BBC DOCUMENTARY TO BE SCREENED AT AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT DURING MODI’S TRIP

Mon 22 May 2023:

BBC documentary, India: The Modi Question, which was released in January this year, will be screened at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra.

Interestingly, the two-part documentary series, which faced plenty of criticism from government sympathisers, will be screened at the same time when Modi is scheduled to visit the country on a three-day trip.

BBC Documentary Screening in Australian Parliament on 24th May.

India – The Modi Question https://t.co/jYYyDgzPkM

— Bhavika Kapoor ✋ (@BhavikaKapoor5) May 20, 2023

Modi will attend a mega community event with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Sydney to celebrate the country’s dynamic and diverse Indian diaspora, a core part of our multicultural community,” a statement from the Australian Parliament stated on Tuesday.

Landed in Sydney to a warm welcome by the Indian community. Looking forward to various programmes over the next two days. pic.twitter.com/gE8obDI5eD

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2023

The screening will be organised by human rights organisations including Amnesty International, the Australia and New Zealand chapters of Hindus for Human Rights, the Muslim Collective, The Periyar-Ambedkar Thought Circle-Australia, The Humanism Project and The Centre for Culture-Centred Approach to Research and Evaluation.

After the screening, a discussion on Modi’s timeline as Gujarat’s CM during the riots, to the present will be held. Speakers include Aakashi Bhatt, daughter of jailed Gujarat IPS police officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who is currently serving life imprisonment in a custodial death case. Bhatt had made concerning remarks on Modi’s handling of the riots.

Australian senators David Shoebridge and Jordon Steele-John will address the audience at the screening.

The screening is a private affair. The Australian Parliament has rented out space.

What is the BBC documentary controversy?

EXPLAINER: WHY MODI DOESN’T WANT INDIA TO WATCH BBC FILM ON GUJARAT CARNAGE

The two-part India: The Modi Question focuses on the 2002 Gujarat riots that killed thousands and left millions homeless, especially in the Muslim community and the role played by the then chief minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The documentary criticises the PM of India for his alleged insufficient action, eventually leading to the massacre and displacement of thousands of people, mostly from the Muslim community, and property damage.

The summary of the report mentions statements such as “extend of violence much greater than reported”, “widespread and systematic rape of Muslim women”, “violence politically motivated”, “aim was to purge Muslims from Hindu areas”, “their systematic of violence has all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing”.

Speaking to the BBC, former foreign secretary, Jack Straw (2001-2006) said he was personally involved in the investigations as the data and results provided were alarming.

Summon to BBC

INDIAN COURT ISSUES BBC WITH SUMMONS OVER MODI DOCUMENTARY

The income tax department conducted ‘surveys’ at the BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi the following month.

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a summon to BBC on a defamation suit filed by an NGO claiming that its documentary “cast a slur on the reputation of India, its judiciary and Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the NGO, said the suit for defamation against the BBC is in relation to the documentary which has “defamed” India and the whole system including the judiciary.

(With inputs from agencies)

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