New Delhi: Security was stepped up outside the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as the Income Tax survey continued for the second day. The I-T authorities conducted a survey operation at the BBC offices as part of its investigation on alleged tax evasion. The survey operation, that started on Tuesday, continued on Wednesday as well.
Meanwhile, the I-T surveys triggered a political slugfest, with the Opposition parties calling it “intimidation tactics” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government.
Here are the key developments:
- West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called the incident “unfortunate” and slammed the BJP for “running a political vendetta”. “It's very unfortunate. BJP is running govt with a political vendetta. It's not only affecting the freedom of the press, there will be no media left in the country. Media is already controlled by them. Media can't raise its voice,” CM Mamata Banerjee said.
- Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the Income Tax department is an independent agency and has the right to conduct surveys at any institution. He further said that BBC is said to be cooperating in the ongoing survey and took a dig at the Opposition for linking the operation with Centre.
- Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said this is nothing new as the BJP-led government has taken up similar measures against the journalists in the Valley. The PDP chief said that the I-T surveys is sending out a wrong message to the world and tarnishing India’s image as a democracy.
- Mufti further said that the I-T surveys come just a few weeks after the BBC released a documentary series questioning the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Gujarat riots in 2002, and that this survey is only defaming the country.
- Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the ongoing operation could affect the image of the Prime Minister and that BBC must be facing such an action for the first time.
- Launching an attack on the Centre, Congress leader Pawan Kheda said that such actions are taken against any institution (BBC or other media) that speak the truth. Meanwhile, the Pune unit of the Congress staged a silent protest against the I-T surveys on BBC.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi attacked the central government, saying when it suited the BJP during the Emergency period (1975-77) their leaders used to praise the foreign broadcaster.
"The Income Tax Authorities remain at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. Many staff have now left the building, but some have been asked to remain and are continuing to cooperate with the ongoing enquiries," a BBC News Press Team said in an official Twitter post at 10:26 pm on Tuesday. "We are supporting our staff during this time and continue to hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible. Our output and journalism continues as normal and we are committed to serving our audiences in India," the post added.