BBC’s documentary on the Gujarat riots of 2002 blocked by the government
Key takeaways:
- The documentary by the BBC is essential to the role played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM of Gujarat, in 2002.
The Union government on Saturday demanded that video-sharing service YouTube take down videos of a BBC’s documentary on the Gujarat riots of 2002.
They even asked Twitter to clear posts about the film that the government believes poses a threat to the nation’s sovereignty, its connections with other countries, and public order, people aware of the case said.
Government slams BBC’s documentary of the Gujarat riots of 2002:
The documentary by the BBC is essential to the role essayed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM of Gujarat, in 2002.
The sectarian brutality claimed the lives of almost 1,000 people — largely Muslims —after a train with Hindu pilgrims was burned allegedly by a Muslim crowd.
Government dismisses BBC’s documentary title:
The action came after Indian authorities, including the ministry of external affairs, slammed the movie titled India: The Modi Question as “propaganda” and a consideration of “prejudice and a colonial mindset” on Thursday.
According to a person who requested not to reveal his name, the Union information and broadcasting ministry summoned emergency government forces under the IT Rules, 2021, to flag the versions of the documentary and nearly 50 tweets, including by rival leader and Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien.
The person mentioned above said that both YouTube and Twitter have relented with the orders.
“While the documentary was not available in India by the BBC, some YouTube channels have posted it to promote an anti-India agenda.
“It is apprised that YouTube has even been ordered to block the video if it is again posted on its platform. Twitter has also been mandated to identify and thwart the tweets having the link to the video on other platforms,” the functionary said.
