Gandhinagar: Gujarat Assembly on Friday (March 10) passed a resolution requesting the Centre to take strict action against the BBC for tarnishing the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots. “The documentary was not just against PM Modi but against 135 crore citizens of the country,” said minister Harsh Sanghavi.
“PM Modi dedicated his entire life to the service of the nation, weaponised the instrument of development and gave a befitting reply to anti-national elements. He worked hard to put India on the global stage,” he said. 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.The Ministry of External Affairs had termed it a “propaganda piece”, saying it reflected a “colonial mindset”.
The BBC documentary India: The Modi Question, which was released last month, set off a massive row in the country. The broadcaster claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when PM Modi was the chief minister of the state. However, the Ministry of External Affairs trashed the documentary as a “propaganda piece” that lacks objectivity and reflects a colonial mindset.
The two-part documentary features the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was the chief minister of the state during the 2002 riots.
On January 21, the government had issued directions to block multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary. Several opposition parties slammed the government’s action and said they would oppose any censorship.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea seeking the imposition of a complete ban on the BBC in India in the wake of the controversial documentary, terming the petition “entirely misconceived” and “absolutely meritless”.
