Indian government slams BBC’s documentary on Gujarat riots of 2002
Key takeaways:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always refused involvement in the Gujarat riots of 2002.
The Indian government has slammed a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his involvement in the Gujarat riots of 2002.
UK’s BBC documentary on Gujarat riots of 2002 getting criticised:
Foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India: The Modi Question lacked neutrality and was propaganda.
The foremost of the two-part series was aired in the UK on Tuesday. The second piece will release next Tuesday.
The BBC revealed it was “committed to emphasising important topics from around the world”.
It said that the Indian government was shown a right to reply, but they refused.
BBC’s documentary on the Gujarat riots of 2002:
The first episode follows Mr Modi’s first involvement in politics, including his climb through the levels of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to his position as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat.
The documentary spotlights a previously unpublished report received by the BBC from the British Foreign Office.
This raises questions regarding Mr Modi’s involvement during the religious riots that had busted out.
This happened after a train moving with Hindu pilgrims the day before was set on fire, slaughtering dozens.
Almost 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in the outbreak of violence, one of the most destructive since Independence.
PM Shri Narendra Modi refuses the claims by BBC:
The report argues that Mr Modi was “directly liable” for the “climate of impunity” that allowed the violence.
Mr Modi has long denied charges that he had any blame for the violence and has not apologised for the outcomes. In 2013, a Supreme Court panel also stated there was inadequate evidence to charge him.
For three days in 2002, Hindu crowds went a riot in Gujarat.
