U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price. File.
| Photo Credit: AP

Describing India banning the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a matter of press freedom, the U.S. State Department mentioned that it’s excessive time to focus on the significance of democratic ideas like freedom of expression and make it a degree around the globe in addition to in India.

Ned Price, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, in a daily briefing on Wednesday, underlined that Washington helps free press around the globe and that it’s a matter of utmost significance to focus on democratic ideas like freedom of expression.

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Responding to a media question, Mr. Price mentioned, “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. It’s certainly a point we’ve made in India as well.”

Earlier, addressing a press briefing on Monday (native time), Mr. Price acknowledged that there are quite a few components that bolster the US’ world strategic partnership with India which embody political, financial and exceptionally deep people-to-people ties.

“I’m not familiar with the documentary you’re 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, we’ve voiced those we’ve had an occasion to do that,” he mentioned.

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Last week, U.Ok. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and distanced himself from the BBC documentary collection, saying he “doesn’t agree with the characterisation” of his Indian counterpart.

Mr. Sunak made these remarks on the controversial documentary that was raised within the British Parliament by Pakistan-origin MP Imran Hussain.UK’s nationwide broadcaster BBC had aired a two-part collection attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister throughout the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was faraway from choose platforms.

The Ministry of External Affairs responded to the BBC story by claiming that it was solely biased.

While 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 hasn’t been screened in India. We don’t want to answer more on this so that this doesn’t get much dignity.”He even raised questions on “the purpose of the exercise and the agenda behind it.”