Disgraceful piece of shoddy journalism: British MP on BBC's series on PM Modi

It is a propaganda video which is completely full of innuendos, British MP Bob Blackman slammed BBC series on PM Modi.

British MP Bob Blackman has lashed out at the BBC over its controversial series on Indian Prime Minister, called it a "disgraceful piece of shoddy journalism".

"The so-called documentary which is more of a propaganda video, if you like in a two-part series... (was) disgraceful piece of shoddy journalism with an attack on Narendra Modi, both in his time as Chief Minister of Gujarat and then his time as Prime Minister....(was) completely full of innuendos," ANI quoted the British MP as saying in an exclusive interview.

Blackman said that the series should not have been released at the first place since Supreme Court of India had investigated the claims against Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 riots and found that there is not a shred of evidence to support them. "I think that's a great shame," he said.

Blackman the claimed that the BBC's series was "full of innuendos" and it was produced by an external organisation and overseen by the British broadcaster. "The so-called documentary which is more of a propaganda video, if you like in a two-part series... (was) disgraceful piece of shoddy journalism with an attack on Narendra Modi, both in his time as Chief Minister of Gujarat and then his time as Prime Minister....(was) completely full of innuendos," the British MP said.

"It should never have been broadcast by the BBC because the BBC has a worldwide reputation. People think, oh my goodness, this must be true. But, it was produced by an external organisation, overseen by the BBC....it (documentary) is far from the truth... it actually did not look in detail into the causes for the Gujarat riots 20 years ago and it certainly didn't look at the all important fact that the Supreme Court thoroughly investigated all the claims against Narendra Modi and found that not a shred of evidence to support them," he added.

The UK MP said that as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002, Narendra Modi had looked to additional police resources, not only within Gujarat but beyond and eventually had called in the army to help quell the riots. "They showed a film of him making appeals for calm and encouraging people to not to riot.... (they) put a whole series of different montages together with different people... I don't know people involved but it was clear they had an axe to grind against Narendra Modi," Blackman said.

Blackman Predicts Return of Modi in 2024

He then agreed with BBC's final views that Prime Minister Narendra Modi he might be reelected in 2024. "So they deserve it because the Indian government have done a remarkable job under the Narendra Modi of transforming the economy in India, leading India to become the fifth biggest economy now in the world, on track to become the leading economy in the world, by the way it is going and the most populous country in the world. We also have to celebrate that India is the biggest democracy in the world where the government can be replaced if that's what the people decide," said Blackman.

"From that perspective, it's very important that we build the friendship, we build the relationship between the two countries and we do so because obviously India has the G20 role this year," he added.

BBC has come up with 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.