BBC Line: Hours after Income Tax officials raided the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) offices in Delhi and Mumbai, it issued a statement saying the organization is “cooperating fully” with the probe agency.
The Income Tax Department on Tuesday carried out a survey operation at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of its probe into alleged tax evasion.
Significantly, this action comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary, “India: The Modi Question”. The BBC’s press office tweeted: “Income Tax officials are currently at BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai and we are co-operating fully. We hope this situation is resolved as soon as possible.”
Congress expressed serious concern over the raid
Earlier today, the Congress termed the raid on the British broadcaster’s offices as a hostile move by the ruling government to undermine the fourth pillar of democracy. “Time and again, the freedom of the press has been under attack under the Modi government. This is done with brazen and unprovoked vengeance to stifle even remotely critical voices. If institutions are used to attack the opposition and the media No democracy can survive if it is done for. People will oppose it,” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the ruling BJP government, during a press conference on Tuesday, supported the IT department’s move and termed the media outlet as the “world’s most corrupt organisation”. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “The Income Tax department raided the BBC office legally. The IT department is no longer a ‘caged parrot’ as the Supreme Court said about government institutions during Congress rule.”
“BBC has become the most ‘corrupt rubbish corporation’ in the world. Unfortunately, BBC’s propaganda and Congress’ agenda are on the same lines. Today, India under the leadership of PM Modi is achieving great heights and certain sections Do not like BBC has every right to do journalism in India, but they have to follow the law of the country.
(with inputs from agencies)
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