BBC Documentary: US treads cautiously, stressing on partnership with India

Washington: The US State Department on Monday evaded press enquiry on its response to the BBC documentary that examined PM Modi’s handling of 2002 Gujarat riots.

Ned Price, the spokesperson for the department, chose instead to expand on the diplomatic ties his country is maintaining with India.

Without mentioning the documentary by its name, Price said he was not aware of the ‘documentary’ that the media persons were referring to and chose to speak about his country’s global strategic partnership with India.

"We look to everything that ties us together, and we look to reinforce all of those elements that tie us together," he reportedly said.

Price stressed that the partnership the US has with India is exceptionally deep as both countries share common democratic values.

Apparently not wanting to touch upon the controversial subject, Price spoke at length about economic ties and people-to-people ties between the US and India.

When the BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ was debated in UK Parliament, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended PM Modi saying he did not agree with the characterization.

Pakistan-origin MP Imran Hussain initiated a discussion on the documentary in the parliament, which PM Sunak shot down.

"The UK government's position on this has been clear and longstanding and hasn't changed, of course, we don't tolerate persecution where it appears anywhere but I am not sure I agree at all with the characterisation that the honourable gentleman has put forward to," Mr Sunak reportedly said.

UK's national broadcaster BBC claimed that it made the documentary after ‘rigorously researched’ on PM Modi’s leadership as the Chief Minister of Gujarat during the 2002 riots.

The Ministry of External Affairs called the BBC flick a propaganda piece which is biased.