Shashi Tharoor Criticizes Indian Government’s Ban on BBC Documentary on 2002 Riots

-

Shashi Tharoor, a Congress leader and former Minister of State for External Affairs, has spoken out against the decision of the Indian government to ban a BBC documentary on the Gujarat riots of 2002. In his statement, he questioned the logic behind the ban and argued that it is an overreaction and unnecessary. He said “How can a (BBC) documentary affect the sovereignty of our nation? The ban is an overreaction & unnecessary by Centre. We’re a strong country, we could’ve ignored this.”

shashi tharoor speaking to media
Photo credit : ANI twitter.

He further added that the country’s sovereignty and national security are not something that can be easily affected by a documentary. He suggested that instead of banning the documentary, the government could have ignored it or offered a counter-narrative to provide a different perspective on the events depicted in the documentary. He also stated that India is a democracy, and the freedom of speech and expression should be protected, and the decision to ban the documentary is a violation of those rights.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has released a two-part series entitled India: The Modi Question, which has sparked controversy. According to reports, the documentary examines the political and personal life of Narendra Modi, specifically focusing on the Gujarat government’s suspected involvement in the Gujarat riots of 2002.

The documentary centers around Modi’s tenure as chief minister of Gujarat and the BJP government’s perceived inaction or indifference during the 2002 riots, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Muslims.

Critics argue that the BBC documentary, which aims to tarnish Modi’s image despite the fact that the then-BJP administration was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Supreme courts, has sparked a strong reaction from UK MPs and Indian citizens.

Previously, Anil Antony, the son of former defence minister and senior Congress politician AK Antony, resigned from the Congress party due to pressure from the party after he defended Prime Minister Modi’s decision to ban a BBC documentary in India.

Support Indian Spectator, follow us on Google News. Submit your opinion and guest articles on Info.indianspectator@gmail.com

IS NewsDesk
Stories curated by our interns and news crew. Originally reported or general compilation from various available sources and news agencies.

Latest News

Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar: The New Faces of Election Commission

In a significant turn of events, India has appointed former bureaucrats Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar as the...

What Exactly is IPO Financing and How Does It Impact Investment Strategies?

In the frenzied world of initial public offerings (IPOs), where the promise of substantial gains looms large, a lesser-known...

PM Modi Announces Sudha Murty’s Nomination to Rajya Sabha by President Murmu

In a big news that lines up with International Women's Day, Sudha Murthy, a well-known writer and someone who...

Top 7 Buy Now and Pay Later Application, Convenience of Easy Payments

In today's fast-paced digital world, the concept of 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) has gained significant traction, offering consumers...

Closing Your Flipkart Pay Later Account: A Comprehensive Walkthrough

So, you've been using Flipkart, taking advantage of their Pay Later option, but now it's time to bid it...

Bihar’s Scheduled Competency Test for Newly Appointed Teachers Faces Delay

The Bihar School Examination Committee recently announced the postponement of the second session of the competency test for appointed...

PM Narendra Modi’s Deep Sea Dwarka Darshan Captured Underwater

Prime Ministe­r Narendra Modi embarked on a spiritual e­xpedition, delving into the oce­an depths to offer prayers at the­...

Damodar Savarkar: A Journey of Controversy and Conviction

You know, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a prominent figure in Indian politics, had quite the journey. Born on 28th May...