The UK government has expressed strong support for the BBC and its editorial policy. Last week, the UK government announced its support after Indian income tax officials raided the Delhi and Mumbai offices of the UK-based media for three consecutive days.
Responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons last Tuesday, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) junior minister said the government was unable to comment on complaints by Indian Income Tax officials about an 'ongoing investigation'. But he stressed that freedom of media and speech is essential for a 'strong democracy'.
FCDO Under-Secretary David Rutley pointed to India's 'strong and deep relationship' and said the UK could engage in detailed discussions on a range of issues in a 'constructive way'.
"We stand with the BBC," Rutley said. We fund the BBC. We think the BBC World Service is very important. We want the BBC to exercise its own editorial independence.'
The UK minister said, 'This media criticizes us (the government). They criticize the Labor Party (opposition party). This institution has independence and we think that is very important. This freedom is vital and we want to highlight this importance to our friends around the world.'
Highlighting the updated information on the search at the BBC office in India, the minister said that the IT department of India called the search at the New Delhi and Mumbai offices as 'income tax survey'. The search began on February 14 and ended on February 16.
Stating that the BBC is 'operationally and editorially independent', the minister said, 'This state-owned institution plays an important role and FCD also funds broadcasting in 12 languages including the four Indian languages Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and Telugu.'
This junior minister said, 'BBC will continue this work. Because, through the BBC, our independent voice is heard by the whole world.'
In view of pressure from opposition MPs who are 'concerned about the search' and calls for talks with the Indian government, the minister added, 'We have a generous and deep friendship with the Indian government. As a result we can discuss various issues in a constructive way. As part of this we can raise this issue. We are monitoring the situation.'
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