‘Witch hunt in opposition to PM Modi’: Indian diaspora in London protests outdoors BBC headquarters

The protests in London got here every week after the Indian authorities imposed a nationwide ban on the airing of the BBC documentary.

London,UPDATED: Jan 29, 2023 22:56 IST

Indian diaspora in London staged protests in opposition to BBC documentary on PM Modi.

By Loveena Tandon: “We do not deserve this,” stated one of many protestors in London, staging demonstrations in opposition to the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian diaspora within the United Kingdom shared issues in regards to the BBC’s narrative, which may ‘create a rift between the Indian Hindu and Muslim communities’ based mostly in England.

The protests in London got here every week after the Indian authorities imposed a nationwide ban on the airing of the BBC documentary.

Deeming the BBC’s two-part collection as a ‘propaganda piece designed to push a selected discredited narrative’, the Centre blocked the BBC’s documentary titled ‘India: The Modi Question’ consisted of PM Modi’s (then Gujarat CM) quizzing by a BBC reporter who requested the state management in regards to the 2002 Gujarat riots and the alleged ethnic mob violence that ensued.

The violence broke out allegedly after a prepare carrying Hindu pilgrims in Godhra was set ablaze.

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The collection additionally alleged PM Modi’s (then Gujarat CM) uncomfortable ties with the Muslim neighborhood in India.

Rebutting the BBC’s tackle the 2002 Gujarat riots and saying that their narrative was lopsided, Indians in a whole lot gathered outdoors the BBC headquarters to hold out demonstrations on January 29.

Indians staged protests in opposition to BBC documentary on PM Modi.
Indian diaspora in London referred to as for boycott of BBC.

“Why is the BBC wanting to create a problem between the Hindu and Muslim communities in the UK?,” said retired Royal Mail worker Vinoo Bhai Sachari, one of the many who came together to protest against the two-part documentary on PM Narendra Modi.

A young girl preferred to keep her face covered; as she said, “The Media, right here within the UK, is beginning to pursue a story which could be very harmful to the UK community…this might endanger the Hindu neighborhood. We don’t deserve this.”

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Another protester, Jay, a younger skilled born within the UK, referred to the 2002 Godhra riots, saying, “The documentary is completely one-sided. They did not see both sides at all. They did not focus on why the riots started and how a train full of men, women and young children burned. There was no focus on the 300 to 400 Hindus who lost their lives. No mention at all of the 200 police officers who died.”

“The BBC has been doing this for various years. We sat quietly. We by no means stated something, however sufficient is sufficient. If this doesn’t cease, we’ll cease paying our licence charge,” Jay added.

In the UK, any household watching or recording a television programme is required to pay a monthly licence fee. The BBC depends on this fee. Many protestors resonated with what Jay said about denying to pay the licence fee if such a partial portrayal continues.

“We would like the BBC to apologise and be questioned in front of the Parliamentary select committee about the intent of making it at a time when the Indo-UK trade deal is being finalised,” said Arun Thakur, president of the National Council of Hindu Temples.

“It’s a witch hunt in opposition to PM Narendra Modi, who was exonerated by the Supreme Court,” stated a protester.

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Meanwhile, the Indian neighborhood staging protests in London additionally questioned the timing of the documentary. They believed that since India is approaching basic elections in 2024, the agenda behind the BBC documentary was to tarnish PM Modi’s picture.

“Why now?” many protesters requested.

“The intent and motif of the documentary should be investigated by an independent body,” stated the president of Shree Ram Mandir Southall, one of many oldest temples within the UK.

Published On:

Jan 29, 2023