Those of you who watched Panorama investigation on 20th May 2021 ‘Princess Diana, Martin Bashir and the BBC’ exposing the truth behind how the reporter secured access to the late Princess for his (now) infamous scoop in 1995 watched by some 23 million must come to conclusion of the systemic failure on the part of BBC hierarchy to take appropriate action.
Lord Dyson who conducted the inquiry has found that Martin Bashir had faked the bank statements via an unsuspecting graphic designer to gain trust from Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer who has now asked the Met police to investigate the BBC. As we write, Tony Hall who was then director of News was ‘woefully ineffective’ into initial complaints. Now, 25 years on the story has come back to haunt and he has had to resign as a Chairman of the National Gallery citing ‘distraction’ of his presence at the gallery.
There is of course countless analysis and a statement from the Home Secretary Priti Patel who said that ‘BBC’s reputation has been “highly damaged” following the aftermath. As if the BBC were not complacent during Jimmy Saville saga, how many such high-profile incidences must take place before the BBC Governors realise that the public trust of the BBC is at an all-time low?
This column has time and again pointed out the callous attitude BBC has in reporting Indian matters. No one questions the editorial role of anti-Hindu and anti-India narrative which their reporters both here and India spew out day in day out whether on-line, BBC World Service or regular TV programmes. Under Equality Law BBC could be sued for their continuing tirade against the Hindus, scanning even at the simplest of the stories like someone returning from India post recent Corona second wave, you often do not see or read perspective from a Hindu person. Of course, BBC were incredibly happy to show mass funeral pyres over dramatising the deaths showing contempt for the deceased and their family.
Since the second win by PM Modi, all BBC’s reportage is dedicated to the typical toolkit of catch-all phrases such as ‘right wing Hindu Nationalist government’, ‘failure of the Indian government’ virtually on any item from de-monetisation to legitimate passing of laws be a democratically elected government’. The selective interviewing of anti-Modi person, leading question during Corona reporting trying but failing to connect a major Hindu pilgrimage of ‘Kumbh Mela’ as super spreader and may more. The same BBC is hypocritically cowering and under-reporting from anti-democratic regimes in China and neighbouring countries.
Why does the BBC bring religious overtones on any report concerning India? How many Hindu reporters do you see on BBC TV or the ones who bring neutral stories about India? Why are post Modi achievements, even controlling the second wave of Corona by the government for country of 1.35 billion not lauded? Questions need to be asked whether it is the board of governors or some editors who find Mr Modi uncomfortable for their designs? Why is there not an outcry from British Hindus? Is it because most of us we are peace loving community, self-sufficient, law abiding interested in educating our children who go on to become leading professionals contributing to the economic success of U.K. and do not have time to participate in marches at every whiff of a ‘believer’ story emanating from the sub-continent? As in the Labour Party their anti-Semitic views proved their downfall in the last election who is going to bring BBC to account regarding their anti-Hindu views?
There needs to be a community wide effective campaign and ‘freedom of information’ request in BBC’s editorial guidelines and decisions making process about India related stories.
Jai Hind-DeshPremi
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Press media has to give good and bad news both. So people at high level when they get good lime light , must remember to remain good. Any mistake they make will be also high lighted. That what happened and is still happening with royal family.So every one must be careful with press media.
BBC is run by anti-Indian elements and it’s obvious when you read the names of the reporters and anyone listening to World Service to understand the constant negative news narrated day after day. Modiji is the only PM who gets such insult and abuse from BBC and their friends in other media on regular basis Thank God he is impervious as you can not argue against liars