New Delhi
CNN
—
Indian tax authorities raided the BBC’s places of work in New Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday, weeks after the nation banned a documentary from the British broadcaster that was vital of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged position in lethal riots greater than 20 years in the past.
BBC Information reported on tv that folks had not been allowed to enter or depart the places of work.
The raids come after the Indian authorities stated it used “emergency powers” to dam the documentary from airing within the nation, including that each YouTube and Twitter complied with the order.
The transfer polarized response on the earth’s largest democracy. Critics decried it as an assault on press freedom, whereas Modi’s supporters rallied to his protection.
A BBC spokesperson advised CNN that the group was “totally cooperating” with authorities. “We hope to have this case resolved as quickly as potential,” the spokesperson stated.
The 2-part documentary “India: The Modi Query” criticized the then-chief minister of the western state of Gujarat in 2002 when riots broke out between the state’s majority Hindus and minority Muslims. It was broadcast within the UK in January.
Greater than 1,000 individuals, principally Muslims, had been killed within the violence and at the least 220 extra went lacking, in accordance with authorities figures. Nearly 1,000 girls had been widowed, whereas greater than 600 youngsters had been left orphaned, official figures confirmed.
Modi and his ruling ruling Bharatiya Janata Celebration rose to energy in India in 2014, using on a wave of Hindu nationalism within the nation of 1.3 billion, the place practically 80% of the inhabitants observe the religion.
The BBC stated Jack Straw, who was British international secretary in 2002 and options within the documentary, claims that Modi had “performed a proactive half in pulling again the police and in tacitly encouraging the Hindu extremists.”
Modi has denied accusations that he did not cease the violence. A particular investigation workforce appointed by India’s Supreme Court docket in 2012 discovered no proof to recommend he was responsible.
However the riots stay one of many darkest chapters in India’s post-independence historical past, with some victims nonetheless awaiting justice.
Final month, some college college students in Delhi trying to look at the banned movie on campus had been detained by police, elevating considerations that freedoms had been deliver throttled below Modi’s authorities.
Talking at a information convention Tuesday, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia stated firms, together with media businesses, should “observe and respect Indian legislation.”
“Anybody, any company, whether or not tied to the media, an organization, if they’re working in India, they have to observe and respect Indian legislation. In the event that they observe the legislation, then why ought to they be scared or frightened? Let the Revenue Division do its job,” he stated.
India was a rustic that “offers a possibility to each group” so long as they’re “keen to abide” by the nation’s structure, Bhatia added.
The raids have raised fears of censorship in India.
In a statement Tuesday, the Editor’s Guild of India stated it was “deeply involved” by the event.
The raids had been a “continuation of a pattern of utilizing authorities businesses to intimidate and harass press organisations which are vital of presidency insurance policies or the ruling institution,” it stated. “It is a pattern that undermines constitutional democracy.”
The assertion gave examples of comparable searches carried out on the places of work of assorted English-language native media shops, together with NewsClick and Newslaundry, in addition to Hindi-language media organizations together with Dainik Bhaskar and Bharat Samachar.
“The Guild calls for that nice care and sensitivity be proven in all such investigations in order to not undermine the rights of journalists and media organisations,” it stated.
