Gujarat Assembly passes resolution to take action against BBC for documentary

Gandhinagar: In a resolution approved on Friday, the Gujarat Assembly called on the Centre to take action against BBC sternly for harming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reputation and popularity with its film on the state's riots in 2002.

Vipul Patel, a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, claimed in a statement that the contentious two-part British Broadcasting Corporation series named "India: The Modi Question" inaccurately portrays the events of 2002 in an effort to harm India's reputation abroad.

The documentary claims to have probed certain aspects of the riots, which took place after the Godhra train burning incident when Modi was Gujarat chief minister.

The documentary was banned in India soon after its release.

Patel's resolution was supported by BJP MLAs Manisha Vakil, Amit Thaker, Dhavalsinh Zala and minister Harsh Sanghavi.

It was passed by voice vote in the absence of Congress MLAs who were expelled from the House earlier in the day.

After passing the resolution unanimously, Speaker Shanker Chaudhary said the attempt by BBC is "reprehensible" and is "condemned vehemently," adding the House passed the resolution to send its message to the Centre.

"India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean a news media can act by abusing such freedom," said Patel while moving the private-member resolution in the second sitting of the House.

"If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then it cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary," Patel said in the Assembly.

Through the documentary, there is a deliberate attempt to "tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi" with an agenda to affect the country's intention to find a top place globally, Patel said.

He claimed opposition parties in other countries support the government during such times, but this is not the case in India, which allowed international organisations like the BBC to get the strength to carry out activities against the country.

The Nanavati-Shah Commission concluded after a thorough investigation the burning of coaches S6 and 7 of Sabarmati Express at Godhra on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and that the state-wide riots that followed were spontaneous, Patel said.

The Nanavati-Shah Commission found no evidence the state government, religious organization, or political party played any role in the riots, and attempts to make the then chief minister (Modi) and officials responsible have also failed in the courts, Patel asserted.

Supporting the resolution, BJP MLA Vakil said the intention of the documentary was to tarnish India's global image, adding Modi's life has been a journey of courage and compassion.

As the chief minister and prime minister, he has become the most popular world leader, she said.

On the 2002 riots, she said certain NGOs and activists conspired to defame the Gujarat government and wanted to damage Modi's reputation, adding there was a larger political conspiracy of destabilising the state government by hook or crook.

Vakil referred to the Supreme Court verdict on the Zakia Jafri case giving clean chit to Modi and claimed the BBC documentary was "mere international propaganda which is totally biased and showcases the colonial mindset".

Supporting the resolution, Thaker said Modi is not a question but a solution for various issues plaguing the world today, such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, etc.

The BBC is in the habit of making controversial documentaries on subjects in India, Thaker alleged.

He also questioned the timing of the documentary by connecting it with the conclusion of Congress 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the documentary was not just against Modi but against 135 crore citizens of the country.

"The resolution brought by Vipul Patel for strict action is historic. ..Is it Modi's fault to realise the dream of making Gujarat a riot-free state? Many forces worked to ensure Gujarat does not get a stable government," Sangahvi said in his speech in the House.

He said "so-called intellectuals" started hurling one allegation after another on Modi after he took over as the prime minister.

"As 2024 (Lok Sabha polls) approaches, they (opponents) have no other issue against Modi. They used BBC to make a documentary," Sanghavi said.

He also criticised social activist Teesta Setalvad and said "truths regarding her have not been shown in any documentary".

Sanghavi also quoted "important people" who have commented on and criticised the BBC documentary such as the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, British parliamentarian Bob Blackman, and former BBC head Mark Tully.

The Gujarat minister compared the BBC documentary to the "toolkit" conspiring against India, adding certain sections of the media suffered from "Modi phobia".

With PTI inputs