Gujarat BJP MLA to move resolution in Assembly seeking action against BBC on 2002 riots documentary
Ahmedabad (PTI): Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vipul Patel will on Friday move a resolution in the Assembly seeking "strong action" against the "concocted" findings shown in a BBC documentary, which he alleged "once again attempts to blame the then state government" for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
The proposed resolution will likely say the BBC documentary was a "low-level attempt" to tarnish India's global image.
"India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean that a news media can abuse such freedom," according to the summary of the proposed resolution shared by the Assembly secretariat on Tuesday.
The two-part BBC documentary, titled "India: The Modi Question", claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.
"If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then he cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central Government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary," said a note on the resolution to be moved by Patel.
"The controversial documentary again "attempts to blame the then-state government for the 2002 Godhra riots and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat," said the note.
The BBC documentary misrepresents the events of 2002 and is a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India's global image, it said.
Through the documentary, deliberate attempts have been made to tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Modi with an agenda to affect India's goal to be in a top place in the world, said the note.
This, despite the fact that the Nanavati-Shah inquiry commission concluded after a thorough investigation that the burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and the riots that followed were spontaneous, it said.
The commission found no evidence that the state government or any religious organization or political party played any role in the riots, stated the note.
The Assembly, which is having its Budget session, will meet on Friday after a two-day break.
The BJP has 156 MLAs in the 182-member House.
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Sandra Thomas runs for president of producers association; wears 'purdah' to file nomination
Kochi, Jul 26 (PTI): Noted woman producer Sandra Thomas on Saturday filed her nomination to contest for the post of president in the Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA).
Thomas, who arrived wearing a 'purdah' at the KFPA office here, told reporters she was contesting for the post of president as changes are required in the association, which has been continuing as "a monopoly" of a few individuals.
She said that she decided to wear a 'purdah' to the office of the KFPA for filing her nomination as she felt it was the most appropriate attire in view of her past experience with those in the organisation.
"It is also a mark of protest against the fact that the four persons against whom I lodged a complaint and who have been named in a chargesheet submitted in court by the police, are still continuing as office bearers of the organisation and are contesting for the executive committee posts," she claimed.
She also alleged that the association was not a safe place for women and the 'purdah' was the best attire to wear to the KFPA.
Thomas alleged that those at the helm of affairs at the association were not fit to lead it as they were only concerned with using the KFPA for their personal gains and not for the benefit of its members.
She said that if she wins, she will ensure that all those producers, in the association, who have not got a chance to make a movie till now, get the opportunity to do so.
Thomas said if changes occur in the producers association, it will indirectly bring a change to the entire film industry.
Thomas was expelled from the KFPA in November last year on charges of breaching organisational discipline and norms, but the association's decision was put on hold by an Ernakulam court in December 2024.
