TMC MP Mahua Moitra hit out at the BJP-led Centre over its reported move against the BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said that the “courtiers of the world’s largest democracy are insecure”.
The Centre has reportedly issued directions for blocking Twitter posts and YouTube videos sharing links to the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question”. Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reportedly issued the order on Friday using the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021.
Taking to Twitter, she said, “Govt on war footing to ensure no one in India can watch a mere @BBC show. Shame that the emperor & courtiers of the world’s largest democracy are so insecure. (sic)”
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien also slammed the Centre and alleged that one of his tweets in this regard was deleted.
The two-part BBC documentary reportedly investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Modi was the chief minister of the state.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had described the BBC documentary 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 on Thursday responding to questions on the documentary.
According to sources, the documentary is reviewed by senior officials of several ministries, including external affairs, home affairs, and information and broadcasting, who found it to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the authority and credibility of the Supreme Court, sow divisions among various Indian communities, and make unsubstantiated allegations regarding actions of foreign governments in India.
The officials said that the documentary was found to be undermining the sovereignty and integrity of India, and has the potential to adversely impact friendly relations with foreign states as also public order within the country, PTI reported.
