I-T raids on BBC offices in India
This refers to the news report “I-T department survey on BBC continues” with the Income-Tax Department raiding the British Broadcasting Corporation offices in Delhi and Mumbai under the pretext of conducting a survey. A war of words has erupted between the ruling BJP and the Opposition. The raid has also subjected the Indian government’s actions and motive to international scrutiny. However, one can assume that the raids have little to do with the alleged tax evasion and more to do with the contents of the controversial documentary aired by BBC. The raid is drawing international attention to the precarious state of press freedom in India. The misuse of Central agencies to punish dissenters or detractors is gaining traction in present-day India. Being the largest democracy in the world, India’s democratic credentials will take a hit if the I-T Department is unable to establish a convincing case against BBC.
Gregory Fernandes, Marcel
In defence of BBC
I quote BBC’s Editorial Standards: “We seek to establish the truth and use the highest reporting standards to provide coverage that is fair and accurate.”
For 28 years of my life in New York and four in Entebbe (Uganda), BBC was my primary source for news of current and historical international affairs. By just listening to their voices, I could identify the names of most of their newsreaders and reporters.
Global audiences consider BBC to be one of the most respected entities for impartial, independent and fair news. It is ridiculous that we in India are subjecting BBC to such uncalled for treatment after it aired a documentary critical of Modi that is banned here. Retaliation?
Let’s not forget – In 2005, the US denied Modi a diplomatic visa and revoked his then existing tourist/business visa because of the “very serious doubts” that remained over his role in the “horrific” 2002 riots in Gujarat where he was Chief Minister. Modi was then the only person ever denied a visa to the US under a 1998 US law that made foreign officials responsible for “severe violations of religious freedom” ineligible for visas. The US reversed itself only a decade later when Modi’s party won office.
Modi was shunned by Western nations for years after the bloodshed in Gujarat, where he was chief minister since 2001. The 2002 violence had led to a de facto travel ban imposed on Modi by the UK, the US and some European nations, as well as the boycott by all, but junior officials.
Enough said.
Anita Pinto, Baga
BBC raids show India’s slide into dictatorship
This is with reference to news report “I-T dept ‘surveys’ BBC offices in India” appearing in the Herald edition dated February 15. The raids at the BBC offices in Mumbai and New Delhi under the pretence of ‘survey’ are a blatant assault on the freedom of speech and expression and smacks of intimidation. Such a wilful act on the world’s prestigious and oldest national broadcaster will only sully the image and reputation of India. It is all the more unfortunate that at a time when India holds the presidency of the G-20 nations, the raids brazenly show the country’s slide into authoritarianism and dictatorship.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Tragic Wednesday
It was a tragic Wednesday as four persons reportedly lost their lives in three separate accidents in the State. A couple came under the wheels of a tipper truck at Sanquelim while a scooter rider died after hitting an oncoming motorcycle in Mapusa. In yet another fatal accident a labourer lost his life after a container truck crashed into a shop at Kundaim. With 109.4 accidents per lakh population, Goa has the highest accident rate in the country with many highly populated States and union territories behind it.
The State’s accident rate is four times the national average of 27.6 with the number of deaths reaching alarming levels. The major reasons behind the increasing number of road accidents are over speeding, not following traffic rules and distraction. However, the major issue is drunk driving. Red-light jumping, avoiding safety gears like seat belts and helmets, non-adherence to lane driving and overtaking in a wrong manner, talking or texting on the mobile are some of the other reasons for road accidents. The potholes on the roads and poor road engineering also contribute to the large number of accidents. The diversion due to the various works in progress along the highway has made it more difficult for the road-users to navigate. Unless motorists drive defensively and road infrastructure is improved, this trend could continue.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Adani conundrum
There is no point in blaming the Hindenburg Research in exposing the malfeasance and malpractices of the Adani group of companies as almost all their findings are being proved right. It is an open secret now as to how Adani was able to carry on with his Himalayan nefarious activities with the protective cover he received from powers that be. The manner in which the share value of the group companies were boosted to reach unimaginable levels using shell companies floated by the group in tax havens like Mauritius, Cayman Islands, etc, only to route funds using the dubious round tripping methodology is mind boggling. That the regulators like SEBI, RBI and ED had been made to lie low like lame ducks and remain a passive observer instead of rising against the deliberate and highly condemnable acts of the disgraced group deserves condemnation.
The height of atrocity is that Adani called the exposure of the spurious activities of his group by the Hindenburg an affront on the sovereignty of India! It is also unfortunate that Prime Minister Modi failed to answer even a single question raised against the Adani group by the opposition parties in the Parliament, particularly when the Congress leaders even accused him of his nexus with Gautam Adani for the present fiasco. One really wonders how the economy of the country is going to be affected more, when it is said that the Hindenburg Research is going to bring out more revelations about this group which has put its hands in all businesses under the sun, of course, using public funds!
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Employment drying up
This is in reference to the report “Air India-Boeing to create 1m jobs in US” in the Herald edition dated February 16, 2023.
Did that sound like some encouraging piece of news, Air India-Boeing to create 1m jobs in the US? Further, according to US President Joe Biden, this move will further deepen bilateral ties between the two countries. However, it remains to be seen how this would play out, whether it would turn into a reality, and how far it could be sustainable. The large scale layoff of Google employees in the US is still fresh in mind. Meanwhile, the youth in our country seem to be still waiting for the 1 crore jobs or so every year, promised during the past few years.
And the youth would continue to migrate to the West in search of employment which apparently seems to be drying up.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
