day-2-of-the-IT Department's Raid on BBC's Indian Offices: How The World Media Reacted? Posted on February 16, 2023 News By Akta Yadav 326 Views World Media:- The news that took everyone by surprise yesterday afternoon has caused turmoil in the world media at the same time. The IT department lodged a "survey" in the BBC's offices in Delhi and Mumbai on the 14th of February. The series of "surveys" continued today as well, garnering a lot of attention from International media houses. World Media The Income-tax surveys didn't go well with the media houses from around the world. There were many instances where the International media reports clearly stated that the raid was unjust and a threat to the freedom of speech and democracy. The Washington Post tried to bridge the event with the release of the documentary on Modi a few weeks back. They further stated that the raid was carried out in a vindictive manner, with the phones of the journalists also being seized. Similarly, The New York Times leveled similar allegations against the raids, citing it is normal for the GOI to issue raids to silence the critics. World Media-World Media The Wall Street Journal also reported on the issue, and questions were raised on the freedom of the press in the country. The headlines read, "Indian Authorities Search BBC Offices Weeks After Contentious Modi Documentary." Al Jazeera, a leading news outlet from Qatar, issued an article with the headline "Indian tax agents raid BBC offices in wake of Modi documentary." They further reported that a source from the site of the investigation told the news outlet that employees' phones and laptops were seized and they weren't allowed to leave at the time of the raid. Bloomberg, an American-based media hub, reported that "India's BBC raid is just its latest attack on Press," and addressed the issue of freedom of the press in India. They also referred to the use of the word "survey" as an "unsubtle way to characterize a tax raid." The headlines of an article published by The Guardian read, "BBC offices in India raided by tax officials amid Modi documentary fallout." Emphasis was given on the ban of the documentary by the government and Modi's role during the Gujarat riots of 2002. All in all, it is clear that foreign media agencies aren't in favor of the raid on BBC's offices in Delhi and Mumbai. The stance of governments from the West is still unclear on the matter. Whether they see the raids as investigations for tax evasion or a retaliation by the Modi government for the release of the documentaries will be clear in the coming days.
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