The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday dismissed a BBC documentary criticising PM Narendra Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots as a “propaganda piece.”
MEA Statement
During a press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the documentary reflects the BBC’s “bias, lack of objectivity, and continuing colonial mindset.” He accused the British news agency of trying to “push a particular discredited narrative,” saying the film is a “reflection on the agency and individuals” who are peddling it.
"Propaganda..shows colonial mindset", MEA Spox @MEAIndia @abagchimea hits out at BBC documentary on PM Modi pic.twitter.com/PR58CgMNG0
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 19, 2023
“It makes us wonder about the purpose of this exercise and the agenda behind it and we do not wish to dignify such efforts,” Bagchi said.
The Documentary
The documentary, titled ‘India: The Modi Question,’ was released on Wednesday, accusing Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, of playing a “proactive part” in encouraging the 2002 riots. In the film, former UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is seen substantiating the allegations.
Furthermore, Straw claimed that the UK launched an investigation into the riots, leading to three British citizens’ deaths.
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Responding to Straw’s comments, Bagchi said that the Foreign Secretary’s claims are not legitimate as he was a diplomat, indicating that the official had no right to conduct an investigation in the first place. He noted that there is an “agenda” behind Straw’s remarks.
Kanwal Sibal, India’s Foreign Secretary at the time, tweeted that he was aware of the “mischief” by the UK High Commission, which sent a diplomat to Gujarat and published a “highly slanted” report to EU officials in New Delhi.
UK Response
In response to a question raised by Labour party MP Imran Hussein regarding the BBC documentary on Thursday, wherein Hussein quoted the Foreign & Commonwealth Office accusing Modi of being “directly responsible” for the riots, British PM Rishi Sunak said he does not agree with the lawmaker’s “characterisation.”