BBC Documentary Row: The controversy over BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ has reached the universities of the country. Uproar is taking place in many universities including JNU, Jamia regarding the screening of the documentary. This documentary is based on the Gujarat riots of 2002 when Narendra Modi Was the Chief Minister of the state. The latest controversy regarding the screening of this documentary is taking place in Delhi University and Presidency University in Kolkata.
Kolkata’s Presidency University has refused to allow the screening of the documentary. The university administration has said that they will take action against those flouting the guidelines. At the same time, SFI says that they will do screening in the common room. During the screening there was a power failure and the projector went off. Controversy is also happening in Delhi University regarding BBC documentary. The administration has imposed section 144. Congress student organization NSUI has announced to show the documentary on Gujarat riots in DU this evening. While a large number of security personnel are deployed at the venue, the protesting students have been detained.
Statement of Delhi University
Protesting students at Faculty of Arts, North Campus of Delhi University have been detained. The official statement of Delhi University said, “The documentary has been banned by the Central Government. No permission has been taken for the documentary. It will not be allowed in the campus at all. All preparations have been done by the administration so that there is no disturbance. The police administration will handle the rest of the screening of this documentary outside the campus. Delhi Police said, “Around 4 pm today around 20 people came outside the Arts Faculty Gate for the screening of the banned BBC documentary. Since it may disturb the peace in the area, they were asked to leave. When they did not did, they were peacefully detained.”
New Delhi | A large number of security personnel deployed outside the Faculty of Arts at the University of Delhi in wake of a call by NSUI-KSU for the screening of a BBC documentary on PM Modi, at the Faculty. Provisions under Section 144 CrPC imposed outside the Faculty. pic.twitter.com/zPZvGhygbe
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2023
Uproar over screening in Mumbai as well
On the other hand, Progressive Student Forum (PSF), a group of students studying at Tata Institute of Social Science in Mumbai, sought permission from the management to screen a BBC documentary based on the Gujarat riots in the campus. However, TISS flatly refused to allow the screening. The students had announced the screening today at 7:30 pm.
Uproar in Hyderabad University as well
The documentary was shown to the students of Hyderabad University. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has also lodged a complaint with the authorities regarding this. It is alleged that the students watched a BBC documentary on the campus. Officials are probing the screening of the documentary at the University of Hyderabad. According to the police, a screening of BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ was organized inside the university campus. Police say that cognizance has been taken of this and investigation has also been started regarding the matter.
Uproar over screening in Delhi’s JNU as well
Apart from this, JNU canceled the screening of ‘India: The Modi Question’ scheduled for January 24 by a group of students. The JNU administration said that such a documentary could disturb the peace of the campus. Pamphlets were distributed regarding the screening program in JNU campus. Not only this, Aishe Ghosh, president of the students’ union, also shared the poster of the controversial documentary. He also shared the poster of its screening. Jawaharlal Nehru University administration has issued an advisory after this post of Aishi went viral. After this the screening was also canceled here.
Screening in Jadavpur University as well
The controversial documentary was also screened at Jadavpur University in West Bengal. Leftist organization All India Student Association (AISA) screened the controversial documentary in the university campus. A senior member of the organization gave this information.
Controversy in Kerala regarding screening
Amidst the controversy, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) screened it. KPCC general secretary GS Babu said the BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots in Gujarat was screened for the first time at the KPCC headquarters here for its employees and party workers. Recently, Kerala Congress leader and son of former Defense Minister AK Antony, Anil Antony opposed the documentary and resigned from all party posts.
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