Last Update: January 29, 2023, 20:37 IST
Thiruvananthapuram, India
Anil K Antony, son of Congress leader AK Antony, has resigned from the Congress. (Twitter/@anilkantony)
Anil opposed the documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, after Modi supported the Western state, saying that projecting the British broadcaster’s views on Indian institutions would “undermine” the country’s sovereignty
Anil, son of former Union Defense Minister AK Antony, on Sunday termed BBC News channel as a “repeated offender” which has questioned India’s territorial integrity in the past.
Anil’s statement comes days after his comments against a controversial documentary by the channel on the 2002 Gujarat riots, which has created a political storm in the country.
Anil Antony, on his Twitter handle, continued his campaign against the British broadcaster by posting examples of its “past shenanigans”, such as publishing small maps India without kashmir
In his tweet, in which he tagged senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, Anil also took a dig at the grand old party by terming the BBC as the “perfect ally” for the “current INC” and its allies.
“Some old BBC hoax, repeat offenders questioning India’s territorial integrity, publishes uncropped maps of Kashmir. Truly independent media without vested interests, and full ally to current @INCIndia & partners. @Jairam_Ramesh @SupriyaShrinate,” he tweeted.
Ramesh had recently taken a jibe at Anil, accusing him of “neglecting” his duties towards the Congress and the Bharat Jodo Yatra, without naming him.
Without taking any names, Ramesh drew a comparison between former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s son and Anil Antony, saying one is a “Bharat Yatri” walking barefoot to unite the country, while the other is “living his days”. Enjoyin’ Ravi”.
Earlier this week, Anil had opposed a documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots when he was prime minister Narendra Modi It supported the Western state by saying that projecting the British broadcaster’s views on Indian institutions would “undermine” the country’s sovereignty.
In a tweet, Anil said that despite major differences with the BJP, those who support and hold the views of British broadcaster and former UK foreign secretary Jack Straw, “the brain behind the Iraq war,” (the US leadership (2003) are setting a dangerous precedent on Indian institutions.
Anil had resigned from his posts in KPCC Digital Media and AICC Social Media and Digital Communications Cell following an uproar over his tweet opposing the documentary.
He had said that his decision was taken because of “intolerable calls” for him to retract or change his tweets and “abuses” against him on social media, even from within the party.
Anil, however, said that he would continue to be a Congressman as he was not giving up the primary membership of the party.
Following his resignation, the Congress in Kerala also came down heavily on Anil over his tweet against the BBC documentary, saying that dissenters can find other avenues.
Congress leaders in the southern state were of the view that Anil took a stand contrary to the declared policies of the grand old party.
A two-part BBC documentary, which claimed to have investigated certain aspects related to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister of that state, has been dismissed as a “propaganda piece” by the Ministry of External Affairs which lacked objectivity and reflected a “colonial mindset”.
The Center had last week directed the blocking of several YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary.
read all latest politics news Here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)