'Unbalanced and inaccurate': Hindu Forum of Britain slams BBC's controversial series on PM Modi
London, Jan 22: The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) has slammed the BBC for its controversial series on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the country's national broadcaster lacked judgment in airing the programme.
Potential
to
Cause
Untold
Damage
"In
this
100th
year
of
broadcasting
at
the
BBC
the
core
ethos
of
impartial
reporting
appears
to
have
been
sadly
lost
in
the
content
of
INDIA:
The
Modi
Question.
The
Hindu
community
has
in
large
numbers
communicated
to
us
the
insensitivity
and
lack
of
judgment
the
BBC
has
exercised
in
airing
a
programme
which
has
the
potential
to
cause
untold
damage
at
a
time
when
communities,
police
and
ordinary
people
in
Leicester
and
other
cities
are
trying
to
rebuild
relationships,
trust
and
harmony
after
the
events
of
Summer
2022,"
the
HFB
said
in
a
letter
to
Deborah
Turness,
CEO
of
BBC
News.
Citing its Annual Report 2021/22, the letter reminded the UK's national broadcaster that impartiality is fundamental to the trust that audiences have in the BBC. "It is the cornerstone of who we are and what we do, and the reason we are valued as an independent voice throughout the world. Impartiality has never been easy, but our audiences are right to expect the highest possible standards," the letter read.
A
Hindu
Hate
Piece
"This
preposterous
ill-advised
production
and
airing
of
a
Hindu
hate
piece
could
well
be
the
ammunition
thugs
need
to
go
out
and
target
Hindus.
Does
the
BBC
not
have
any
responsibility?
The
program
itself
was
unbalanced
and
inaccurate.
Any
loss
of
life
must
be
condemned.
59
Hindus
were
brutally
burnt
alive
and
several
suffered
life-changing
burns
when
an
organised
mob
burnt
coach
S-6
of
a
train
with
Hindu
pilgrims
on
board
in
2002.
This,
and
only
this
killing
of
innocent
men,
women
and
children
was
the
trigger
point
for
what
happened
subsequently
by
way
of
disturbances
in
Gujarat
but
very
little
air
time
was
given
to
this,"
the
letter
stated
further.
The letter pointed out the Supreme Court giving a clean chit to Narendra Modi on the Gujarat riots.
Biased
Nature
of
the
Programme
The
HFB
claimed
that
it
values
the
UK-INDIA
trade,
education
and
cultural
ties
and
hopes
that
despite
attempts
to
damage
this
by
defaming
the
elected
leader
of
the
world's
largest
democracy
and
it
will
remain
intact
and
flourish.
"One
of
the
biggest
strengths
of
our
NHS
is
the
dedication
and
professionalism
of
doctors
and
nurses
from
India.
Today,
HFB
has
heard
voices
of
disgust
about
the
biased
nature
of
the
programme
from
all
sections
of
the
community,"
the
letter
added.
It also expressed its disappointment at the total lack of understanding of Hindu sentiments by the BBC. "BBC should be a cause for good. Any broadcast which stokes disharmony amongst communities and damages years of good work which the Hindu Forum of Britain and other organisations do to bring communities together is despicable," the HFB stated.
"We can only hope that part 2 of the programme will redress the balance and go some way to restoring our TRUST in the BBC. We remain hopeful. We await a swift and comprehensive response to our concerns," the HFB said in the letter.
The Hindu Forum of Britain is an organisation of British Hindus, with more than 300 member organisations from around the country. HFB is the first port of call from the central government and the most reported Hindu organisation in the British media.
The BBC, which has all along attempted to isolate Hindus by selectively reporting crimes against Hindus, came up with the series that discusses PM Modi's role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
India's
Response
However,
the
Ministry
of
External
Affairs
has
slammed
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.