India
oi-Deepika S
Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday exposed the BBC’s ‘free speech hypocrisy’ after its decision to suspend famous football presenter Gary Lineker over his criticism of the British government’s new asylum policy.
The BBC has said it considered Lineker’s social media activity to be a breach of its guidelines. It added he should “keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies”.
The BBC asked Lineker to step back after “extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days”.
And this has now landed the BBC in the eye of a storm with many questioning the broadcaster as it has portrayed itself as a proponent of free speech and had even questioned India after the income tax surveys were conducted at its offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.
The BBC also raked up the 2002 riots, while blatantly disregarding the Supreme Court’s clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the case, which exposed the BBC’s doublespeak.
What did Gary Lineker say about UK govt’s immigration policy that git him suspended by BBC?
Lineker called the policy an “immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.
“”This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s, and I’m out of order?”, Linekar tweeted.
Anurag Thakur exposes BBC’s lofty claims about journalistic objectivity
Taking to Twitter, Anurag Thakur posted, “Interesting to see how the BBC which makes lofty claims about journalistic objectivity and independence suspend their star anchor over his social media activity.”
“In yet another interesting exhibit, BBC suspends airing of a documentary it shot over fears that it would anger a section of society,” he added.
Interesting to see how the BBC which makes lofty claims about journalistic objectivity & independence suspend their star anchor over his social media activity.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/iTDY3sJQHF
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) March 11, 2023
Stepping up his attack, Thakur wrote “Fake narrative setting and ethical journalism are inherently contradictory. Those indulging in malicious propaganda forged in concocted facts can obviously never be expected to have the moral fiber or the courage to stand up for journalistic independence.”
It must be noted that, two months ago, when the BBC came up with a propaganda documentary against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many rushed to broadcaster’s defense saying that the media must be allowed to do its job.
However, the BBC’s latest decision to suspend Gary Lineker has proved that the British broadcaster is only good at preaching yet very poor at practising what it preaches.
So, where are the people who backed the BBC and went gaga over free speech? Now is the time for those so-called liberals who constantly stand up for the BBC to introspect. They must understand that BBC’s famed ‘Independence’ does not mean being unbiased, fair or impartial.
