Addressing the survey operations conducted by Indian tax authorities at the BBC’s Mumbai and New Delhi offices, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar told British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly that entities in India must comply with local laws.
Overview
Sources cited by The Hindu stated that Cleverly brought up the BBC raids during his meeting with Jaishankar on Wednesday, to which the Indian minister responded by saying that companies in India “must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations.”
In an interview with ANI, affirming that the issue was raised during the discussions, Cleverly, however, highlighted that the BBC and the government were “separate.” He added that the “strong and professional relationship” with India allowed the two sides to discuss and address these “sensitive issues.”
I didn't see documentary but I've seen reactions in UK & India. BBC is an independent organisation & separate from govt. I enjoy a strong personal relationship with Dr Jaishankar...relationship b/w UK-India growing stronger by the day:UK Foreign Secy on BBC documentary on PM Modi pic.twitter.com/NLsen7ngXR
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2023
However, he said the exact details of the pair’s conversation are best kept private.
Cleverly is visiting New Delhi to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting and the Raisina Dialogue.
British Politicians Condemn Raids
Since the raids, several political leaders in the UK have come out supporting the BBC, following its recent two-part documentary, “India: the Modi Question,” which investigated PM Narendra Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Two days back, The UK government strongly defended the BBC in the House of Commons. It wasn't reported by South Asia's Leading Multimedia News Agency'. But they decided to teeet 18 times quoting 'Bob Blackman' who'd slammed BBC. pic.twitter.com/DYc9FEW4u4
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 23, 2023
Opposition Labour Party Members of Parliament called on the government to act on the “deliberate act of intimidation following the release of an unflattering documentary about the country’s leader.”
During the House of Commons debate last week, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) junior minister David Rutley said that the UK supported the BBC and would use its “broad and deep relationship” with India to communicate the importance of editorial freedom.
"We stand up for the BBC. We fund the BBC...freedom is key, and we want to be able to communicate its importance to our friends across the world, including the Government in India", says UK Govt Minister David Rutley in UK Parliament on IT surveys on BBC pic.twitter.com/pbElJt8Lur
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) February 21, 2023
Jaishankar on BBC Documentary
Last month, Jaishankar criticised the BBC documentary as a “hatchet job” disguised as a “quest for truth” 20 years after the incident. He further stressed that the documentary sought to paint an extremist picture of India and the government, adding that the media house had not addressed similar riots and violence during the opposition’s reign in 1984 in New Delhi.