The Indian government is worried that BBC’s new documentary, “The Hunt for India’s Gandhi” will tarnish the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reputation. The film is critical of Modi, and the Indian government believes that it should be stopped from being seen by the public. YouTube and Twitter have been ordered to take down any videos or tweets about the documentary.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India issued “directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos” and “over 50 tweets” linking to the first episode of the BBC documentary, Kanchan Gupta, an adviser to the ministry said Saturday. The directives come days after protests broke out against the documentary by members of India’s conservative Hindu minority who accuse Mr. Gupta of promoting secularism and attacking their religion. In a statement, Mr. Gupta rejected those claims and defended his work as an adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
The Twitter and YouTube takedowns of offending posts came as a surprise to many, as both platforms have long been considered bastions of free speech. The orders from the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting were vague in their wording, giving the ministry broad discretion in deciding which posts to take down. This raises questions about whether or not the government has the authority to censorship online content based on its own discretion.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has condemned a BBC documentary titled “India’s Muslim Vote” as hateful propaganda that casts aspersions on the authority and credibility of India’s Supreme Court. The documentary aired last week and alleges widespread voter fraud in India’s communal elections, fuelling intra-religious tensions. Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj called the documentary a “malicious propaganda” which has spread division among various Indian communities and made unsubstantiated allegations. She warned international media not to report on the film without verifying its factual accuracy first.
According to the BBC, the documentary “India’s Daughter” has not been aired in India because it is controversial. The documentary, which was directed by Ramarajan Letendre and produced by Helen Zille, covers the 2012
Modi was originally investigated in connection with the Gujarat riots, but was later cleared of any wrongdoing. Following the broadcast of this documentary, many activists and victims of the riots demand an investigation into Modi’s involvement.
The Hindu pilgrims on the train were devastated when their travelling car caught on fire. Angry and frustrated, they began to attack the Muslim passengers, who lived nearby. It quickly became a vicious battle for survival as the two groups fought for control of the scene.
One of the most significant stories to emerge from the Gujarat riots in 2002 was Narendra Modi’s controversial role as chief minister. Modi was named as one of the key players in a Special Investigation Team appointed by India’s apex court 10 years later, which found that he had taken steps to control the violence. Another petition questioning Modi’s exoneration was dismissed last year. While these allegations continue to swirl around him, Modi remains one of India’s most popular politicians and is currently serving as its Prime Minister.
It is alleged that Modi’s governance has been dogged by persistent allegations about the attitude of his government towards India’s Muslim population. The series exploring these allegations claims that systematic Islamophobia is a common feature of Modi’s rule and has resulted in growing protests and unrest.
There has been mounting speculation in recent weeks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have deep ties to the religious right wing Hindu nationalist group, the RSS. Modi’s godfather is reportedly a senior RSS official, and he first rose to national prominence as the head of Gujarat state in 2002, when he oversaw a sweeping crackdown on Ahmadiyya Muslims that left thousands dead. In 2014, Modi was elected prime minister of India with a strong mandate from the Hindu nationalist crowds who had helped him win office. Now, allegations are being made that Modi may have masterminded an elaborate scheme to win votes by playing upon India’s large Muslim population – allegations that could inflict serious political consequences on
The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi considered the documentary ‘The 9/11 Truth Campaign: The Missing Answers’ to be biased and colonial, implying that the filmmakers are motivated by a desire to uphold the American government’s narrative of events on September 11, 2001. Bagchi’s accusation is not unfounded – the documentary has been criticized for its shoddy research and failure to critically examine official accounts of what happened that day. However, despite its problematic features, it does raise important questions about inconsistencies in official narratives purported to account for all aspects of 9/11.
Without a doubt, this film or documentary is a reflection on the agency and individuals that are peddling this narrative again. It makes us wonder about the purpose of this exercise and the agenda behind it, especially as it comes at a time when wider dialogues about race in America have been hindered by divisive rhetoric. Ultimately, we do not wish to dignify such efforts with our reaction – especially as they do nothing but propagate more division among those who should be working towards understanding one another.
Whilst BBCair’s documentary “India’s Muslims: A History in Tension” examines the tensions between India’s Hindi majority and Muslim minority, it is interesting to note the politics of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in relation to those tensions. Modi has championed a policy of ‘Hindutva’, or Hindu nationalism which emphasises the importance of Hindu culture above all else and has seen a rise in incidents of religious violence against Muslims.
Some viewers have responded accusing the BBC of presenting a one-sided view of the India-Pakistan conflict, with some pointing to footage from BJP party members in the documentary. The BBC spokesperson said that it had extensively researched the documentary according to “highest editorial standards”, and that they had contacted a range of voices – including those from within India’s ruling party. However, despite repeated offers, the Indian government declined to respond to any of the issues raised in the series.
currypics from BJP rally in Mumbai ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections
