The Indian government has reportedly ordered Twitter and YouTube to remove links to a BBC documentary about the 2002 Gujarat riots and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to local Indian media.
Several tweets and YouTube videos of the documentary “India: The Modi Question” are no longer accessible on microblogging and video sharing networks.
A day after British Prime Minister Rishi Singh distanced himself from the documentary series, saying he did not agree with Pakistani-born MP Imran Hussain’s “characterization of his Indian counterpart in the UK parliament”, the ministry According to sources JEE News, the two social media titans were directed to block the first episode of the BBC documentary.
According to sources, India had directed Twitter to delete more than 50 tweets regarding the documentary.
One of the opposition figures whose tweet about the documentary was deleted by Twitter was Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien.
O’Brien said, “Censorship. Twitter has removed my tweet about a BBC documentary. It was seen by millions of people. An hour-long BBC documentary exposes that the minister How the elites hate the minorities,” O’Brien said.
CENSORSHIP@Twitter @TwitterIndia HAS TAKEN DOWN MY TWEET of the #BBCDocumentary, it received lakhs of views
— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) January 21, 2023
The 1 hr @BBC docu exposes how PM @narendramodi HATES MINORITIES
Here’s👇the mail I recieved. Also see flimsy reason given. Oppn will continue to fight the good fight pic.twitter.com/8lfR0XPViJ
According to people familiar with the situation, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry used emergency powers under the Information Technology Rules, 2021 to force the removal of the links, and both YouTube and Twitter have agreed to comply.
India has termed the film as “propaganda” that lacks objectivity and exhibits a colonial mentality.
According to insiders, the federal government has also ordered Twitter and YouTube to remove any new links to the documentary that are posted or tweeted.
Sources said that after scrutinizing the documentary, officials from several ministries, including the I&B and the Home and External Affairs, concluded that it would undermine the authority and reputation of the Supreme Court, among the Indian communities. There was an attempt to create discord and make unproven claims. Actions of foreign governments in India
Not long ago, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called Modi “the butcher of Gujarat”, referring to the same riots that the BBC had made a documentary about. Condemning India’s role in fueling terrorism in Pakistan, the foreign minister said that terrorist elements in Pakistan are supported by the neighboring country.
Interestingly, when the riots broke out in February 2002, the Gujarat Chief Minister found no evidence of misbehavior with Prime Minister Modi in an inquiry ordered by the Supreme Court.
Netizens have spoken out against censorship.
Journalist Sanjukat Basu said: “If Modi has done nothing wrong […] then why is the government afraid of some random documentaries of anti-India forces that no one will watch?”
Such cowards. If Modi did nothing wrong, if people voted him twice and no matter what 'aayega toh modi hi' for 50 years, then why is govt scared of some random documentary by anti-India forces which nobody will see anyway. This is toh like chor ke daari mein tinka.
— Sanjukta Basu (@sanjukta) January 21, 2023
“There is no ‘free speech’ in India, whatever the government deems fit,” said another user.
India doesn’t have “free speech” it’s whatever govt deems fit. Why do you think most internet shutdowns and political takedowns are happening in India with impunity?
— Vilakshan Jakhu (@vjakhu) January 21, 2023
“Why is the Modi government afraid of anyone tweeting about a BBC documentary when the Center has already clarified it as “propaganda” – afraid of what? People are questioning propaganda ?” asked another.
Why is Modi Government afraid of someone tweeting about BBC documentary when the centre has already clarified it as the "propaganda" – Afraid of what? People questioning propaganda?
— Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) January 21, 2023
