The surveys conducted by the Income Tax Department at the BBC’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai were strongly condemned on Tuesday by the Press Club of India (PCI). According to sources, the agency conducted the surveys at the offices of the British broadcaster as part of an inquiry into possible tax evasion.
The PCI released a statement on Twitter, which said, “The Press Club is deeply concerned that the government’s action on an international broadcasting network will damage the reputation and image of India as the world’s largest democracy.”
The statement further said “The recent raids are part of a series of attacks on the media by government agencies in recent times, especially against those sections of the media that the government perceives as hostile to it.”
It urged the government to refrain its agencies from “misusing their powers to intimidate the media.”
“If the government has any issue with the report, it should take it up with the concerned office rather than shoot the messenger,” the PCI said.
Source: Indian Express
