Article 19 (1) (2) to see news, facts, and reports on the 2002 Gujarat riots, Sharma said.

“Issue writ of mandamus to the Respondent for quashing of the impugned order dated January 21, 2023, issued under rule 16 of IT rule 2021 being illegal, malafide and arbitrary unconstitutional and void ab-initio and ultra vires to the Constitution of India to provide complete justice,” the PIL stated.

As per the sources, on January 21, the Centre issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary.

Whether the central government can curtail freedom of the press which is a fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (2) of the Constitution, asked the PIL.

It added, “Whether without having an Emergency declared under Article 352 of the Constitution of India by the president, Emergency provisions can be invoked by the central government?” (ANI)

AK Antony’s Son Anil Quits Congress Over BBC Documentary Tweet

By LokMarg 25th January 2023

Congress leader Anil K Antony, the son of former Union Minister A K Anthony on Wednesday announced his resignation from the party, a day after he criticized the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This is my personal decision and I do think this is the best course of action. I did not discuss it with my father. I’ve sent my resignation and I hope that the leadership will accept it. I don’t think this Congress has space for me,” Antony said.

He alleged that he had received threat calls and hate messages “through the night”.

“A lot of things that happened in the last 24 hours, especially from certain corners of Congress, have hurt me a lot,” Anthony told ANI.

In a tweet today Anthony said that he was facing “intolerant calls” to retract one of his previous tweets in which he had condemned the documentary on PM Modi and termed it a “dangerous precedent.”

In his resignation letter, Anthony said he did not give in to the demands to retract the tweet and instead was submitting his resignation from the party. The former Defence Minister’s son also took a potshot at the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi.

Anil Antony tweeted today: “I have resigned from my roles in @incindia

@INCKerala. Intolerant calls to retract a tweet, by those fighting for free speech. I refused. @facebook wall of hate/abuses by ones supporting a trek to promote love! Hypocrisy thy name is! Life goes on. Redacted resignation letter below.”

Anthony said it would be “appropriate” for him to step down from his roles as the convener of the KPCC digital media and also the national co-ordinator of the Congress social media and digital communication cell.

“By now, I have been made well aware that you, your colleagues, and the coterie around the leadership are only keen to work with a bunch of sycophants and chamchas, who would unquestionably be at your beck and call. This has become the lone criterion of merit. Sadly we don’t have much common ground,” Anthony wrote.

He added, “I would prefer to continue my other professional endeavors without being fed this negativity, and being involved in these destructive narratives, many against the very core interests of India. These I strongly believe will end up in the dustbin of history with time.”

In a tweet on January 24, Anthony had hit out at the BBC terming it “a state-sponsored channel with a long history of prejudices” against India.

“Despite large differences with BJP, I think those in India placing views of BBC, a UK state-sponsored channel with a long history of prejudices, and of Jack Straw, the brain behind the Iraq war, over Indian institutions is setting a dangerous precedence, will undermine our sovereignty,” Anthony tweeted.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of CPM, the Students Federation of India (SFI), and the Congress screened the documentary ‘India: the Modi Question’ at various places in Kerala yesterday. (ANI)

Govt Blocks YouTube Vids, Tweets Sharing BBC Film On Modi

By LokMarg 21st January 2023

Multiple YouTube videos sharing the first episode of the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” has been blocked as per the directions issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, sources said on Saturday.

Along with YouTube videos, the Centre has also directed Twitter to block over 50 tweets containing links to the concerned YouTube videos.

YouTube and Twitter complied with the government after directions were reportedly issued by Secretary, of Information, and Broadcasting on Friday using the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021.

UK’s National broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired a two-part series attacking PM Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.

On Thursday, India denounced the controversial BBC documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described it as a “propaganda piece” that is designed to push a discredited narrative.

“We think this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias and the lack of objectivity and frankly continuing colonial mindset are blatantly visible,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a weekly media briefing.

Even though the documentary was not made available in India by BBC in India, some YouTube channels appear to have uploaded it to promote an anti-India agenda.

Sources said that YouTube has also been instructed to block the video if it is again uploaded on its platform. They added Twitter has also been directed to identify and block the tweets containing the link to the video on other platforms.

This decision was made after top government officials from across several ministries examined the documentary and found it to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the authority and credibility of the Supreme Court of India and sow divisions among various Indian communities.

The sources added that the documentary was accordingly found to be undermining the sovereignty and integrity of India, and having the potential to adversely impact India’s friendly relations with foreign States. (ANI)