‘International plot to tarnish India’: With Goa, 5 BJP-ruled states have passed resolutions against BBC documentary on Modi

The resolution added: “The documentary holds the then (Gujarat) CM (Modi) directly responsible for these unfortunate events that took place in Gujarat, which is in stark contrast to the Nanavati Commission’s ‘clean chit’ to the State government over the Godhra carnage and consequent communal riots,” the resolution read. Opposition parties opposed the resolution saying the matter is sub-judice and should not be discussed in the House.

On March 25, the Maharashtra Assembly passed a resolution against the BBC documentary, saying the film attempted to malign the country’s judiciary and create a religious divide. The resolution, moved by BJP member Atul Bhatkhalkar, was passed by a voice vote. The Opposition was not in the House when it was taken up.

On March 23, the Assam Assembly passed a resolution against the BBC documentary, demanding “strictest possible action” against the broadcaster’s “malicious, dangerous agenda to instigate religious communities, flare religious tension and malign India’s global standing”.

BJP MLA Bhubon Pegu, who moved the resolution, questioned the timing of the release of the documentary and alleged an “international conspiracy” against India. “It was a very saddening and heartbreaking event. What can be the BBC’s motive behind making this documentary 20 years later? They could have made it then, in 2010, or in 2012. But what is the motive behind broadcasting it in February 2023? This is the time of India becoming rashtraguru, of assuming G20 presidency, when PM Narendra Modi is giving leadership to the world … One year ago, after administering vaccines to 220 crore people, India’s economy crossed Great Britain’s economy to become the fifth-largest economy in the world. That is the real tragedy of Britain. That is the real tragedy of the BBC. It is hurting them that a country they ruled for 200 years has now surpassed them to become the fifth-largest economy. They are not able to digest this … This is an international conspiracy against India,” he said.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “This is related to Assam too, because it’s connected with the independence of the Indian judiciary. It is not about the BBC, it is about respecting the judiciary or judicial orders … Some days ago, a Supreme Court Bench, comprising Justice A M Khan, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice C T Ravikumar, not only gave clean chit to Narendra Modi in its 450-page judgment, they also went ahead to describe the entire episode as a political conspiracy.

On March 13, the Madhya Pradesh legislature passed a censure motion against the BBC after it was introduced as a private member’s resolution by BJP MLA Shailendra Jain and seconded by Minister Narottam Mishra. Before the motion was passed by voice vote, Jain said the BBC had telecast an objectionable documentary by misinterpreting the 2002 Gujarat riots and portrayed Modi in a bad light.

He said the documentary had also cast aspersions on the country’s judiciary, which amounts to contempt of court, and added that the judiciary works independently and freely in India. Jain said the Central government should take action against the broadcaster.

On March 11, the Gujarat Assembly became the first to move such a resolution. It demanded “strict” action against BBC for airing a “fabricated” documentary that was used as a “tool-kit” to “defame” Modi and destabilise India. However, Congress MLAs, who were earlier suspended for protesting against the change of “prasad” at Ambaji temple, were absent from the Assembly.

The private member’s resolution, moved by Sojitra MLA Vipul Patel of the BJP, was passed after ruling party MLAs discussed the resolution for almost 90 minutes. “The passage of a private member’s resolution unanimously by all the members present is a big thing. This reflects how much anger is there among the masses regarding the BBC documentary,” Speaker Chaudhary said afterwards.

“BBC seems to be working with a hidden agenda against the country and the government of India,” stated the resolution, adding it was nothing but an “agenda” against PM Modi whose “prestige, image and leadership” had been appreciated internationally.

Minister Harsh Sanghavi listed the chronology of the Godhra train carnage of 2002 and cited the comments made against the documentary by UK MP Bob Blackman and Member of House of Lords of UK Raminder Ranger. “This documentary is nothing but a tool-kit to act against India. In psychology, you might have heard of phobia. Some media suffer from Modi-phobia or India-phobia,” he said.