We support importance of free press: US on BBC documentary on PM Modi

Describing India banning the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a matter of press freedom the US State Department said that it is high time to highlight the importance of democratic principles like freedom of expression and make it a point around the world as well as in IndiaNed Price the US State Department spokesperson in a regular briefing on Wednesday underlined that Washington supports free press around the world and that it is a matter of utmost importance to highlight democratic principles like freedom of expressionResponding to a media query Price said We support the importance of a free press around the world We continue to highlight the importance of democratic principles such as freedom of expression freedom of religion or belief as human rights that contribute to the strengthening of our democracies This is a point we make in our relationships around the world Its certainly a point weve made in India as wellEarlier addressing a press briefing on Monday local time Price stated that there are numerous elements that bolster the US global strategic partnership with India which include political economic and exceptionally deep peopletopeople tiesAlso Read BBC documentary screening Four students detained at Jamia University cops deployedIm not familiar with the documentary youre referring to I am very familiar with the shared values that enact the United States and India as two thriving vibrant democracies When we have concerns about actions that are taken in India weve voiced those weve had an occasion to do that he saidLast week UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and distanced himself from the BBC documentary series saying he doesnt agree with the characterisation of his Indian counterpartSunak made these remarks on the controversial documentary that was raised in the British Parliament by Pakistanorigin MP Imran HussainUKs national broadcaster BBC had aired a twopart series attacking PM Narendra Modis tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002 The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platformsThe Ministry of External Affairs responded to the BBC story by claiming that it was entirely biasedWhile addressing a weekly presser in New Delhi MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said We think this is a propaganda piece This has no objectivity This is biased Do note that this hasnt been screened in India We dont want to answer more on this so that this doesnt get much dignityHe even raised questions on the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind itThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever