New Delhi: Chief executive officer of Prasar Bharti Shashi Shekhar Vempati has declined an invitation to attend an event hosted by the BBC over the British broadcaster’s coverage of the Delhi riots.
In a letter to the director general of the BBC, Vempati points to a report by journalist Yogita Limaye which investigates the role of the Delhi police in the riots.
The report included video evidence which highlights the role played by the police in aiding and abetting the violence. In one video, the police can be seen indulging in stone pelting along with a mob. Another part of the report investigates the role of the police in the death of 23-year-old Faizan who was allegedly beaten by the police and denied medical care and subsequently died.
The BBC’s report is based on video evidence and accounts of eye witnesses.
The Prasar Bharti, however has alleged that the reporting is “one-sided” and has “contributed to further further vitiating the atmosphere while insinuating the brave men and women in uniform who are charged with the onerous responsibility of maintaining law and order”.
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Vempati has said that the BBC ought to have “mentioned the murderous assault on the men in uniform by a mob which resulted in the death of a head constable while in the line of duty and also resulted in the fatal injuries received by a deputy commissioner of police in uniform”.
He also argues that the BBC report should have mentioned the assault on intelligence bureau official Ankit Sharma which led to his death.
“I strongly believe that as public broadcasters, BBC and Prasar Bharti must respect the sovereignty of the nations we primarily serve even as we collaborate beyond borders on multilateral fora for the greater global good. I hope the BBC would review its editorial views on reports of this nature in line with this spirit,” said Vempati in the letter.
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Vempati had been invited for the BBC’s Indian sportswoman award ceremony due to be held in New Delhi on March 8.
Last year, the then Prasar Bharti chief A. Surya Prakash had objected to a presentation made by the editor of the Caravan magazine Vinod Jose at the global conference for media freedom in London. Jose had examined the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in violence against Muslims and Dalits.