BBC is the most ‘Bhrasht Bakwaas Corporation’: BJP slams broadcaster

On Tuesday, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged there were similarities between the agenda of the Congress and the BBC as they both “support anti-national forces”. The BJP leader said at a press conference, “The BBC, with their activities, has become the most ‘Bhrasht Bakwaas Corporation’ in the world. Unfortunately, the BBC’s propaganda and the Congress’s agenda are on the same lines. Today, India is attaining great heights under PM Modi’s leadership, getting the G-20 presidency and some sections do not like this … The BBC has every right to do journalism in India but they will have to abide by the law of the land. If they have been following the law of the land, why are they getting scared?”

Bhatia said the I-T Department’s surveys were lawful. “Income-Tax Department lawfully carried out the operations at the BBC offices. The I-T Department is no longer the ‘caged parrot’ as the Supreme Court had said about government institutions during the Congress rule.”

Citing instances of the broadcaster allegedly acting against national interests, Bhatia said, “In one of its programmes, the BBC unleashed the most venomous attacks against our country. The programme presenter referred to a commander of a terrorist outfit operating in Kashmir (LeT commander Burhan Wani who was killed in 2016) as a charismatic young militant … What kind of journalism is this? You (BBC) are working in India but trying to sabotage our Constitution. In another report, it said Holi is a filthy festival. What do you know about our festivals? In another report, they insulted our icons saying that Mahatma Gandhi failed to liberate India in 1946.”

He went on to say, “This shows that the BBC does venomous and shallow reporting on India. The BBC wishes to operate in India yet refuses to respect the icons of the country.”

To drive home his point, Bhatia cited an instance when former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher described the BBC as the “Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation”. The broadcaster should have paid heed to the words of the UK’s longest-serving prime minister, he added.

Responding to the Congress’s criticism of the I-T Department’s actions against BBC, the BJP spokesperson said, “BBC propaganda and Congress agenda go together. The Congress should remember that its own leader and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had imposed a ban on the BBC.” He alleged that the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi, and other Opposition parties had been feeling “pained” by the country’s rise under Modi.

Accusing the Congress of supporting “anti-national” forces, he said, “Your hate for Modi is so much that you politicise even a probe agency’s work. You always question constitutional authorities such as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.”

Bhatia said, “My question to the Congress and other Opposition parties is that when the survey (at the BBC) has not even come to any logical conclusion, on which basis are they standing with the anti-national forces? Why can’t they wait patiently for the report? Why is it that the Congress always stands with China, BBC, and even terrorists?”