Describing the banning of a BBC documentary on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As a matter of press freedom, the US State Department. Said now is the time to highlight the importance of democratic principles like freedom of expression and make it a point across the world. In India.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a regular briefing on Wednesday that Washington supports free media around the world. And that upholding democratic principles such as freedom of expression is crucial.
Responding to a press query, Mr. Price said, “We support the importance of a free press around the world. We emphasize the importance of democratic principles, such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, human rights that contribute to strengthening our democracy. This is a point Which we make in our relationships around the world. This is certainly a point we make in India as well.”
Earlier, addressing a press briefing on Monday (local time), Mr. Price said there are many elements that strengthen the US global strategic partnership with India, including political, economic and deep people-to-people ties.
“I’m not familiar with the documentary you’re talking about. I’m very familiar with the shared values that establish the United States and India as two thriving, vibrant democracies.
When we have concerns about actions being taken in India, we ‘have a way of doing it. The occasion was to give them a voice,’ he said.
Last week, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And distanced himself from a BBC documentary series, saying he “disagrees with the characterization” of his Indian counterpart.
Mr Sunak made the comments in a controversial documentary tabled in the British Parliament by Pakistani-born MP Imran Hussain.
The UK national broadcaster BBC aired a two-part series attacking Prime Minister Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The documentary sparked outrage and was pulled from select platforms.
Addressing a weekly presser in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We think this is a promotional piece. It has no objectivity. It is biased. Note that it has not been shown in India. We do not want to. Answer further on this so that it Don’t get too much respect.”
He even questioned the “purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it”.
