BBC in dock for supporting child marriage, calls Assam govt’s action ‘discrimination against Muslims’

While most people have lauded the Assam Government's decision on coming down heavily on child marriages, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), has strongly backed child marriages.

Assam is waging a 'war' against child marriages, a social evil that has plagued the country for years. With teenage pregnancy at 16.8%, the child marriage crackdown in Assam is a significant step towards saving the girl child.

While most people have lauded the Assam Government's decision on coming down heavily on child marriages, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), has strongly backed child marriages.

In an article titled "Indian women protest against child marriage mass arrest", the BBC framed the narrative that Indian women are somehow in favour of child marriages.

Notably, BBC in its own report says that child marriages are prevalent in India due to patriarchal traditions, and then goes on to support the case.

In another article, "Assam: India child brides desperate after mass arrests", the BBC argued that arresting men involved in child marriages leaves their child brides without any support.

The BBC has also claimed that this crackdown on child marriages is discriminatory against Muslims since they are mostly involved in child marriages.

"Mostly uneducated and poor, they say the arrested men are primary breadwinners for their families and that they depend on them to survive. Videos of women, wailing outside police stations and rolling on the ground, have cascaded over social media, fuelling feelings of anger and outrage", reads BBC's article.

With the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government stating that the ongoing drive against child marriages will be intensified, the opposition termed the exercise as a "political stunt" with a "communal design".

The state government started its crackdown on child marriage on February 3. Over 3,000 people allegedly linked with child marriages have been arrested so far and lodged in temporary jails.

BBC controversy

The BBC is in news for publishing a two-part series 'India: The Modi Question' around his role in 2002 Gujarat riots. This has been criticised by several British politicians including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The Ministry of External Affairs has lashed out at the series calling it a "propaganda piece."
"Do note that this has not been screened in India...We think that this is a propaganda piece, designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias, lack of objectivity and continuing colonial mindset is blatantly visible," ANI quoted External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi as saying.

"If anything, this film or documentary is a reflection on the agency & individuals that are peddling this narrative again. It makes us wonder about the purpose of this exercise &the agenda behind it. Frankly, we don't wish to dignify such efforts," he added.