Gujarat Assembly was the first to pass such a resolution; Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra followed
New Delhii: Three months after the controversy surrounding the BBC documentary titled “India: The Modi Question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots”, the Goa Assembly in a sudden move on Friday,July 21, passed a resolution requesting the Central Government to take action against the British broadcaste, a report in the Deccan Chronicle saysr.
It became the fifth BJP-ruled state to do so
“The Goa Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution with [a] majority to condemn the act of BBC to defame the nation by releasing a documentary based on falsehoods against a democratically elected leader of India,” said Goa CM Pramod Sawant.
The resolution added: “The documentary holds the then (Gujarat) CM (Modi) directly responsible for these unfortunate events that took place in Gujarat, which is in stark contrast to the Nanavati Commission’s ‘clean chit’ to the State government over the Godhra carnage and consequent communal riots,” the resolution read.
Opposition parties opposed the resolution saying the matter is sub-judice and should not be discussed in the House.
On March 25, the Maharashtra Assembly passed a resolution against the BBC documentary, saying the film attempted to malign the country’s judiciary and create a religious divide. Moved by BJP member Atul Bhatkhalkar, the resolution was passed by a voice vote. The Opposition was not in the House when it was taken up.
On March 23, the Assam Assembly passed a resolution against the BBC documentary, demanding “strictest possible action” against the broadcaster’s “malicious, dangerous agenda to instigate religious communities, arouse religious tension and malign India’s global standing”.
BJP MLA Bhubon Pegu, who moved the resolution, questioned the timing of the release of the documentary and alleged an “international conspiracy” against India.
“It was a very saddening and heartbreaking event. What can be the BBC’s motive behind making this documentary 20 years later? They could have made it then, in 2010, or in 2012. But what is the motive behind broadcasting it in February 2023?
“This is the time of India becoming rashtraguru, of assuming G20 presidency, when PM Narendra Modi is giving leadership to the world … One year ago, after administering vaccines to 220 crore people, India’s economy crossed Great Britain’s economy to become the fifth-largest economy in the world. That is the real tragedy of Britain. That is the real tragedy of the BBC. It is hurting them that a country they ruled for 200 years has now surpassed them to become the fifth-largest economy. They are not able to digest this … This is an international conspiracy against India,” he said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “This is related to Assam too, because it’s connected with the independence of the Indian judiciary. It is not about the BBC, it is about respecting the judiciary or judicial orders … Some days ago, a Supreme Court Bench, comprising Justice A M Khan, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice C T Ravikumar, not only gave clean chit to Narendra Modi in its 450-page judgment, but they also went ahead to describe the entire episode as a political conspiracy.
On March 13, the Madhya Pradesh legislature passed a censure motion against the BBC after it was introduced as a private member’s resolution by BJP MLA Shailendra Jain and seconded by Minister Narottam Mishra.
He said the documentary had also cast aspersions on the country’s judiciary, which amounts to contempt of court, and added that the judiciary works independently and freely in India. Jain said the Central government should take action against the broadcaster.
On March 11, the Gujarat Assembly became the first to move such a resolution. It demanded “strict” action against BBC for airing a “fabricated” documentary that was used as a “tool-kit” to “defame” Modi and destabilise India.
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