The Income Tax survey at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai gave the opposition a new weapon to target the Modi government. Leaders of all political parties targeted the central government, calling it an attack on the freedom of the press. Targeting PM Narendra Modi, JDU leader Rajeev Ranjan alias Lalan Singh shared an old video of the Prime Minister, in which he can be seen praising the BCC. The video is from 2013 when Modi was campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
“Today I recalled the people’s movement of 1974-75 under the leadership of Pujya Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan ji. When there was a complete ban on the media of the country and we could know the important and true news of the country by listening to BBC news.” But today the lust for power has gone beyond that terrible period. The complete control over the national media and the attempt to intimidate the international media with the help of pet parrots is a big conspiracy to end democracy in this country. ,” said Singh in a series of tweets. In one of the tweets, Singh also shared an old video of PM Modi.
In the video PM Modi can be seen saying, “We had All India Radio, Doordarshan and limited number of newspapers. Then common man used to discuss what they hear on BBC. They had no faith in All India Radio and Doordarshan They didn’t trust the newspapers that cost so much money to publish. They used to say, ‘Heard it on the BBC.’ This loss of credibility of the government is a huge threat. And when the system loses faith, people start looking for alternatives.”
In another tweet, Singh further said, “Respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, remember your words and give freedom to the fourth pillar of democracy to work independently in public interest…!”
Honorable Prime Minister Mr. @narendramodi Remember your words and give freedom to the fourth pillar of democracy to work independently in public interest…..! 1/3 https://t.co/15ebsKzWrj— Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh (@LalanSingh_1) February 15, 2023
Sources said the Income Tax department is conducting a survey at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai in the wake of the British public broadcaster’s willful non-compliance of transfer pricing rules and widespread diversion of its profits. Sources said the above exercise carried out by tax officials is termed as “survey” and not search or raid as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act.
Sources said such surveys are regularly conducted and should not be confused with the nature of searches/raids. In the case of BBC, sources said that the above rules are not being followed consistently over the years. As a result of that, several notices have been issued to the BBC. However, the BBC has been consistently disobedient and non-compliant and has substantially diverted its profits, the sources said.
Significantly, the development comes weeks after the BBC released a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi – “India: The Modi Question”, which courted controversy. The Center had issued directions to block several YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary on PM Modi. The Supreme Court had on February 3 directed the central government to produce the original records relating to its decision to block the BBC documentary. (With ANI inputs)