The US State Department said it is necessary to stress the importance of democratic concepts like freedom of expression and make a point of it around the world as well as in India after India banned a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At a routine briefing on Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price stressed that Washington supports a free press around the world and that it is important to emphasize democratic principles such as freedom of expression.
In response to a question from the media, Price said, ‘We support the importance of a free press around the world. Strength of our democracy. It is a point we make in our relationships around the world. It is certainly a point that we have made in India as well.”
Read also: Indian-American shot dead in US, family injured, second incident in a week
Earlier, addressing a press briefing on Monday (local time), Price said that many elements underpin America’s global strategic partnership with India, including political, economic and people-to-people ties of extraordinary depth. Huh.
“I am not familiar with the documentary you are referring to. I am very familiar with the shared values that underlie the United States and India as two thriving, vibrant democracies. If there is concern about, we have raised our voice that we have to do that,” he said.
Last week, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and distanced himself from the BBC documentary series, saying he did not agree with the characterization of his Indian counterpart.
Sunak made the comment on a controversial documentary made in the British Parliament by Pakistani-origin MP Imran Hussain. 2002 riots. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.
The Foreign Ministry responded to the BBC story, claiming that it was completely biased. Addressing a weekly press conference in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We think this is a propaganda material. There is no objectivity in it. It is biased. Note that it was not screened in India.” We don’t want to answer further on this so that it doesn’t get much dignity.” He also raised questions on the “purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it”.
(With ANI inputs)