Rakesh kumar
During a bilateral meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishankar in the national capital, British foreign minister James Cleverly raised the Income Tax department’s’survey’ of the BBC’s New Delhi and Mumbai offices on Wednesday. According to ANI, Cleverly was told in no uncertain terms that all businesses operating in the country must adhere to applicable laws and regulations.
Cleverly is in India for the G-20 meeting of foreign ministers.
The offices of the British broadcaster were raided for three days last month, after which the I.T. department claimed the company’s income was “not commensurate with the scope of its operations in India.” Additionally, officials indicated the BBC had not paid certain taxes.
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The British government defended the BBC’s editorial independence in Parliament, but told opposition lawmakers that it would not comment on an ongoing investigation. Northern Ireland Member of Parliament Jim Shannon referred to the seizures as a “deliberate act of intimidation…,” putting pressure on the government of Rishi Sunak. Labour MPs have also expressed concern.
The’survey’ sparked protests in India and made international headlines because it followed a controversial two-part BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat unrest – ‘India: The Modi Question’ – that is critical of prime minister Narendra Modi, who was then chief minister of the western state.
The government ordered social media platforms to block connections to the documentary, which it described as “propaganda” reflecting a colonial mentality.
The documentary’s prohibition sparked protests in India and abroad, with government critics and free speech advocates arguing in favour of the ban and demanding further action against the BBC.
The government has categorically denied any connection between Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party and the raids, and insisted that the I-T department and tax officials acted independently. A spokesperson for the BJP, however, also criticised the BBC for what he called its “venomous” coverage of India.
Last week, the minister of external affairs, S Jaishankar, criticised the timing of the documentary and labelled it a “hatchet job.” “… (you) assert that this is merely a search for the truth that we decided to publish 20 years later. Do you believe that sequencing is random? Not clear if election season has begun in India, but it certainly has in London and New York “The minister stated to ANI.
