Rejecting a controversial British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India on Thursday termed it “a biased propaganda piece” saying it can’t dignify such a film.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said this documentary show, based on some internal UK report, reflects the colonial mindset.
“The documentary is a reflection on the agency that has made it. We think it is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias, lack of objectivity and continuing colonial mindset are blatantly visible. Can’t dignify such a film,” the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said in response to the question on the PM documentary series.
The UK’s national broadcaster aired a two-part series attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat chief minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002.
The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.
Prominent Indian-origin UK citizens condemned the series. Prominent UK Citizen Lord Rami Ranger said the “BBC caused a great deal of hurt to over a billion Indians”.
The spokesperson of the MEA said the documentary is a reflection of the BBC and individuals that are peddling this narrative again. He even raised questions on “the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it”.
“The documentary is a reflection of the agency and individuals that are peddling this narrative again. It makes us wonder about the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it,” he added.
Referring to apparent remarks made by former UK Secretary Jack Straw in the documentary series, Bagchi said, “He (Jack Straw) seems to be referring to some internal UK report. How do I have access to that? It’s a 20-year-old report. Why would we jump on it now? Just because Jack says it how do they lend it that much legitimacy.”
“I heard words like inquiry and investigations. There is a reason why we use the colonial mindset. We don’t use words loosely. What inquiry they were diplomats there…investigation, are they ruling the country?” Bagchi asked.