Tag: documentary

Documentary row: Delhi court summons BBC, others on defamation complaint

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New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday issued summonses to the BBC, Wikimedia and Internet Archive on a criminal complaint filed by a BJP leader seeking to restrain them from publishing a documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, or any other material defamatory to the RSS and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
The complainant had said the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” has defamed organisations like the BJP, RSS and VHP.
The court was told that though the documentary has been banned by the government, a Wikipedia page dedicated to the series provides links to watch it and that the content is still available on Internet Archive.

Wikimedia Foundation funds Wikipedia while Internet Archive is a US-based digital library.
“Issue summons of the suit for settlement of issues to the defendant (BBC, Wikimedia and Internet Archive),” Additional District Judge (ADJ) Ruchika Singla said, posting the matter for May 11.
Complainant Vinay Kumar Singh said he is a state executive committee member of the Jharkhand BJP and an active volunteer of the RSS and VHP. He claimed the BBC documentary defamed organisations like the RSS, VHP and the BJP.
The complainant sought a direction to the BBC and other respondents “to tender an unconditional apology” to him and the RSS and VHP “for the libellous and defamatory content published in the two volume documentary series.
“Pass a decree of damages of Rs 10 lakh in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants,” it further urged the court.

It claimed that the allegations made against the RSS and VHP were motivated by a “malicious intent to defame the organisations and its millions of members/ volunteers”.
“Such unfounded allegations are not only baseless but also have the potential to damage the reputation and image of the RSS, VHP and its millions of members/ volunteers, who have committed themselves to upholding the cultural, social and national values of India,” it said.
The complaint stated the release of the documentary has generated an atmosphere of terror and fear among members of various groups, and possesses the potential to trigger violence and jeopardize public order across the nation yet again.
It alleged that the BBC “strategically and purposefully disseminated unfounded rumours without verifying the authenticity of the claims”.
Furthermore, the accusations made therein foster animosity between multiple faith communities, in particular Hindus and Muslims, it claimed.
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#Documentary #row #Delhi #court #summons #BBC #defamation #complaint
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 3, 2023
David Beckham reveals impact of OCD in new documentary

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David Beckham has revealed how living with his “tiring” obsessive compulsive disorder leads him to spending hours cleaning and organising his home while the rest of his family are in bed.
The former England football captain, 47, says in a forthcoming Netflix documentary: “The fact that when everyone’s in bed I then go around, clean the candles, turn the lights on to the right setting, make sure everywhere is tidy. I hate coming down in the morning and there’s cups and plates and, you know, bowls.
“I clip the candle wax, I clean the glass, that’s my pet hate, the smoke around the inside of a candle,” he says. “I know, it’s weird.”
When the camera crew comments on how clean his kitchen looks, Beckham says: “I clean it so well, I’m not sure it’s actually appreciated so much by my wife, in all honesty.”
In response, Victoria Beckham tells the crew “He’s just so perfect” and tells David he is “appreciated”. He says he finds the cleaning rituals “tiring” but he feels compelled to do it.
Beckham has discussed living with the condition in the past. He told the Daily Mail he would count clothes and place magazines in straight lines and symmetrical patterns. He also said that one of the reasons he kept getting tattoos was because he was addicted to the pain.
In an interview with ITV in 2006, he said he could not stop acting on his compulsions despite having tried.
He said: “I’ve got this obsessive compulsive disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line or everything has to be in pairs. I’ll put my Pepsi cans in the fridge and if there’s one too many then I’ll put it in another cupboard somewhere … everything has to be perfect.”

Netflix confirmed last July that a documentary series about the former footballer’s career was in production. The series will feature unseen archive footage as well as interviews with Beckham, his family and friends, and other people who played an important role in his story.
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In an Instagram post, Beckham said: “I’m excited to confirm that I am partnering with Netflix on a documentary series about my life and career.
“The series will feature unseen archive, untold stories as well as interviews with the people who have been a part of my journey. The series is directed and produced by Academy Award winners Fisher Stevens and John Battsek. Watch this space …”

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#David #Beckham #reveals #impact #OCD #documentary
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )

April 28, 2023
Ellie Goulding ‘working’ on documentary about her life ‘beyond music’

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Los Angeles: Despite years of being very private, singer Ellie Goulding is reportedly working on a documentary about life “beyond her music”.
The ‘Burn’ singer has spent years being notoriously private, but is now said to hope to use a film special to highlight campaign work including her fight against global warming, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
A source told The Sun: “Ellie is keen to let fans into her world and speak beyond her music. Earlier this year, she invited cameras to record her life away from red carpets and show the real her.

“The project will cover her music and time in the studio at home but Ellie also wants to shine a greater light on her work as a climate-change activist. She is really passionate about using her profile for good and thinks a documentary will do just that.”
Goulding has recently been involved in the United Nation’s ‘One Young World’ campaign, and will be following in the footsteps of other big name artists who have recently made films giving glimpses into their private lives including Lewis Capaldi, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.
In November 2017, the singer was awarded the UN’s ‘New Voices Award’ in recognition of her activism and became a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environment, and she’s a patron of women’s shelter ‘The Marylebone Project’.
Despite her previous privacy, she recently told The Independent newspaper she regrets responding to unfounded rumours she once cheated on Ed Sheeran with Niall Horan.
The singer has insisted she and Ed, 32, never dated.

But she made headlines in January when she took to TikTok to shut down years-old talk she had been unfaithful to him with 29-year-old former One Direction singer Niall – responding “False!” to one fan.
She said: “I shouldn’t give in to that (rumours.) For me to think that the right thing is to respond to rumours, knowing that in real life there aren’t just ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’ like there are in the fake world of social media and tabloids… I think, by replying, I’m kind of making out that world is real, or adding validity to a world that is manufactured to keep us scrolling and keep us in fear and fascinated by celebrities.
“I think that the best thing for me is to stay in the real world.
“But sometimes you just gotta – occasionally; every, like, five years or so – put something out there….”
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#Ellie #Goulding #working #documentary #life #music
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 27, 2023
Screening banned BBC documentary amounted to ‘gross indiscipline’, DU tells Delhi HC

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New Delhi: The Delhi University (DU) told the High Court on Monday that the action of students screening the banned BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi without permission, and organising protests, despite imposition of prohibitory orders, amounts to “gross indiscipline”.
A bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav was hearing a plea by the national Secretary of Congress’ student wing, NSUI, Lokesh Chugh challenging his debarment from the university on allegations that he organised a screening of the BBC documentary.
“We acted against the students who organised the screening of the documentary based on the newspaper reports which said that the two-part series has been banned in India,” the university submitted.

“Chugh was the mastermind behind the agitation and that video footage shows that he was actively involved in the screening of the documentary in the University campus,” the DU counsel added.
The intention to disrupt the academic functioning of the University has tarnished the image of the University, it was contended.
The DU apprised the court that Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was imposed by the police on that date despite which students protested.
“The Committee after watching the videos found that the mastermind of the agitation was the petitioner. It was observed by the committee that around 20 students had gathered at 4 p.m. to showcase the BBC documentary and around 50 more students were there to watch the said documentary.”
It was noted by the court that DU’s response and Chugh’s counter are not on record and accordingly listed the case for next hearing on April 26 while asking both counsel to file their written submissions by Tuesday.

The DU has prohibited Chugh, of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and a Ph.D. research scholar at the Department of Anthropology, from taking any university, college, or departmental exams.
During the last hearing, Justice Kaurav had remarked that the university’s order did not reflect application of mind.
“There has to be an independent application of mind which is not reflected in the order… The order must reflect the reasoning,” the court said.
Appearing on behalf of the DU, lawyer Mohinder Rupal had said that the university’s decision was based on some documents that he wishes to provide, while Chugh’s counsel had claimed that there is considerable urgency in the situation because the deadline for turning in his PhD thesis is April 30.
Justice Kaurav had responded that once the petitioner is before the court, his rights would be protected.
“Mr Mohinder Rupal seeks time to file counter affidavit. Let the same be done in three working days. Petitioner is also at liberty to file the rejoinder in two days thereafter. List on Monday,” the court had ordered.
The case pertains to a protest that was planned for January 27, 2023, on the DU campus during which, the BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ was also shown to the general audience.
Chugh claims in his plea that he was not even there during the protest since he was attending a media interaction.
“Pertinently, the petitioner was giving a live interview at the time when the documentary was being screened inside the Faculty of Arts (Main Campus). Thereafter, police detained a few students for screening the allegedly banned BBC documentary and subsequently charged them for disturbance of peace in the area. Notably, the petitioner was neither detained nor charged with any form of incitement or violence or disturbance of peace by the police,” he stated.
However, the DU served him with a show-cause notice on February 16 alleging that he had disrupted law and order at the university during the screening. On March 10, a memorandum debarring him was then issued.
In his plea, Chugh claims that the university’s order against him went against the principles of natural justice and that the disciplinary authorities failed to even inform him of the allegations and charges against him. Therefore, Chugh demanded that the memorandum and notice that claim he was complicit in a breach of law and order be set aside. He has asked for a stay of the memorandum in the interim.
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#Screening #banned #BBC #documentary #amounted #gross #indiscipline #tells #Delhi
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 24, 2023
MP Assembly passes ‘censure motion’ against BBC documentary on Modi

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Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a ‘censure motion’ against a BBC documentary for allegedly showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bad light over the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The motion was a private member resolution moved by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Shailendra Jain with the approval of the state’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Narottam Mishra. It was passed by a voice vote.
With this, after Gujarat — the home state of PM Modi, Madhya Pradesh became the second BJP-ruled state to pass a ‘censor motion’ against the BBC.
Notably, the Gujarat Assembly had on Friday passed a resolution requesting the Centre to take strict action against the BBC for tarnishing the image and popularity of PM Narendra Modi with the documentary.
A censure motion is an expression of strong disapproval. In Parliamentary procedure, it is a debatable main motion that could be adopted by a majority vote.
Before the motion was passed by the Madhya Pradesh Assembly by voice vote on Monday, Jain said the BBC had telecast the objectionable documentary by misinterpreting the 2002 Gujarat riots and portraying the then chief minister Narendra Modi in a bad light.
He said the documentary had also cast aspersions on the judiciary, which amounts to contempt of court, and added that the judiciary works independently and freely in India.
He also mentioned that the Central government should not forgive the BBC and take action against the broadcaster.

Speaker Girish Gautam placed the resolution to test, which was passed by a voice vote.
The controversial two-part documentary by the BBC titled ‘India: The Modi Question’ claims to have probed certain aspects of the riots, which took place after the Godhra train burning incident, when Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat.
Notably, earlier in January, soon after its release, the government had issued directions to block multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary.
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#Assembly #passes #censure #motion #BBC #documentary #Modi
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 14, 2023
Gujarat Assembly passes resolution against BBC for documentary on 2002 riots

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Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Assembly on Friday passed a resolution requesting the Centre to take strict action against BBC for tarnishing the image and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its documentary on the 2002 riots in the state.
The controversial two-part series by the British Broadcasting Corporation titled ‘India: The Modi Question’ misrepresents the events of 2002 in a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India’s image globally, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Vipul Patel said in the House while moving the resolution.
The documentary claims to have probed certain aspects of the riots, which took place after the Godhra train burning incident, when Modi was Gujarat chief minister.
The documentary was banned in India soon after its release.
Patel’s resolution was supported by BJP MLAs Manisha Vakil, Amit Thaker, Dhavalsinh Zala and minister Harsh Sanghavi.
It was passed by voice vote in the absence of Congress MLAs who were expelled from the House earlier in the day.
After passing the resolution unanimously, Speaker Shanker Chaudhary said the attempt by BBC is “reprehensible” and is “condemned vehemently,” adding the House passed the resolution to send its message to the Centre.
“India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean a news media can act by abusing such freedom,” said Patel while moving the private-member resolution in the second sitting of the House.

“If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then it cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary,” Patel said in the Assembly.
Through the documentary, there is a deliberate attempt to “tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi” with an agenda to affect the country’s intention to find top place globally, Patel said.
He claimed opposition parties in other countries support the government during such times, but this is not the case in India, which allowed international organisations like the BBC to get the strength to carry out activities against the country.
The Nanavati-Shah Commission concluded after thorough investigation the burning of coaches S6 and 7 of Sabarmati Express at Godhra on February 27, 2002 was a premeditated conspiracy, and that the state-wide riots that followed were spontaneous, Patel said.
The Nanavati-Shah Commission found no evidence the state government, religious organization, or political party played any role in the riots, and attempts to make the then chief minister (Modi) and officials responsible have also failed in the courts, Patel asserted.
Supporting the resolution, BJP MLA Vakil said the intention of the documentary was to tarnish India’s global image, adding Modi’s life has been a journey of courage and compassion.
As the chief minister and prime minister, he has become the most popular world leader, she said.
On the 2002 riots, she said certain NGOs and activists conspired to defame the Gujarat government and wanted to damage Modi’s reputation, adding there was a larger political conspiracy of destabilising the state government by hook or crook.
Vakil referred to the Supreme Court verdict on the Zakia Jafri case giving clean chit to Modi and claimed the BBC documentary was “mere international propaganda which is totally biased and showcases the colonial mindset”.
Supporting the resolution, Thaker said Modi is not a question but a solution for various issues plaguing the world today, such as climate change and COVID-19 pandemic, etc.
The BBC is in the habit of making controversial documentaries on subjects in India, Thaker alleged.
He also questioned the timing of the documentary by connecting it with the conclusion of Congress ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ led by Rahul Gandhi.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the documentary was not just against Modi but against 135 crore citizens of the country.
“The resolution brought by Vipul Patel for strict action is historic. ..Is it Modi’s fault to realise the dream of making Gujarat a riot-free state? Many forces worked to ensure Gujarat does not get a stable government,” Sangahvi said in his speech in the House.
He said “so-called intellectuals” started hurling one allegation after another on Modi after he took over as the prime minister.
“As 2024 (Lok Sabha polls) approaches, they (opponents) have no other issue against Modi. They used BBC to make a documentary,” Sanghavi said.
He also criticised social activist Teesta Setalvad and said “truths regarding her have not been shown in any documentary”.
Sanghavi also quoted “important people” who have commented and criticised the BBC documentary such as the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, British parliamentarian Bob Blackman, and former BBC head Mark Tully.
The Gujarat minister compared the BBC documentary to the “toolkit” conspiring against India, adding certain sections of the media suffered from “Modi phobia”.
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#Gujarat #Assembly #passes #resolution #BBC #documentary #riots
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 10, 2023
Gujarat BJP MLA to move resolution in Assembly seeking action against BBC documentary

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Ahmedabad: Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vipul Patel will on Friday move a resolution in the Assembly seeking “strong action” against the “concocted” findings shown in a BBC documentary, which he alleged “once again attempts to blame the then state government” for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
The proposed resolution will likely say the BBC documentary was a “low-level attempt” to tarnish India’s global image.
“India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean that a news media can abuse such freedom,” according to the summary of the proposed resolution shared by the Assembly secretariat on Tuesday.
The two-part BBC documentary, titled “India: The Modi Question”, claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.
“If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then he cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central Government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary,” said a note on the resolution to be moved by Patel.
“The controversial documentary again “attempts to blame the then-state government for the 2002 Godhra riots and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat,” said the note.
The BBC documentary misrepresents the events of 2002 and is a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India’s global image, it said.
Through the documentary, deliberate attempts have been made to tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Modi with an agenda to affect India’s goal to be in a top place in the world, said the note.

This, despite the fact that the Nanavati-Shah inquiry commission concluded after a thorough investigation that the burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and the riots that followed were spontaneous, it said.
The commission found no evidence that the state government or any religious organization or political party played any role in the riots, stated the note.
The Assembly, which is having its Budget session, will meet on Friday after a two-day break.
The BJP has 156 MLAs in the 182-member House.
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#Gujarat #BJP #MLA #move #resolution #Assembly #seeking #action #BBC #documentary
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 8, 2023
BBC controversy: Justice Rohinton Nariman criticizes documentary ban, IT ‘survey’

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Former Supreme Court judge Rohinton Fali Nariman on Thursday criticized the government’s decision to ban the controversial BBC documentary on PM Modi and subsequent IT ‘survey’ at the broadcasting branch offices in India.
Speaking at the inaugural Jitendra Desai Memorial Lecture on the topic, ‘Freedom of Speech: Contemporary Challenges’, in Ahmedabad, he termed the decision to ban the documentary as ‘futile’ and IT ‘survey’ as ‘unfortunate’.
He also expressed concerns over the media not criticizing the government as it used to do earlier and the lack of worthy opposition.

BBC documentary banned
Earlier, the central government imposed restrictions on BBC Documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On January 21, directions were issued for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary.
Apart from it, India has denounced the controversial documentary series and described it as a “propaganda piece” that is designed to push a discredited narrative.
IT ‘survey’ at BBC’s Delhi, Mumbai offices
Later, Income Tax officials conducted ‘survey’ operations on the Indian offices of the British public broadcaster BBC in both Delhi and Mumbai.
According to sources, the IT officials verified certain account documents in the finance department of BBC.

During the investigation, the mobile phones of all the employees present in the BBC office have been taken away by the Income Tax team. The data of the computer kept in the accounts and finance department was also scanned.
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#BBC #controversy #Justice #Rohinton #Nariman #criticizes #documentary #ban #survey
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 3, 2023
VP Dhankar hits out at BBC documentary, George Soros

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Chennai: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar hit out at the “narrative set afloat” against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hungarian-American businessman critic George Soros, on Tuesday saying those who play politics the other way around need to be combated, neutralised and must face rational questioning.
Dhankar said India has a robust legal system where things are realised for the high and mighty, including the Prime Minister.
“For two decades, the issue was deliberated in judicial quarters, thoroughly investigated at all levels. The highest court of the land, the highest court of the largest democracies pronounced on all fronts in 2022 finally, and we have a narrative being set afloat by a documentary, some people say this is expression,” the VP said in an apparent reference to the BBC documentary on Narendra Modi.
“So in the name of expression can you run down the Supreme Court, can you run down two decades of thorough investigation? This is playing politics the other way around. When people choose to play politics the other way around, the young minds here and outside are intellectually equipped to challenge them,” he said while addressing the students after inaugurating the Centre for Innovation at IIT Madras here.
The controversial BBC documentary titled “India: The Modi Question” pertains to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Modi was the chief minister of that state.
Without mentioning names, he said “there is one gentleman somewhere using some money power, he has some backers, he has some beneficiaries, he has some fiscal parasites and they talk about our country’s democracy. I have been appalled, pained, how can a sane mind compare us with a southern country without neighbours?”
He appealed to the students to be on guard and vindicate the trust of the founding fathers, if they have to take this country to 2047.
“Those who play politics the other way around needs to be combated, neutralised and they must face your rational questioning,” Dhankar said.

The Sudha and Shankar Innovation Hub is IIT Madras’ first architect-designed built space dedicated to student-led activities funded by alumni and the government.
The new facility was inaugurated in the presence Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi, IIT Madras director, V Kamakoti, and founder, CAMS Pvt. Ltd V Shankar.
It is dedicated to supporting and encouraging Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) activities of the students and researchers.
Besides CFI, the Sudha and Shankar Innovation Hub also hosts Nirmaan, a pre-incubator that supports to convert student-led technology projects into successful start-ups.
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#Dhankar #hits #BBC #documentary #George #Soros
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 28, 2023
Screening of BBC documentary on Modi at Visva Bharati stalled

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Kolkata: An attempt to screen the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots on the campus of Visva Bharati university in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Thursday evening by the members of the Democratic Students’ Association (DSA) was foiled after a large contingent of police assisted by the university’s own security team took possession of the screening venue, not allowing the students to bring the screen equipment there.
The police and university authorities claimed that the decision of not allowing the students to screen the controversial documentary was prompted by security reasons following the arrival of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the same evening to attend the convocation ceremony of the university on Friday.
However, university sources said that since the Prime Minister himself is the Chancellor of the university, the screening of the documentary — ‘India: The Modi Question’ — that too in the presence of the Defence Minister, would have sent wrong signals and hence the top authorities decided to stall the screening with the help of the police.
DSA spokesman Subho Nath told mediapersons that the planning and announcement of screening the documentary were made much before the announcement of the Defence Minister’s visit.
“Also, the screening venue is at a distance from the venue of the convocation ceremony. We were feeling the pressure for not screening the documentary for quite some time. Finally, the university authorities with the help of district police stopped us from screening it. Be it the Union government or the state government, they are all all on the same boat when it comes to suppressing the democratic rights of the students. But we will not backtrack. We will screen the documentary some other day,” he said.
After not being able to screen the documentary, a section of the students staged silent protests within the university campus holding posters which claimed that be it the Centre or the state government, the nature of the fascist forces is the same.
Commenting on developments, BJP’s national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said that the students who tried to screen the documentary on such an occasion are actually ‘anti-nationals’.

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#Screening #BBC #documentary #Modi #Visva #Bharati #stalled
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 23, 2023