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NATION JANUARY 27, 2023 | The Indian Eye 8

“Propaganda piece to push discredited narrative”:

India on BBC documentary on

Narendra Modi

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

OUR BUREAU Condemning the biased report-
ing of BBC, he tweeted, “@BBC-
New Delhi
News You have caused a great deal
ndia on Thursday denounced the of hurt to over a billion Indians It
controversial BBC documentary insults a democratically elected@
Iseries on Prime Minister Naren- PMOIndia Indian Police & the In-
dra Modi and described it as a “pro- dian judiciary. We condemn the riots
paganda piece” that is designed to and loss of life & also condemn your
push a discredited narrative. biased reporting.” The British broad-
Addressing a weekly media caster came under fire over its two-
briefing External Affairs Ministry part series “India: The Modi Ques-
Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said tion” on BBC Two.
this documentary show, based on It stated, “A look at the tensions
some internal UK report, shows the between Indian PM Narendra Modi
colonial mindset. “We think this is a and India’s Muslim minority, investi-
propaganda piece designed to push a gating claims about his role in 2002
particular discredited narrative. The riots that left over a thousand dead.”
bias and the lack of objectivity and The series will examine how
frankly continuing colonial mindset “Narendra Modi’s premiership has
are blatantly visible,” Bagchi said in been dogged by persistent allega-
response to the question on the PM tions about the attitude of his gov-
documentary series. ernment towards India’s Muslim
UK’s National broadcaster BBC population” and “a series of con-
aired a two-part series attacking PM troversial policies” implemented by
Narendra Modi’s tenure as Guja- Modi following his 2019 re-election,
rat Chief Minister during the Guja- including “the removal of Kashmir’s
rat riots of 2002. The documentary special status guaranteed under Ar-
sparked outrage and was removed ticle 370” and “a citizenship law that
from select platforms. many said treated Muslims unfairly”,
Prominent Indian-origin UK cit- which “has been accompanied by re-
izens condemned the series. Promi- ports of violent attacks on Muslims
nent UK Citizen Lord Rami Ranger by Hindus,” the BBC stated.
said the “BBC caused a great deal of Taking a potshot at the biased re-
hurt to over a billion Indians.” porting, many people of Indian origin
suggested BBC run a series on the
The MEA spokesperson said the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 1943 Bengal famine, which resulted
in the deaths of some three million
documentary is a reflection of people due to malnutrition or disease.

the British Broadcasting Cor- makes us wonder about the purpose much legitimacy.” One of them on Twitter suggested
of the exercise and the agenda be- “I heard words like inquiry and BBC run a series on the Bengal Famine
poration (BBC) and individuals hind it; frankly, we do wish to dignify investigations. There is a reason why called “UK: The Churchill Question.”
that are peddling this narrative these efforts,” he added. we use the colonial mindset. We Then UK Prime Minister Win-
Referring to apparent remarks don’t use words loosely. What inqui- ston Churchill, as part of the western
again. He even raised questions made by former UK Secretary Jack ry they were diplomats there...inves- war effort, ordered the diversion of
on “the purpose of the exercise Straw in the documentary series, tigation, are they ruling the country? food from starving Indians to already
Bagchi asked.
well-supplied British soldiers and
Bagchi said “He (Jack Straw) seems
and the agenda behind it.” to be referring to some internal UK Lord Rami Ranger, a member of stockpiles in Britain and Europe.
report. How do I have access to that? House of Lords of UK Parliament on Meanwhile, another Twitter user
“The documentary is a reflection It’s a 20-year-old report. Why would Wednesday slammed BBC over new advised BBC to focus on UK prob-
of the agency and individuals that we jump on it now? Just because series attacking Prime Minister Nar- lems given Britain has fallen behind
are peddling this narrative again. It Jack says it how do they lend it that endra Modi. India on almost parameters.

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