Source: https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/image-gallery/
Summarizing the Saga
The two-episode documentary was first released in the UK soon gaining popularity has now been banned from being posted or related material being showcased on popular social media platforms in India. Furthermore, BBC has been charged as alleged by the income tax department for transfer pricing, for which the Indian office of this international organization was greeted by the authorities on 14th February with a “search” rather than a raid or survey.
Transfer Pricing Explained
BBC has been accused of diverting profits via transfer pricing. Transfer pricing essentially means showing lesser profits than you have actually made by involving a third party hence evading tax duties. For instance, Party A owns a Rs. 1000 item that they sell at a profit of Rs.500 i.e. the consumer gets it at Rs.1500 with say a 10% tax on profits. If they directly sell it in the market it would cost Rs. 50 in taxes (10% of 500). But under transfer pricing, they would sell it to B for a lower price say Rs. 1300 i.e. profit of Rs. 300 paying Rs. 30 in tax. Now B would sell this further for Rs.1500. Here is the catch! the amount of profit for B is Rs. 200 which might fall under a lower tax slab or be exempted altogether. So the tax liability of Rs.20 is saved. In most instances, this company B is an ally or subsidiary of A.
A raid, search, or survey?
The Department claims it was a mere survey but what difference does it make? The IT Act does not contain any word such as “raid” it is mere slang for either a search or a survey.
Search is generally carried out when the authorities are aware of the existence of undisclosed income and there has been non-compliance whereas a survey is done in order to discover and gather on-spot information about a dubious party.
What did the two-episode series entail?
The series is based on hate crimes against Muslims in India. The first episode covers the Godhra riots and train burning wherein 59 died with disputed cause rumoring it to be a planned act of hatred against Hindus blaming Muslims for the same. The head of the state i.e. Chief Minister at the time, the current Prime minister of India Narendra Damodardas Modi has been alleged to have let the crime spread. Areas belonging to Muslims were set on fire, reportedly the police were told by some higher authorities to “let it happen” accepting it to be a reaction bound to happen.
European fascists left the idea that the RSS picked and Modi is a product of it who is alleged to have orchestrated this criminal conspiracy. Police officers who gave statements supporting these claims were remarked as believing in hearsay or people who could not be relied on. Hence, the Special Investigation Team gave Modi a clean chit, clearing the way for him to contest for the position of the Prime Minister of India by restoring all his rights and removing any bans.
The second episode claims on the Idea of BJP and Modi to create a majoritarian Hindu nation backed by his RSS upbringing. It is known to be a pre-independence organization working towards Hindutva and establishing a Hindu Rajya (English translation: Hindu Kingdom). It further covers the repealing of article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. It gave the Indian state a separate status allowing a separate constitution, state flag, and independent control over internal administration. The decision followed riots breaking out, alleging people being arbitrarily detained and arrested being subjected to physical and mental torture.
The documentary further shows how the amendment in the Citizenship Act via CAA(Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019) and National Residential Tribunal(NRC). While CAA offered citizenship, NRC took it away from the unwanted elements. It was said to be targeted at removing the poor Muslim populous. We further see police brutalities against the protesters along with clips from the horrific scenes with barbaric episodes of beating culminating in death.
It was 2019 and COVID hit, protests took a backseat but the animosity didn't and mob lynching and calls from Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh groups for mass genocide are becoming commonplace. It further goes on questioning press freedom calling it to be in “crisis” since Modi came to power calling India “partly free” and falling into authoritarianism.
Authors section: Opium of Opinion
A survey or a search in the head office of a media firm for transfer pricing charges makes close to little sense accompanied by the timing of the act. This inevitably directs towards another act of media rights infringement adding to the queue of numerous others in the past, shadowing the spirit of freedom.
A free nation is one wherein the dēmos are presented with and the media has the right and ability to furnish uncolored facts, and is allowed to form opinions. Whenever such pieces come up in the public eye and they are crumpled before reaching the masses, some groups try justifying the action by stating how no uproar happens when something of this sort is released against the majority community unlike against any minority.
On the other hand, if one questions the acts of the Indian minority, global partners sharing a similar belief system begin to crop up. In this exodus of attacks and counters what is left unnoticed is the cry for help and the need for justice. The leadership on all sides of the spectrum are mere worshippers of fear politics to accomplish their ideologies. Let alone reaching a middle ground this form of extremism played by both sides constantly justified the wrongdoing of one with that of the other and the general population concurs with those they see as heroes.
This is where the elixir of history gives us the opportunity to delve into the roots and the deeper meaning that transpires. What Pakistan did to Hindus from the then West Punjab, and India to Muslims in Delhi is resurrecting. Newer faces are taking up the spots left empty by the then perpetrators and victims.
Videos go viral and are left unseen, the death of a human being becomes an acceptable scenario, people display sorrow and soon forgot those whose families do not have the social or economic strength or the ability to exercise these rights to fight for their own people, those who died for these very rights. Justice is left looking on the doorstep, staring at the judiciary and the authorities. It seems like the Goddess of justice of the Indian judiciary has her blindfold uptight but rather than unbiasedness it now signifies the blinded stakeholders of this country.
Note: one might refer to the YouTube video by Nitish Rajput to gain more information on Gujrat Riots. I found the facts presented highly similar to the ones in the said controversial documentary.
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