The United States has made a public statement regarding the Income Tax raids on the BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi. State Department spokesman Ned Price told the media that the US is aware of the survey operation conducted by the IT Department. bbc office Is in Delhi but is not in a position to deliver its verdict.
“We are aware of the search of the BBC offices in Delhi by the Indian tax authorities. I will need to refer you to the Indian authorities for the details of this search. Beyond this discrete action, what I would say more broadly is the general The point is I’ve made it consistently in this context, but also in a universal context,” Price told reporters.
He further said that a free press is important as it contributes to strengthening democracy. “We support the importance of a free press around the world. We continue to highlight the importance of Freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief as human rights that contribute to the strengthening of democracy around the world. It has strengthened this democracy in this country. It has strengthened India’s democracy,” Price asserted.
Asked whether the action by India’s tax department is against the spirit or values of democracy, Price said, “I can’t say. We are aware of the facts of these searches, but I am not in a position to offer.” ” a decision.”
On Tuesday, IT sleuths raided the Delhi and Mumbai offices of UK-based broadcaster BBC. Officials said the department is probing the business operations of the company and documents related to its Indian unit.
The surprising action comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and India.
The Ministry of External Affairs accused the BBC of indulging in “anti-India propaganda”.
During this, BBC said it was “cooperating fully” with authorities.
It added, “Income Tax officials are currently at the BBC’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.” “We hope this situation is resolved as soon as possible.”
Police sealed off the BBC’s New Delhi office, which occupies two floors of a multi-storey building in the capital’s business centre.
A BBC employee based in New Delhi said officers were “seizing all the phones” during the tax raid.
Last month, the BBC aired a two-part documentary alleging that Hindu nationalist Modi ordered the police to turn a blind eye to communal riots in Gujarat when he was chief minister. At least 1,000 people were killed in the violence, most of whom were minority Muslims.
The government of India, using emergency powers under its information technology laws, blocked videos and tweets sharing links to the documentary – which was not aired in India.
Freedom of the Press in India:
Since Modi came to power in 2014, India has dropped 10 places to rank 150 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.
The Editors Guild of India said Tuesday’s tax raid was part of a “wider trend of using government agencies to intimidate or harass press organizations critical of government policies”.
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