British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis on BBC and Oxfam India controversy
New Delhi:
British organizations operating in other countries must comply with the laws of those countries, the UK’s top diplomat in India told NDTV today, as Indian authorities investigate the BBC and Oxfam India for alleged breaches of foreign funding rules a few days later.
The Enforcement Directorate has registered a case against BBC India under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, which deals with how organizations in India can receive funds from abroad.
Authorities are also probing British-founded non-profit Oxfam India after the government accused the charity of breaching foreign funding rules.
British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis said he was aware of the cases but could not go into details of the Oxfam India case.
Ellis told NDTV, “The UK has some globally respected institutions. The BBC is one of them, which must respect the laws of the country they are in. That’s clear.”
He said, “I know the Indian authorities are talking to Oxfam and the BBC. They have to deal with it. But the important thing is that they respect the laws of the country.”
Investigators have alleged that Oxfam India received Rs 1.5 crore between 2013 and 2016 directly into its ‘Foreign Contribution Utility Account’ instead of a designated bank account. Indian government.
The complaint filed by investigators with the home ministry also alleged that Oxfam India had donated Rs 12.71 lakh to another non-profit think tank Center for Policy Research in the financial year 2019-20 in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. Gave Rs. 2010.
When asked about the Oxfam India case, Mr Ellis told NDTV, “I am not going into the details of the case. Of course we talk to the Indian authorities on a number of issues. But I cannot say much more than that.” “
In January, the BBC ran a documentary titled “India: The Modi Question” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots. The government strongly condemned the BBC series as a “propaganda piece designed to advance a discredited narrative” that should not be “dignified” with a response.
A month later, the Income Tax Department surveyed the BBC and sent teams to the broadcaster’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai over allegations of tax irregularities, diversion of profits and non-compliance with regulations.
During the survey, senior BBC staff had to stay in the office overnight to answer questions.