The Karnataka unit of Congress has decided to screen the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots on Wednesday.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M Lakshman has threatened to play the documentary in Mysuru city.
“The BBC made a documentary to reflect upon the truth and you are banning it everywhere and not allowing screening, I am telling you that we will screen the documentary in the Congress office tomorrow (February 1) and we will invite the public, come let’s see what you will do, I know the BJP government is in power here. Will you arrest us ? Will you put cops here to prevent us? Do it,” Lakshman said.
The two-part documentary “India: The Modi Question” reportedly claimed to have investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Modi was the chief minister of the state.
While several opposition parties in India came out in support of the series, the Centre reportedly issued directions for blocking Twitter posts and YouTube videos sharing links to the documentary.
The BBC documentary was rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs as a “propaganda piece” that lacked objectivity and reflected a “colonial mindset”.
“Let me just make it very clear that we think this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias, the lack of objectivity, and frankly a continuing colonial mindset, are blatantly visible,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi had said responding to questions on the documentary.
Several universities across the country, including Jawahar Lal Nehru (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia varsities in Delhi, recently tried to screen the controversial documentary.
The Centre has reportedly issued directions for blocking Twitter posts and YouTube videos sharing links to the documentary.
