Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 15: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday described the sudden Income Tax survey at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai as ‘very unfortunate’ and alleged that it is a political grudge of the BJP-led central government stating that the action against the broadcaster has affected the freedom of the press. Banerjee further said that one day there will be no media left in the country.
“It is very unfortunate. BJP is running the government 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. I am sorry to say the media cannot raise their voice; their management will just cut their service within 24 hours. This is their controlling power,” said Banerjee.
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: West Bengal CM on Income-tax survey on BBC India pic.twitter.com/ztaQSnTItU
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2023
Comparing the BJP to Hitler, the Chief Minister said that BJP’s only directive is a dictatorship, (they are) more than Hitler. “I am abided by the mandate of the people. Where is their (BJP) mandate? They don’t care about the people’s mandate. BJP’s only mandate is a dictatorship, (they are) more than Hitler. My sympathy and my support with media and BBC,” she said.
She further alleged that BJP wants to capture the judiciary of the country as well while adding that the judiciary must be impartial as only the judiciary can save this country. “Sometimes they have said against the judiciary also and they want to capture the judiciary also. But we want judiciary must be neutral, only judiciary can save this country,” she added.
Notably, the tax department had begun the survey on Tuesday at the BBC’s Delhi and Mumbai offices along with at least two linked premises as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion against the British broadcaster in India. The operation continued on Wednesday.
Reportedly, the key focus of these surveys is to look into the manipulation of prices for unauthorised benefits, including tax advantages. These surveys have been undertaken due to BBC’s persistent non-compliance with the norms, making it a repeat offender.
Meanwhile, BBC has said it is cooperating with the income tax department, which is conducting a survey at its offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.
The development comes weeks after the BBC released a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi – ‘India: The Modi Question,’ which caused controversy not just in India but in several parts of the UK and America after the Centre issued commands for blocking YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the BBC documentary.
