BBC | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Thu, 16 Feb 2023 11:25:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png BBC | SabrangIndia 32 32 RSS’ organ Panchajanya alleges “SC is working as a tool at the hands of anti-India forces” https://sabrangindia.in/rss-organ-panchajanya-alleges-sc-working-tool-hands-anti-india-forces/ Thu, 16 Feb 2023 11:25:14 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2023/02/16/rss-organ-panchajanya-alleges-sc-working-tool-hands-anti-india-forces/ Not to be stopped in its intimidation even if is contempt, in its recent editorial, the right-wing publication in Hindi criticized the Supreme Court for issuing notice to the Centre over the ban on the BBC documentary on PM Modi

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RSS

The RSS organ, Panchjanya has opined in a controversial opinion that it believes the Supreme Court of India is being used as a tool at the hands of anti-India forces. Published in Hindi and counterpart of the Organiser, that also excels in incendiary innuendo, a recent editorial in the right-wing publication derided SC for issuing notice to the Centre over the ban on the BBC documentary on PM Modi. Reports on the issue have been published in The Indian Express and other publications.

Making no mention of the Indian Constitution, the editorial stated that the SC was created to protect and safeguard the nation’s interest! Panchajanya’s editor Hitesh Shankar wrote that the BBC documentary was based on “imagination” and was an attempt to ‘defame India.’

“The Supreme Court belongs to India which is run by taxes paid by Indians; its job is to function according to legislations and laws made for India. We have created a facility named the Supreme Court and maintained it, in the interest of the country. But it is being used as a tool in the efforts of those opposed to India,” reads the Panchajanya.

Reiterating that “terrorists in India have been given protection in the name of human rights,” the editorial stated that” “You will find that anti-national elements are using India’s democracy, liberalism and civilizational benchmark to serve their agenda…next step is to ensure that anti-national elements should have the rights to spread misinformation in the country.”

A request for a complete ban on two-part BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” was dismissed by the SC last week. SC called the demand for ban “entirely misconceived.” “How can a documentary affect the country?” The Supreme Court had questioned while rejecting a petition by Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta.

On January 21, the Modi government, using emergency powers under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, directed the blocking of multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the BBC documentary

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Hindu society at war, natural to be aggressive says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Organiser

 

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Understanding Nehru’s world vision: the first TV appearance on BBC https://sabrangindia.in/understanding-nehrus-world-vision-first-tv-appearance-bbc/ Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:36:47 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2022/11/17/understanding-nehrus-world-vision-first-tv-appearance-bbc/ Jawahar Lal Nehru’s life and world always fascinated me. He speaks like a ‘teacher’ and one would always remain glued to him when we watch old videos of his press conferences or speeches.

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Image Courtesy: countercurrents.org

Monday, November 14, BBC reposted Nehru’s first TV appearance recorded in June 1953 with leading editors in London when he had gone to participate in the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Look at the way the presenter introduced Nehru as one of the most important voices from Asia and the prime minister of India. Those who think India became the ‘vishwaguru’ only after May 2014 should watch this video and see how the veteran editors asked diverse international questions to Nehru right from China to Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa. There are no ‘advisors’ and support when Nehru faces the mighty editors. Remember, India had just got independence and yet he is continuously being referred to as the leader of Asia.

The BBC interview actually gives a lot of insight about Nehru and how calmly and confidently he interacts with top editors. There is no hype but simple answers. His words are measured and to the point. There is no attempt to reexplain or impose his view. Most of his answers were crisp and straight forward.

It has become more important to read and listen to Nehru in today’s time. Globally, it is an acknowledged fact that Nehru nurtured democracy in India which today is one of the most successful modules world over despite its varied failures. The public sector that he strengthened, the rule of law, the seriousness with which he attended parliament and respected leaders of opposition parties are reflected in his answer when an editor says that there is no opposition in India to which he responds that out of 500 odd seats of Parliament we only have 350 and rest 150 are with the opposition and they raise their voice.  He further says that though it is divided and unable to raise the issue in one voice yet we cannot impose a two party system on our people. There is an opposition, good opposition within and outside the parliament.  Nehru respected Acharya Narendra Dev, Jai Prakash and Lohia, and listened to their speeches in Parliament and outside. It is a well-known fact that he wanted Jai Prakash to be his political heir and wanted him in his cabinet.

Nehru is determinedly committed to a ‘secular’ India despite all kinds of divisions and religious polarisation which hurt the subcontinent and he had to accept it along with other political leaders of his time. Nehru clearly mentions why the Muslim League was unable to stay on. He points out that Muslim League was a party of Zamindars who were afraid of land reforms. India introduced the first biggest act for social justice in independent India with Nehru categorically emphasising that Zamindari must be abolished for an equal society. The Pakistan elite protected itself from such reforms. The first reform happened in Pakistan in 1959 under the Martial Law regime of Ayub Khan while second and third reformed happened during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who himself had a big feudal background. For the first land reforms in 1959, Pakistan imposed a ceiling on 500-acre land for irrigated land and 1000 acres for unirrigated land. If this can be called a ‘land reform’ then, I have nothing to say. The feudal elite of Pakistan protected its vital interest and that remains true even today. So, Bhutto introduced amendments in the 1970s that brought down the ceiling for irrigated land to 150 acre and unirrigated land to 300 acre per individual. 

Unfortunately, the Pakistan Supreme Court held the Land Ceiling Act to be un-Islamic and Unconstitutional. Today, Pakistan is ruled by this landed feudal elite from Sind and Punjab.   Compare this with India when in the 1970s Indira Gandhi introduced a ceiling limit to 12 acres for irrigated land. He says that the relations between India and Pakistan are improving and we are on the right path. Look at the democracy that Nehru nurtured in India. Despite  all its failures, it provided space to the most marginalized communities to reach at the top while in Pakistan it will still be a dream where Anglican feudal elite control the political discourse. Nehru is often criticised for his approach on caste but still India provided all the remedial matters.  Can we  compare this with the other Asian countries where the issue of caste has not been accepted in political parlance except for Nepal ? The Pakistan elite did not even recognise the Dalit question compelling its first law minister Jogindernath Mandal to resign, surrender his citizenship and return to India. 

The most fascinating point that I found during the interview was the journalist’s attempt to push him to condemn communism. He did not feel any threat from communism to Indian democracy. He never accepted that violence had any role in democracy but there are issues which make the communist parties popular and we need to develop our own perception about countries and ideologies and not that from the Western lens. He refused to toe the line of the Western criticism of China and says that India shares a 2000 kilometer border with it and hence knows better about them. Nehru was definitely fascinated by the progress made by China and Russia and felt no threat from communism threatening Indian democracy even though he decried their ‘anarchy’ many times. He says, “But there is a tendency, if I may say so, for leading statesmen in Europe and America to look at the world from Europe and America. Well, if we look at the same world with the same principles, let us say Delhi or Karachi, the world looks slightly different.” “Geography counts. Take the question of China. China is a distant country to most people in Europe and America. China, the country, having a 2,000-mile frontier with India, well it’s a different picture to us immediately,” he adds.

It is an undeniable fact that the international media and intellectuals looked upon Nehru as a Statesman of the developing world or the countries which were decolonised. His voice had power and courage of conviction. He says there is an ‘awakening and enormous upsurge in a sense after three or four hundred years of European domination in Asia and Africa. It has upset their own order. Asia is coming on its own some time rightly or wrongly. We have to understand it, appreciate it or not get angry with it.”

The editors reminded him of the situation in Africa where anti colonial struggle continues and tiny white communities dominate politically through racist laws. After the decolonisation there might be unrest and tensions with the white communities in these countries. Nehru responded with great care and statesmanship. “Africa, please remember, is a continent, the most tragic continent. Hundreds of years it suffered terribly. Maybe they are not as developed as others or because they did not have the opportunity. I am deeply distressed by what is happening in Africa’. He clearly understands that there is a big difference between the problems in East Africa and West Africa. He also knows well that Western part of Africa was colonised by the French and hence he does not want to poke his nose everywhere. He says, as a prime minister, he has limitations and has to see that all his words are measured as per the government of India policy. He knows that he is speaking as head of the government to the global audience so his words are well measured. Actually, one can understand how Nehru as prime minister felt constrained and how he is missing his independence as an author, a journalist or a politician. He says Africa’s problems are different in north, central and south Africa. However, many Europeans may live there but ultimately, they have to work in cooperation with the native African people. They are outnumbered tremendously by the African population. Either they cooperate or try to suppress each other. If Europeans try to suppress Africans, undoubtedly the African will push them out.”

An editor reminds him that Indians too have been there in Kenya and other countries and perhaps more than the Europeans so what would be his advice to the Indians living over there. Now, I loved the absolutely candid reply from the Prime Minister without making any ‘nationalistic’ overtures. He says, “ Yes, we have told the Indians there year after year that they must cooperate with Africans, they should not ask for any privilege. They must not exploit the Africans or take advantage of them. I have told them, we will not support them for their demand of any privilege against Africans. If they have to live in Africa they must cooperate with Africans otherwise get out of Africa”.

What an unambiguous reply by asking people to be loyal to their countries of residence and cooperate with the majority in those countries. Look what happened to those who hate Nehru saying today. Yes, they are celebrating English victory over Pakistan just because the ‘Goras’ have a prime minister with Hindu lineage despite the well-known fact that his family had migrated to Kenya and then to UK afterwards.

Nehru’s word of advice for Indians and Europeans in Africa would have attracted prominent headlines. His opponents blame him for the Kashmir crisis and going to the United Nations without knowing the facts or distorting the history. An editor asks him about whether it would be good for UN or other countries to mediate between India and Pakistan to which Nehru reply that India went to UN not because it wanted mediation but because Pakistan was the aggressor but he also felt that there is no need for a third-party mediation as the two nations are capable of solving their own issues. Even today, India continues to have this policy as the centre of our foreign policy doctrine despite Pakistan’s attempt to internationalise it and involve third parties from the western world to intervene.

One thing is clear that a Jawahar Lal Nehru in today’s time would have been far more popular at least on the television channels as people would love his articulation. He would have been far more candid and categorical on the issues that we face today. It is unfortunate that the government of the day suffers from a serious inferiority complex as leaders after leaders who may not even write ten sentences are writing op-ed pieces condemning Nehru as the sole person for India’s crisis. It is sad that the person who respected the people’s voice in Jammu and Kashmir and worked hard to get Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah released from the jail and stand with the idea of India is being targeted in such a shameless way. 

I always felt that Nehru as a politician meant a loss  to the world of history and literature. His writings and communications with chief ministers and others show his intellect and capacity. If India today feels proud of the diversity and achievements of people from the margins and minorities then we can not ignore that the seeds of modern democratic nation were sown by Jawahar Lal Nehru. Nehru’s greatness can be understood from the fact that most of the anti-colonial leaders, the heroes of their countries turned dictators and became law unto themselves. It was Nehru who nurtured democracy. Just look around any of our neighbouring countries in those times, it was India alone which had democracy and political stability.

For today’s bootlickers watching Nehru interacting with top editors of the world or speaking with the students at the universities or meeting with various world leaders at international conferences can be shocking as they have only learnt history through WhatsApp and post 2014. Every interaction gives you lots of food for thought, his selection of words and the lyricism in his language is simply fascinating. India was fortunate to have a prime minister with such a big vision which made us stronger and better comparatively. 

We have examples of our neighbour where religion intoxicated the political climate and military interventions denied people their legitimate democratic rights. India performed well because political leadership was secular, respected diversity of languages, cultures and religions. Today, the vision that Nehru gave to India is under threat. Instead of respecting diversity the state keeps imposing oneness on this huge country. Oneness for them is imposition of Brahmanical values on every one in the form of Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan. 

Oneness can happen despite being diverse but the Hindutva’s oneness is through imposed uniformity which is actually threatening our national integrity. India is not just an administrative unit run by the caste elite of north India but an emotion where each one despite being of diverse languages, regions, religions and cultures actually feel for each other and care for the idea of an inclusive India where all have space to flourish. That way, we need Nehruvian India where all communities live together, respect each other and enjoy their relationship on the basis of being citizens of India. 

Let India remain a republic by focussing on people’s centric issues and not convert it into old forms of Kingdom where the Raja Maharaja were least bothered about people’s rights but gave them ‘temples’, mosques’ and dharmshalas in the name of people’s ‘welfare’. 

A modern secular democratic India is an aspiring India and the thirst of the young India can not be quenched through enslaving people more and more into religious rituals but developing the scientific temper, respecting humanist values and submitting to our modern constitution which our constitutional forefathers led by Baba Saheb Ambedkar gave us.

Jawahar Lal Nehru’s first TV appearance provided us with a glimpse into the power of his personality and convictions as he responded to all the questions aimed at him with confidence and absolute clarity. Remember, it was the beginning of television and he was speaking for the first time. 

These editors were not there to ‘flatter’ him nor was there any PR agency like what we witness today. Can we expect our leaders speaking to international media in such a simple manner without any ‘assistance’ or ‘makeover’? 

Frankly speaking, the Nehru conversation proved that those who are abusing him day and night are suffering from a great inferiority complex both politically as well as intellectually. There are huge lessons for all of us when we hear him and we must make use of all his writings and videos in the greater interest of our nation.

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Centre threatens to blacklist BBC correspondent for film on anti-poaching policy in Kaziranga https://sabrangindia.in/centre-threatens-blacklist-bbc-correspondent-film-anti-poaching-policy-kaziranga/ Wed, 15 Feb 2017 06:28:33 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2017/02/15/centre-threatens-blacklist-bbc-correspondent-film-anti-poaching-policy-kaziranga/ The documentary, Killing for Conservation, shows that rangers are allowed to shoot people.   The Environment Ministry has recommended that the British Broadcasting Corporation’s South Asia correspondent be blacklisted for filming a documentary that highlights the government’s aggressive policy in Kaziranga National Park to protect rhinos from poachers. “They [BBC] have misrepresented facts and selectively […]

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The documentary, Killing for Conservation, shows that rangers are allowed to shoot people.

Centre threatens to blacklist BBC correspondent for film on anti-poaching policy in Kaziranga
 

The Environment Ministry has recommended that the British Broadcasting Corporation’s South Asia correspondent be blacklisted for filming a documentary that highlights the government’s aggressive policy in Kaziranga National Park to protect rhinos from poachers. “They [BBC] have misrepresented facts and selectively over-dramatised interviews and old footage. They had a different agenda fuelled by certain foreign NGOs and local elements opposed to conservation. We are exploring all options including legal steps,” park director Satyendra Singh told The Indian Express.

Correspondent Justin Rowlatt’s documentary, Killing for Conservation, shows that rangers are allowed to shoot people. According to Rowlatt, this shoot-at-sight policy has led to the killing of 23 people by forest guards, while 17 rhinos have been poached at the park in the past one year.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority issued a notice on Tuesday against airing the programme without getting approval from the Ministries of Environment and External Affairs. The documentary was aired on February 11.

In the notice, the NTCA has threatened to cancel all future permits to BBC if the programme is not removed from various online portals with immediate effect. “The immunity provided to forest officials under Section 197 of the CrPC has been construed as a ‘Shoot to Kill’ policy,” read the notice. It added that Rowlatt had changed the storyline. The NTCA has also requested the Indian High Commission in United Kingdom to initiate action, reported Mail Today.

A BBC spokesperson defended the documentary, saying that it is expected to present a “full picture”. He told The Indian Express, “The issues raised in the film are part of an important international debate on the appropriate way to combat poaching. We did approach the relevant government authorities to make sure their position was fully reflected but they declined to take part.”

The Kaziranga National Park houses around 2,400 one-horned rhinos, or two-thirds of the world’s population of the rare animal. The park is a world heritage site and considered the most prestigious wildlife reserve in India.

Courtesy: Scroll.in

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‘To the people of world’ https://sabrangindia.in/people-world/ Fri, 31 Aug 2001 18:30:00 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2001/08/31/people-world/ On August 8, 2001, while RAWA was distributing food among refugees in New Akora Khattak camp, Mohammad Akram, the representative of Afghan refugees in the camp asked RAWA to film his remarks and send them to the people of world. He made this request to RAWA because nobody listens to their horrible stories, takes care […]

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On August 8, 2001, while RAWA was distributing food among refugees in New Akora Khattak camp, Mohammad Akram, the representative of Afghan refugees in the camp asked RAWA to film his remarks and send them to the people of world. He made this request to RAWA because nobody listens to their horrible stories, takes care of the ill-fated refugees who are struggling with hunger, illness, lack of shelter etc, and who will share his story with the world. Here is a translation of parts of his emotional remarks. The original is in Pushto, recorded on videotape.

My name is Mohammad Akram and I live in New Akora Camp. About 6,500 families live in this camp and among them 3,500 families have been registered by the WFP (World Food Program). As part of the previous project of WFP, supplies were being given to a number of families while a great number of families were left without any care. It was the responsibility of WFP to provide continuous supplies of food to all of these families, but they act in the opposite way, that is they provide some families with supplies for a short time and then supplies are stopped, leaving the responsibility in the hands of the government of Pakistan. As a result Pakistan has to force the refugees out because it is not in a position to feed them.

There is a propaganda in Afghanistan that the WFP provides refugees with food supplies, but this help is very limited, for example a tin of vegetable oil and a sack of flour to a family, and even this aid comes only once.

Our situation has become worse in the past two and a half months since the WFP has stopped giving us supplies. The UN has committed heinous actions under the name of human rights. They are liars and have abstained from telling us the truth. We are warning them that soon very bad disasters are going to occur in this camp. Houses will be burnt, people will burn themselves and will show to the world that while in many other countries millions of dollars are spent on research and welfare of animals, no one cares about the humans living here in this camp.

In Russia, it is an important matter that pigs are near extinction, and in other countries, monkeys are being taken care of, while these people living in such a terrible situation and there is no one to even think about their future. We were in the UNHCR office and they also ignored us, directly telling us that they can’t do anything for us.

There are people who have received supplies for about a year or six months and then the supplies have been stopped. The situation of this camp is getting worse day by day. We have four schools here in this camp. One of them for girls and three for boys. We are closing the schools now because the students studying in this school have to sell sugar cane, or water, or do anything to earn some food and this is how they are also deprived of their basic right of education.

The people who have come here to this camp from Afghanistan, have not left their country because of lack of food or poverty. They were made to leave their homeland because of heavy fighting and severe dangers to their lives. We say clearly that we are not in a position to go back to Afghanistan, because we feel it is very dangerous for us. We heard that the UN took the responsibility of the security of some families who were to return to Afghanistan, and we all saw what happened to them. We don’t accept anyone’s offer to take the responsibility for our security, we are going to stay right here, we are not returning to Afghanistan.

Now our hope is that our voice reaches to the people of the world. Especially to those Afghans who are living in the West. We want them to save some money even from their toiletry expenses, very small amounts, one dollar perhaps, and send it to us. This way not only this camp, but also many other camps will receive help from this amount. They are living in very good conditions. At the same time thousands of orphans, widows, handicapped and poor Afghan refugees are having a very hard life in this camp and others like it in Pakistan, and people are witnessing this.

Our message to our countrymen is that their help at the smallest scale can really make a difference. Also we want you to raise our voice to the people of the world so that they know the real situation of Afghans.

It is worth mentioning that there are a number of NGOs in Pakistan that are running their personal business on these camps. They come here, make videos, photographs and interviews and run surveys but never return with any help and if they do receive any funds, they would never give it to the needy people.

At the same time there are some NGOs that are really working for the benefit and welfare of refugees. We request them not to let the corrupt NGOs work against the people and for their own personal benefit. We also blame the BBC Radio for not broadcasting our interviews. The people of the world will not come to know about our situation unless our voice is raised through such interviews but the BBC radio did not fulfil it’s promise of broadcasting our interviews.

We thank you for your concern and help and would like you to tell more journalists about the situation in this camp so that they can come to us and see and cover the situation personally. This way we hope the world will come to know about the real situation of refugees in Pakistan.

(RAWA is a political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women’s rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan.)

Archived from Communalism Combat, September 2001, Anniversary Issue (8th) Year 8  No. 71

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