The broadcast company says it is fully cooperating. But the timing of the broadcast of the documentary is questionable as India is going to parliamentary polls in 2024.
Faridkot
The move of the Income Tax department to “Survery” BBC’s income tax transactions by raiding the offices of the one of the largest news corporation in Delhi and Mumbai, has drawn a sharp criticism from the Editors Guild of India besides some politicians and press.
The IT department raided the BBC offices at about 11 am today and asked the staff to switch off their mobile phones and deposit those including laptops at a particular place as per media organizations today.
The move of conducting a “Survey’ by IT department is seen as a fall out with the broadcast company soon after it released two parts doccumentry”Inida-The Modi question” which was banned by the government of India on Youtube and Twitter besides restricting it on all online channels to share it.
The documentary allegedly focuses on Gujrat riots in 2002 and later on, allegedly marginalising a particular community in India by the government.
EGI said
“The survey by the IT department is in continuation of the trend of using government agencies to intimidate and harass press organizations that are critical of government policies or the ruling establishment. In September 2021,offices of News Click and New Laundry were similarly”surveyed”by IT department. In June 2021,the ED had conducted raids at the offices of News Click. In each case,the raids and surveys were against the backdrop of critical coverage of the government establishment by the news organizations," the Editors Guild Of India said in a letter posted on twitter.
“This is a trend that undermines constitunaal democracy. The Guild demands that great care and sensitivity be shown in all such investigations so as to not undermine the rights of journalists and media organizations. The guild reiterates its earlier demand that the government ensure that such investigations are conducted within the prescribed rules and they don't degenerate into instruments of harassment or to intimidate independent media,” reads the letter of the EGI.
Mohia Moitra of the Trianmool congress also criticised the move.
In a tweet she said,"Reports of IT raid at BBC's Delhi office.
wow really?how unexpected."meanwhile farsaan seva for Adani when he drops in for a chat with chairman @SEBI_India office.
Prashant Bhusahn tweet
The noted Apex court lawyer Prashant Bhusan said in a tweet,"The Bloodhounds of the government are at it again to harass and intimidate anyone who says or shows anything that Modi does not like.Now raiding BBC for daring to show a film"The Modi question,"."This is most vindictive and fascist government ever."Much worse than the emergency. On its last legs.
George wright of BBC wrote
George Wright of the BBC India writes"Although the documentary was broadcast on television only in the UK ,India's government has attempted to block people sharing India :The Modi Question online,calling it ''hostile propaganda and anti India garbage" with the colonial mindset.
The BBC had said that it was fully cooperating with the IT department during the Survey.
The falling standard of journalism
India slipped to the 150th rank out of 180 last year as far as freedom of press is concerned.
Typewriters like journalists are facilitated by the government and those who bring the truth out are coerced or booked in various cases.
Even online platforms like the "Wire" have also faced the ire of the government.